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Hip Arthritis Treatment in Mumbai by Dr. Mayur Rabhadiya

Understanding Hip Arthritis

Hip arthritis is a condition in which the smooth joint surfaces of the ball-and-socket hip joint become progressively damaged.

The ball is formed by the femoral head at the upper end of the thigh bone. The socket is formed by the acetabulum in the pelvis. Both surfaces are normally covered by articular cartilage that allows smooth movement.

In hip osteoarthritis, the cartilage becomes thinner and irregular. As the condition advances, the joint space may narrow, the underlying bone may change and bone spurs may develop.

Hip arthritis can cause:

  • Groin pain

  • Thigh or buttock pain

  • Pain extending toward the knee

  • Stiffness after sitting

  • Reduced hip rotation

  • Limping

  • Reduced walking distance

  • Difficulty wearing shoes and socks

  • Difficulty entering a vehicle

  • Night or resting pain in advanced disease

Dr. Mayur Rabhadiya treats hip arthritis according to the patient’s symptoms, physical function, examination findings, imaging and response to appropriate non-surgical care.

An X-ray report alone does not determine treatment.

Is Hip Arthritis the Same as General Hip Pain?

No.

Hip pain is a symptom that can arise from several conditions. Hip osteoarthritis is one specific diagnosis.

Other causes of pain around the hip include:

  • Avascular necrosis

  • Gluteal tendon disease

  • Trochanteric pain

  • Hip impingement

  • Labral disease

  • Inflammatory arthritis

  • Previous fracture

  • Lumbar spine disease

  • Nerve irritation

  • Infection

Pain from hip arthritis is commonly felt in the groin, but groin pain is not exclusive to osteoarthritis.

Patients without a confirmed diagnosis should begin with the guide to hip pain treatment in Mumbai.

Symptoms of Hip Osteoarthritis

Hip osteoarthritis often develops gradually.

Early symptoms may include:

  • Groin discomfort after prolonged walking

  • Stiffness after sitting

  • Reduced ease of crossing the legs

  • Difficulty putting on shoes

  • Pain during rotation of the hip

  • Reduced tolerance for stairs

  • Occasional limping

As arthritis progresses, patients may experience:

  • Pain during shorter walks

  • Persistent stiffness

  • Difficulty rising from a low chair

  • Difficulty entering or leaving a vehicle

  • Reduced ability to stand for long periods

  • Pain extending to the thigh or knee

  • Night pain

  • Pain at rest

  • Dependence on a walking stick

The severity of pain does not always match the apparent severity on an X-ray. Clinical decisions should consider both structural changes and their actual effect on the patient.

Causes and Risk Factors

Hip osteoarthritis does not always have one identifiable cause.

Factors associated with its development may include:

  • Increasing age

  • Family history

  • Previous hip injury

  • Previous fracture or surgery

  • Developmental hip dysplasia

  • Abnormal hip shape

  • Femoroacetabular impingement

  • Previous childhood hip disease

  • Excess body weight

  • Repetitive heavy loading

  • Inflammatory joint disease

A patient may still develop hip arthritis without any obvious risk factor.

Hip osteoarthritis should also be distinguished from avascular necrosis, in which impaired blood supply weakens the femoral head.

Read the separate guide to avascular necrosis of the hip treatment in Mumbai.

Clinical Assessment

Assessment begins with understanding how the symptoms affect the patient’s life.

Important questions include:

  • Where is the pain located?

  • How far can the patient walk?

  • Does pain occur at night?

  • Is there stiffness after sitting?

  • Can the patient wear shoes and socks independently?

  • Is getting into a vehicle difficult?

  • Has the patient started limping?

  • Are stairs difficult?

  • Does pain extend below the knee?

  • Are numbness or back symptoms present?

  • Which treatments have already been attempted?

Examination may assess:

  • Walking pattern

  • Hip rotation

  • Hip bending and extension

  • Limb length

  • Muscle strength

  • Tenderness around the hip

  • Pain during movement

  • Knee findings

  • Lumbar spine and neurological signs

  • Use of a walking aid

Restricted internal rotation is common in hip arthritis, but diagnosis should not rely on one examination finding alone.

