Hip Osteoarthritis (OA)
Symptoms of Hip Osteoarthritis (OA)
Are your hips causing you bother? You may be experiencing:
- Pain in or near the hip – may be worse in the morning, after exercise, or on particular movements
- Stiffness of the hip, which may make it difficult to move the hip or rotate the leg
- Weakness of the hip
- Sounds (called crepitus) when you move the hip – cracking, crunching, clicking
Treatment for arthritis of the hips
Effective ways of dealing with hip osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative hip joint disease, hip osteo or hip OA) include:
- Avoiding activities that aggravate the pain in the arthritic hip
- Maintaining a healthy weight to reduce the stress on the hip joint
- Exercises and stretching – keeping active with low impact exercises, for instance swimming and cycling
- Using aids such as a walking stick
- Medication and injections
- Radiotherapy
- Surgery – fusion or joint replacement
Low-dose radiotherapy treatment can relieve all the symptoms of the hip arthritis and get you back to your normal activities.
Radiotherapy treatment (also known as the external beam radiation therapy) is a way to reduce inflammation and pain of the hips. This leads to improved function in the hip joints so that you can do the things that you need to do – moving them properly with less stiffness and pain in the arthritic hip.
What is Low Dose Radiotherapy Treatment?
Unlike the stronger radiotherapy treatment used in cancer treatment, much lower doses of radiotherapy are used to treat hip joint osteoarthritis (OA). The use of low radiation levels ensures that the treatment is very safe.
This is a non-invasive treatment that does not involve any injections or surgery. It is exclusively focused towards the affected areas of the arthritic hip and does not affect the rest of the body.
It’s given as an outpatient, so that you can keep on doing your normal activities without needing a break during treatment. Since it is very low dose, it tends to have only very mild (if any) side effects.
A typical course of radiotherapy involves 6 treatments given over 2 to 3 weeks. Each treatment, delivered as an outpatient, takes less than 10 min. About 70% of patients may need a 2nd course of radiotherapy to maximise the benefits.
When should I consider Radiotherapy for Hip OA?
Persistent hip pain and inflammation
If you still have pain in your hips despite using self-help treatments like exercises and using a stick
Medicines are not helping
Where simple pain relief and anti-inflammatory drugs aren’t working well enough or are causing side-effects .
Symptoms are getting worse
If you notice increased pain and discomfort in your hip joints.
Don't want surgery
If you are not suitable, for instance due to personal choice or other health conditions. Or if there is a very long waiting list for treatment.
How Can Radiotherapy Help Hip Osteoarthritis (OA)?
- Pain Reduction
Recent research shows that low-dose radiotherapy treatment reduces pain from hip osteoarthritis (OA) in 65% of people.
- Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Scientific evidence shows that radiotherapy treatment reduces inflammation, leading to reduced swelling in the affected hip joint. This reduction helps reduce pain and improves hip joint function.
- Improved Mobility
People having radiotherapy for hip OA may report substantial improvements in overall joint performance, which can include increased ease of movement, allowing for greater hip mobility.
- Addresses Multiple symptoms
Radiation therapy treatment can help with various symptoms such as swelling, stiffness, and discomfort in the hip joints. This can improve overall quality of life for those dealing with hip joint problems.
- Sustained and Long-lasting Benefits
Some studies suggest that the benefits of radiotherapy, especially in hip pain reduction, may last over a considerable period, resulting in long-lasting relief.
Is Radiotherapy Treatment for Hip Osteoarthritis Safe?
Low-Dose Radiotherapy is a very safe treatment for hip arthritis. This is due to various factors:
Low-Dose Radiotherapy
This ensures effective treatment with very few side effects.
Precise Treatment
Radiotherapy is focused towards only the specific areas of the hips causing trouble. This way, the surrounding areas are not affected by the treatment.
Mild Side Effects
Low-dose radiotherapy typically causes only very mild redness or perhaps some dry skin in the treatment area.
Non-Surgical
Radiotherapy treatment is a non-surgical way to treat osteoarthritis in the hip joints. This allows you to avoid the risks involved in invasive surgery.
What are the Side Effects of Radiotherapy for Hip Osteoarthritis (OA)?
Before starting radiation therapy on your arthritic hip, we’ll thoroughly discuss any potential side effects with you. We will provide comprehensive information about the risks and benefits of the treatment, so that you can make the best decisions possible.
The side effects of low dose radiotherapy for hip arthritis tend to be very mild. These can include:
- Skin Reactions
You may get a bit of redness, dryness, or irritation in the treated area of the hip. Typically, these effects disappear a couple of weeks after finishing the treatment.
- Tiredness
Sometimes people feel a bit tired during or after the treatment. However, this tends to settle down once the treatment has finished and energy levels usually improve quickly after that.
Do You Have Any Questions?
Explore detailed answers to common queries on our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.
Taking the First Step towards Easing Your Hip Pain
Expect a quick response within one working day. If you would like to set up an appointment, we will do our best to accommodate your preferences.
Initial consultations for the treatment of arthritic hips are available in Nottingham, London, or Guildford for your convenience. And for follow-up treatments, we have centres across the UK in places like Nottingham, Birmingham, London, Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Elstree, Chelmsford, Bristol, Windsor, Guildford, Maidstone, Southampton, and Portsmouth.