The shoulder, knee, and hip are three joints that are commonly affected by arthritis. While most people are well aware of how corticosteroid injections are used to treat shoulder and knee arthritis, they don’t know so much about similar injections to treat the hip. If you’re one of these people, here’s everything you need to know:
Hip Arthritis
The hip is a ball and socket joint composed of the head of the femur and acetabulum of the pelvis. With age and the development of arthritis, the cartilage, soft tissues and tendons of the hip wear down, which results in inflammation and hip pain. The first step in treating arthritis is recognition. The second is the prescription of a treatment plan that may include any, all, or any combination of the following:
- Activity modification
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications
- Physical therapy
- Weight loss
The goal of a treatment plan is to decrease inflammation and pain and increase hip mobility.
When Corticosteroids Are Used
When arthritis fails to respond to the above-mentioned treatment options or when a patient’s inflammation and pain prevents them from participating in physical therapy sessions, corticosteroid injections into the hip joint can be considered as an alternative treatment option.
The Injection Procedure
To ensure that corticosteroids are accurately injected into the hip joint, it requires that the injection procedure be performed under fluoroscopy (live x-ray). While the injection itself only takes a few minutes, preparations take a bit longer—something that’s best discussed with an orthopedic hip specialist.
Contacting an Orthopedic Hip Specialist
Patients who want a solution to their hip pain problem are advised to arrange an appointment with an Orthopedic Hip Specialist. Once your condition is evaluated, an official diagnosis will be made and a corresponding treatment plan will be prescribed. You can expect results when you choose our practice.
Dr. Nicholas Alexander is the Founder of Mahwah Valley Orthopedic Associates and a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon specializing in both the surgical and non-surgical treatment of hip and knee conditions. Dr. Alexander completed his Fellowship in Adult Reconstruction and Reconstructive Surgery of the Hip and Knee at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and has over two decades of experience. He also serves as the Chairman of the Valley Hospital Total Joint Center. Dr. Alexander has offices in Mahwah and Clifton, NJ. If you, or someone you love, is considering treatment for a hip or knee injury, contact us today for a consultation.