X-Rays and MRI

Hip X-rays

X-rays may show:

  • Joint-space narrowing

  • Bone spurs

  • Irregularity of the femoral head

  • Changes in the acetabulum

  • Increased bone density beneath the joint surface

  • Cysts in the bone

  • Deformity

  • Previous injury

The X-ray should be interpreted together with symptoms and examination.

A patient with severe-looking arthritis may remain reasonably functional, while another patient with less dramatic imaging may have substantial pain and disability.

MRI

MRI is not routinely required when symptoms, examination and X-rays clearly establish hip osteoarthritis.

MRI may be considered when:

  • Avascular necrosis is suspected

  • X-rays do not explain the symptoms

  • An occult fracture is possible

  • A soft-tissue or labral condition may change treatment

  • Infection or another unusual condition is suspected

Repeated scans are generally unnecessary when they will not alter management.

Can Hip Arthritis Be Treated Without Surgery?

Yes.

Many patients can initially be managed without surgery, especially when symptoms remain mild or moderate and daily function is reasonably preserved.

Non-surgical treatment may include:

  • Education

  • Activity modification

  • Therapeutic exercise

  • Physiotherapy

  • Weight management where relevant

  • A walking stick

  • Medically appropriate pain relief

  • A selected image-guided injection

  • Follow-up and reassessment

The objectives are to:

  • Reduce pain

  • Maintain movement

  • Improve muscle strength

  • Support walking

  • Preserve independence

  • Improve quality of life

Non-surgical treatment cannot reliably regenerate established cartilage, restore severely lost joint space or correct advanced structural deformity.

Exercise and Physiotherapy

Therapeutic exercise is a core part of hip arthritis management.

A programme may work on:

  • Hip-abductor strength

  • Hip-extensor strength

  • Quadriceps strength

  • Balance

  • Walking control

  • Hip movement

  • Chair-rise ability

  • General aerobic fitness

Suitable lower-impact activities may include:

  • Stationary cycling

  • Swimming

  • Water-based exercise

  • Short level walks

  • Controlled resistance exercise

The programme should be tailored to the patient.

Forceful stretching into severe pain is not necessary. Similarly, complete avoidance of movement can lead to further weakness, stiffness and reduced endurance.

Supervised physiotherapy may be useful when the patient has:

  • Significant weakness

  • Poor balance

  • Difficulty walking

  • Uncertainty about exercise technique

  • Several medical conditions

  • Failure to improve with a home programme

Passive treatment alone should not replace active strengthening and functional rehabilitation.

Activity Modification

Activity modification does not mean permanent rest.

Useful adjustments may include:

  • Dividing long walks into shorter sessions

  • Reducing repeated stair use

  • Avoiding prolonged low-chair sitting

  • Using a higher chair

  • Limiting deep squatting when painful

  • Avoiding forceful cross-legged sitting

  • Using a long-handled shoehorn

  • Choosing cycling or swimming instead of running

  • Planning rest periods between demanding activities

The aim is to reduce unnecessary aggravation while maintaining safe physical activity.

A patient should not repeatedly force a stiff hip into deep positions in an attempt to restore movement quickly.

Weight Management

For patients living with overweight or obesity, sustainable weight reduction may improve mobility, physical function and general health.

A weight-management plan may include:

  • Dietary review

  • Appropriate calorie reduction

  • Adequate protein

  • Lower-impact exercise

  • Strength training

  • Diabetes management

  • Behavioural support

Weight reduction should not be presented as a cure for hip arthritis.

It cannot:

  • Restore lost cartilage

  • Reverse advanced joint damage

  • Correct a deformed joint

  • Guarantee avoidance of hip replacement

Weight should also not be used to dismiss symptoms or indefinitely prevent specialist assessment.

Medicines for Hip Arthritis

Medicines may be used to support walking, exercise and sleep.

