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Hip Arthritis: Nonsurgical Treatment Options Before Replacement
Updated: 2 days ago
Quick answer: The nonsurgical path starts with an accurate diagnosis, then activity changes, therapy, and — when appropriate — image-guided treatment, with surgery considered only when conservative care isn't enough. That is the approach we take at Carolina Nonsurgical Orthopedics in Raleigh & Cary. PRP is used in selected patients, but evidence is less extensive than for knee arthritis.
Hip arthritis often causes groin pain, stiffness, difficulty putting on shoes or socks, loss of internal rotation and pain after prolonged walking. Pain can also radiate to the thigh or knee.
Exercise and load management
Strengthening the hip and surrounding muscles can improve function. Low-impact exercise, cycling, swimming and walking modifications may allow continued fitness while reducing symptom flares.
Medications and injections
Topical or oral medications may help when medically appropriate. Image-guided steroid injections can provide short-term relief and may help confirm that pain is coming from the hip. PRP is used in selected patients, but evidence is less extensive than for knee arthritis.
When replacement becomes reasonable
Joint replacement is appropriate when arthritis is advanced, pain is persistent and daily function is significantly impaired despite nonsurgical care. Conservative treatment should not be used to delay necessary surgery indefinitely.
When to seek care
Persistent pain, progressive weakness, recurrent swelling, locking, inability to bear weight after an injury, or symptoms that limit sleep and daily activity deserve medical evaluation. Treatment is most effective when it is based on a clear diagnosis rather than simply the location of pain.
Related care: nonsurgical hip pain treatment
Carolina Nonsurgical Orthopedics provides physician-led evaluation and nonsurgical treatment for musculoskeletal conditions in Raleigh and Cary, North Carolina. This article is for general education and is not a substitute for an individual medical evaluation.
Related orthopedic resources
A Closer Look at Hip Arthritis
Hip-region pain can originate from the hip joint, gluteal tendons, proximal hamstring tendons, bursae, or even the lumbar spine. Groin pain often behaves differently from lateral hip or sitting-bone pain, so identifying the true pain generator is important before recommending treatment.
Nonsurgical Treatment and PRP for hip in Raleigh & Cary
For selected chronic hip and tendon conditions, PRP may be considered after appropriate exercise-based care has not produced enough improvement. Ultrasound guidance can be especially useful around the hip because it allows the physician to visualize tendons, bursae, and other soft tissues while targeting treatment.
At Carolina Nonsurgical Orthopedics, the goal when evaluating hip pain is to match treatment to the specific diagnosis rather than simply treating the location of pain. Patients in Raleigh and Cary may have options that include targeted rehabilitation, activity modification, shockwave therapy, image-guided injections, PRP, or other regenerative approaches depending on the condition and its severity.
About Your Physicians
Dr. Matthew Kanaan
Nonsurgical Orthopedic Specialist
Founder of Carolina Nonsurgical Orthopedics. Fellowship trained in sports medicine at Duke; residency in family medicine at Duke, where he served as Chief Resident.
Dr. Pierce Knox
Nonsurgical Orthopedic Specialist
Fellowship trained in nonsurgical sports medicine at Penn Medicine; residency in primary care at Christiana Care.
