Expert Care for Wear-and-tear Hip and Knee Arthritis

Osteoarthritis is a gradual wearing away of the cartilage in your joints, causing pain and stiffness. Cartilage provides cushioning between bones and allows your joints to move smoothly. Osteoarthritis can happen in any joint, but it most often occurs in the weight-bearing hip and knee joints. 

Our orthopedic specialists offer trusted care for hip and knee osteoarthritis. We offer a wide range of approaches, including nonsurgical hip and knee osteoarthritis therapies. You get a personalized treatment plan to help you stay active and move without pain. 

Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Knee and hip osteoarthritis often develops with age, due to wear and tear on your joints — unlike rheumatoid arthritis, an immune system disorder. With osteoarthritis, joint cartilage wears away, causing bones to rub together. Damaged bones can grow outward, creating painful bone spurs. Joint pain develops gradually and worsens over time.  

Osteoarthritis knee and hip symptoms include: 

• Joint stiffness that makes it difficult to walk or bend the joint 
• Locking of the joint and a grinding sound caused by loose cartilage or other tissue fragments interfering with hip or knee movement 
• Pain in your upper thigh or knee that gets worse with vigorous activity 

Knee osteoarthritis may also cause your knee to swell or buckle — or it may feel like it will give out. Your knee may ache, even when you’re sitting or lying down. 

Osteoarthritis Joint Pain Treatment 

Treatment can’t reverse joint damage from osteoarthritis, but it can relieve joint pain and other symptoms. 

We begin with noninvasive approaches, such as: 

• Devices that support or take pressure off joints, such as braces, crutches, or a cane or walker 
• Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight and avoiding activities that cause hip or knee pain 
• Medicines to relieve pain and swelling, including over-the-counter and prescription medicine and gels (such as ibuprofen and duloxetine), and steroid shots 
• Pain management approaches, such as acupuncture, massage and hot or cold packs 
• Physical therapy to improve joint flexibility and strength 

If nonsurgical approaches don’t relieve joint pain and stiffness, your doctor may recommend surgery, including: 

• Arthroscopy – Removes bone spurs or repairs damaged cartilage (including knee cartilage grafting) or other parts of your joint 
• Hip or knee replacement – Replaces damaged joint surfaces with plastic or metal 
• Osteotomy (bone realignment) – Adds or removes bone to shift weight away from an area of joint damage 

We discuss all your options with you and create a treatment plan that lets you move comfortably and stay active.