Options may include:

  • Topical anti-inflammatory medicines

  • Oral anti-inflammatory medicines in suitable patients

  • Infrequent short-term paracetamol in selected circumstances

  • Other treatment when standard medicines are unsuitable

Medicine choice depends on:

  • Kidney function

  • Stomach-ulcer or bleeding risk

  • Heart disease

  • Blood pressure

  • Liver health

  • Blood-thinning medicines

  • Age

  • Other medical conditions

Oral anti-inflammatory medicines should generally be used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest clinically reasonable period.

Strong opioid medicines are not suitable routine long-term treatment for hip osteoarthritis because of risks such as sedation, falls, constipation, tolerance and dependence.

Glucosamine and similar supplements should not be promoted as cartilage-restoring treatments.

Walking Aids and Practical Supports

A walking stick may reduce load on the painful hip and improve balance.

It is generally used in the hand opposite the affected hip.

The stick should be:

  • Adjusted to the correct height

  • Used with a stable walking pattern

  • Fitted with a secure rubber tip

  • Replaced if damaged

Some patients may temporarily require crutches or a walking frame.

Practical aids may also include:

  • A higher chair

  • Raised toilet seating

  • A long-handled shoehorn

  • A reacher

  • Assistance with low-level tasks

Using an aid can preserve independence and safety. It should not be considered a sign of failure.

Hip Injections

An image-guided corticosteroid injection may be considered selectively when other treatment is ineffective or unsuitable.

Because the hip joint lies deep beneath surrounding tissues, ultrasound or X-ray guidance is commonly used.

A corticosteroid injection may provide temporary pain relief. It may also help clarify whether pain is arising primarily from the hip joint.

It does not:

  • Regrow cartilage

  • Reverse advanced arthritis

  • Correct deformity

  • Rebuild the femoral head

  • Guarantee that hip replacement will not be required

Hyaluronic acid injections are not routinely recommended for osteoarthritis.

PRP, GFC and other biological injections should not be marketed as proven methods of regenerating hip cartilage or reversing advanced joint damage. Evidence is less established for hip arthritis than for some knee applications.

All previous hip injections and their dates should be disclosed if hip replacement is being considered.

Treatments That Should Not Be Oversold

Patients may encounter treatments advertised as:

  • Cartilage regeneration

  • Permanent lubrication

  • Stem-cell repair

  • Complete arthritis reversal

  • Guaranteed avoidance of replacement

  • Joint-space restoration

These claims should be approached cautiously.

Symptom improvement does not prove that damaged cartilage has regenerated.

Similarly, a temporary reduction in pain after an injection does not mean that the underlying arthritis has stopped progressing.

A useful treatment should be judged by measurable improvement in:

  • Walking

  • Sleep

  • Dressing

  • Chair-rise

  • Vehicle entry

  • Exercise

  • Daily independence

When Non-Surgical Treatment Is No Longer Enough

The treatment plan should be reassessed when:

  • Walking distance continues to decline

  • Pain regularly disturbs sleep

  • Dressing and footwear become difficult

  • A walking stick is required most of the time

  • The patient cannot enter a vehicle comfortably

  • Hip movement becomes severely restricted

  • Pain persists despite appropriate treatment

  • Medicine side effects limit symptom control

  • Quality of life is substantially reduced

Continuing the same ineffective treatment indefinitely may prolong disability.

A failed medicine or injection alone does not determine the need for surgery. The complete clinical picture must be reviewed.

When Hip Replacement May Be Considered

Hip replacement may be discussed when:

  • Pain substantially affects daily activities

  • Walking is severely limited

  • Night or resting pain is persistent

  • Hip stiffness interferes with personal care

  • Appropriate non-surgical treatment is ineffective or unsuitable

  • Imaging confirms advanced joint damage that matches the symptoms

  • The expected benefits justify the surgical risks

The decision should not be based only on:

  • Age

  • Body weight

  • An X-ray grade

  • The number of injections received

  • A single pain score

Surgical assessment does not obligate a patient to undergo surgery. It clarifies whether replacement is appropriate and whether it can reasonably be postponed.

