Hip Replacement in Central New York

Why the hip becomes painful and stiff

Hip osteoarthritis develops when the joint’s smooth cartilage becomes damaged. Pain and stiffness may gradually make walking, shoes and socks, stairs, sleep or recreation more difficult.

Common symptoms

• Groin pain is common, but discomfort may also be felt in the thigh, buttock or knee.
• Stiffness may make it difficult to put on shoes and socks, get into a car or rise from a low seat.
• Symptoms and X-ray severity do not always match; treatment is based on the complete clinical picture.

How it is evaluated

• Your clinician will review pain, activity limits, prior treatment and medical history.
• The examination commonly includes gait, hip motion, strength and evaluation for other possible pain sources.
• Weight-bearing X-rays are usually the most useful initial imaging. MRI is not routinely required for straightforward hip arthritis.

What treatment can do

• No injection or nonsurgical treatment has been proven to restore normal cartilage in an arthritic hip.
• The goals are to reduce symptoms, preserve function and help you remain active.
• Surgery is considered when symptoms and disability remain unacceptable despite appropriate nonsurgical care.

Match treatment to symptoms, health and goals

There is no single required sequence for every patient. The plan may change as symptoms, function and priorities change.

Movement and load management

• Shift repeatedly painful impact activity toward lower-impact alternatives.
• Weight reduction may reduce joint load when appropriate.
• A cane used in the opposite hand can reduce load and improve confidence for selected patients.

Therapy and symptom relief

• Physical therapy may improve strength, motion, balance and movement strategies.
• Heat or ice may help symptoms.
• Oral or topical medication should be selected with a clinician because kidney, heart, stomach, bleeding and medication-interaction risks vary.

What to expect

• Nonsurgical care is intended to improve pain and function; it does not regrow lost cartilage.
• A temporary improvement does not prove that arthritis has reversed.
• Appropriate nonsurgical care should not delay a needed surgical discussion when pain and disability remain unacceptable.

Understand what is established—and what remains uncertain

Hip injections require an individual evaluation and image guidance. Results vary. None is guaranteed to prevent replacement or regenerate normal cartilage.

Cortisone

• A corticosteroid injection is intended to reduce inflammation and may provide temporary relief.
• Benefits and duration vary. Frequency, medical risks and timing before possible joint replacement should be discussed with the treating clinician.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)

• PRP is prepared from the patient’s own blood. Hip studies include randomized comparisons with hyaluronic acid, but protocols and results vary.
• Evidence suggests possible symptom benefit for selected patients, but it does not prove cartilage regrowth or guarantee avoidance of surgery.
• Coverage is limited and treatment is often self-pay.

Bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC)

• BMAC is prepared from bone marrow collected from the patient, then concentrated before injection. It involves both a harvest procedure and a hip injection.
• Hip evidence is limited mainly to small case series and cohort studies without strong randomized comparisons. It should be described as investigational or emerging—not as a proven stem-cell cure.
• BMAC has not been proven to regrow normal hip cartilage or reliably prevent hip replacement. Coverage is limited and treatment is often self-pay.

Shared decision-making

• PRP and BMAC are not interchangeable; preparation methods, procedure burden, cost and evidence differ.
• Whether either option is reasonable depends on diagnosis, arthritis severity, prior care, health, goals and an informed discussion of alternatives.

When arthritis is controlling daily life

Total hip replacement may be considered when arthritis causes substantial pain or disability and reasonable nonsurgical care no longer provides acceptable function.

Reasons to discuss surgery

• Pain limits walking, work, sleep, self-care or important activities.
• Symptoms persist despite appropriate nonsurgical treatment.
• Examination and imaging support hip arthritis as the primary pain source.
• The patient understands the risks, recovery and realistic goals.

What replacement is designed to do

• Damaged joint surfaces are replaced to reduce pain and improve daily function.
• A replacement hip is not a normal hip; recovery, motion and activity recommendations differ among patients.
• The decision is based on symptoms and goals—not X-rays alone.

Your recovery plan

Use only the rehabilitation protocol assigned by your care team. The procedure, repair size, graft choice, associated procedures, and individual orders can change your restrictions.