Hip arthritis
Hip arthritis (osteoarthritis of the hip) is a common cause of pain, stiffness and a limp. Many people manage well without surgery, and a hip replacement is a very effective option when they do not.
Symptoms
- Pain in the groin, thigh or buttock, sometimes spreading to the knee
- Stiffness, especially after resting
- Difficulty putting on shoes and socks or getting in and out of a car
- A limp, and pain that disturbs sleep
Diagnosis
Hip arthritis is usually diagnosed from your symptoms and an examination, and an X-ray shows how severe it is. An MRI scan is rarely needed. Pain around the hip can also come from the back or from the tendons on the side of the hip, and I will check for these.
Treatment without surgery
- Exercise and physiotherapy to strengthen the muscles around the hip; this is the most important treatment at every stage
- Weight loss if you are overweight, which reduces the load on the joint
- Painkillers, used at the lowest effective dose
- A walking stick, held in the hand opposite the painful hip
- A steroid injection, which can give short-term relief for some people
When to consider surgery
A hip replacement is worth considering when pain and stiffness have a real effect on your daily life despite these treatments. You do not need to wait until the pain is unbearable, and there is no single X-ray appearance that decides it. We will make the decision together.
Written and reviewed by Mr Krishna Boddu FRCS (Tr & Orth), consultant orthopaedic surgeon, GMC 5206961. Last reviewed: 1 November 2026.
Sources
Book a consultation
I see patients at Nuffield Health Ipswich Hospital. You can book online, or contact my secretary, Daniela Capaldo, who can also help with insurance and self-pay questions.