Read the detailed guide explaining when hip replacement is needed.

Patients already considering surgery can visit the main page for a hip replacement surgeon in Mumbai.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hip Arthritis

What are the early symptoms of hip arthritis?

Early symptoms may include groin pain after walking, stiffness after sitting, reduced rotation and difficulty wearing shoes or socks.

Where is hip arthritis pain usually felt?

It is commonly felt in the groin or thigh. It may extend toward the buttock or knee.

Can hip arthritis cause knee pain?

Yes. Pain from the hip may be referred toward the thigh or knee.

Is outer-hip pain always arthritis?

No. Outer-hip pain may arise from gluteal tendons or nearby soft tissues.

Does hip arthritis always worsen?

Structural changes may progress over time, but the rate and symptom pattern vary considerably between patients.

Is an X-ray required?

X-rays are useful when arthritis is suspected or when symptoms are persistent and functionally important. Imaging is not required for every minor symptom.

Is MRI necessary for hip arthritis?

Usually not when examination and X-rays clearly establish the diagnosis. MRI may be needed when AVN or another condition is suspected.

Can hip arthritis be reversed?

Established structural osteoarthritis cannot reliably be reversed. Treatment can improve pain, strength and function.

Can exercise damage an arthritic hip?

Appropriately selected exercise does not usually accelerate arthritis. Excessive or unsuitable activity may temporarily aggravate symptoms.

Is walking good for hip arthritis?

Tolerable walking may help maintain mobility. Distance should be adjusted according to pain, limping and recovery afterward.

Which side should a walking stick be used on?

It is generally held in the hand opposite the painful hip.

Are medicines safe for long-term use?

Safety depends on kidney, stomach, cardiovascular and liver health, other medicines and dosage. Regular use requires review.

Can a hip injection cure arthritis?

No. A corticosteroid injection may provide short-term relief but does not repair structural damage.

Can PRP or GFC regenerate hip cartilage?

Current evidence does not establish that these treatments reliably regenerate established hip cartilage.

Does severe X-ray arthritis automatically require replacement?

No. Surgery depends on symptoms, functional limitation, examination, imaging and response to suitable non-surgical treatment.

Can hip replacement be postponed?

Yes, when symptoms remain manageable and function is acceptable. Delay is not beneficial when disability and quality of life continue to worsen.

When should hip replacement be discussed?

It should be discussed when pain, stiffness and functional loss substantially affect daily life despite appropriate non-surgical treatment.

About Dr. Mayur Rabhadiya

Dr. Mayur Rabhadiya is an Orthopedic & Joint Replacement Surgeon in Mumbai.

His qualifications include:

  • MBBS from LTMMC & GH, Sion Hospital

  • D’Ortho from KMC, Hubli

  • DNB Orthopedics from the National Board of Examinations, New Delhi

  • MNAMS Orthopedics

  • Fellowship in Robotic & Computer-Navigated Joint Replacement

His approach to hip arthritis is evidence-based, judgement-driven and patient-specific.

Non-surgical care is considered first when it can provide meaningful symptom and functional improvement. Hip replacement is discussed only when symptoms, examination, imaging and response to treatment support it.

Last medically reviewed: June 2026.

Book a Hip Arthritis Consultation in Mumbai

Patients seeking assessment for groin pain, hip stiffness, limping or diagnosed hip osteoarthritis can consult Dr. Mayur Rabhadiya at Ghatkopar East or Ghatkopar West, Mumbai.

Call +91 84249 03913 or +91 96113 30063.

Appointments can also be requested through the orthopedic doctor consultation page.

Medical References

This patient-education page is informed by current recommendations and educational guidance from:

  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

  • American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

  • National Health Service

Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for general patient education and does not replace clinical examination, diagnosis or personalised medical advice.

Hip and groin pain can arise from osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis, soft-tissue disease, spinal conditions, fracture, infection or another cause. Seek urgent assessment for severe pain after injury, inability to bear weight, fever, marked swelling or rapidly worsening symptoms.

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