Hip pain can put a damper on your day to day life. What may start as an annoying ache, can lead to chronic pain and disability. A hip injury can lead to acute pain and a lack of mobility that makes everyday tasks, something as simple as walking or sitting, incredibly difficult. Chronic hip pain can lead to a debilitating decrease in mobility. If you’re hip has been causing you grief, whether a slight annoyance or severe, it’s always best to consult a hip specialist.

A hip specialist is a physician who focuses their practice on the bones, tendons, muscles, and ligaments that make up the hip joint. A visit with a hip specialist will help you swiftly diagnose your hip issue and find the best course of treatment to reduce pain and improve mobility in the hip. Treatment for a hip injury ranges from non-invasive treatments such as physical therapy to surgical options such as hip arthroplasty, also known as hip replacement. Your hip specialist will help you determine the least invasive course of action to address your injury. MidAmerica Orthopaedics’ Total Joint Clinic is home to award-winning hip specialists, including surgeon Dr. Sarkis Bedikian. Dr. Bedikian specializes in hip replacement surgery, with a goal of dramatically improving his patient’s quality of life.

Common Causes of Hip Pain

Dr. Bedikian and his colleagues are well-versed in the treatment of a wide range of hip injuries. As with many musculoskeletal injuries, chronic hip pain is most often caused by arthritis, including:

• Osteoarthritis: Known as the “wear and tear arthritis”, it occurs with age, as the cartilage cushioning the bones of the joint wear away, leading to friction and painful inflammation.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: An autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the cartilage of the joints. This inflammation can lead to pain and stiffness.
• Post traumatic arthritis: Caused by direct injury to a joint, such as a fall or hard hit in a contact sport.

In addition to arthritis, hip issues can be caused by:

• Avascular necrosis: When an injury occurs to the hip, such as a dislocation or fracture, the blood supply to the femoral head can become limited. This lack of blood can lead to bone collapse and result in arthritis.
• Childhood disease: Some infants and children experience childhood hip problems. While the conditions may be successfully treated in childhood, they may lead to arthritic conditions later in life.

Non Surgical Treatment

When pursuing treatment, your hip specialist will first examine non-invasive and non-surgical treatments to resolve the issue. Non-surgical hip treatments include:

• The use of non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen and naproxen, to temporarily relieve inflammation in the joint.
• Corticosteroid injections, administered directly to the hip joint to lower inflammation.
• Implementing the use of a cane or walker to assist with daily mobility.
• Working with a physical therapist to help with everything from increasing strength and range of motion to maintaining muscle tone.

Total Hip Replacement

If non-surgical treatment approaches do not effectively address your injury, you may be a candidate for hip arthroplasty, also known as total hip replacement. At MidAmerica Orthopaedics Total Joint Clinic, hip arthroplasty is a minimally-invasive procedure involving only one or two small incisions. Once incisions are made the muscles around the hip joint are detached, and the damaged femoral head (the “ball” of the hip joint) is replaced with prosthetic components. In most cases, total hip replacement surgery results in significant function restoration and pain reduction in 90-95% of patients.

Why MidAmerica?

The team of hip specialists at MidAmerica’s Total Joint Clinic is made up of award-winning physicians who are experts in the top of their field, offering solutions from non-surgical treatment to hip arthroplasty at our Palos Hills and Mokena locations.

We aim to provide the highest quality care marked by courtesy, respect and integrity. To make an appointment with hip specialist Dr. Bedikian at our Total Joint Clinic call (708) 237-7200.