SpecialistCondition · Dubai
Hip Osteoarthritis Treatment in Dubai
Hip arthritis is often felt in the groin rather than over the hip itself, and it is commonly mistaken for a muscle strain or referred back pain. Establishing where the pain is actually coming from is the first job of the assessment.
What it is
Hip Osteoarthritis, explained.
Hip osteoarthritis is a joint condition in which the cartilage lining the hip joint gradually thins, producing pain that is typically felt in the groin, along with stiffness and a reducing range of movement.
The hip is a deep ball-and-socket joint lined with cartilage. As that lining thins, the joint moves less freely and becomes painful to load, particularly on rotation — which is why putting on shoes and getting out of a car are often the first things people notice.
Pain from the hip joint is classically felt in the groin and can travel to the thigh or knee. Pain over the outer hip is more often coming from the tendons and bursa on the side of the hip, which is a different problem.
The lower back refers pain into the same region, so the back is examined as part of a hip assessment rather than assumed to be uninvolved.
Common signs
What people usually notice.
- Groin pain with walking or weight-bearing
- Stiffness getting going after sitting
- Difficulty putting on shoes and socks
- Reduced range of movement, particularly rotation
- Pain travelling to the thigh or knee
- A limp, or shortening of your walking distance
Signs overlap between conditions, and this list is not a diagnosis. What you have is established by examination, not by a checklist.
Assessment
How a specialist works out what is going on.
- 01
History
Where exactly the pain is felt, what movements provoke it, and how far it limits walking and daily activity.
- 02
Examination
Hip range of movement is tested in each direction, along with gait, strength, and an examination of the lower back as a referring source.
- 03
Imaging, if needed
X-ray is the usual first imaging for the hip joint where it would change the plan. Findings are interpreted alongside the examination.
- 04
The plan
What the specialist thinks is driving the pain, what to do first, and what would prompt a surgical opinion.
What may be considered
Options a specialist may discuss with you.
Which of these is appropriate — if any — depends entirely on what the assessment finds. They are described here so you know what the conversation may cover, not as a menu to choose from.
- Ultrasound-Guided InjectionsThe hip joint is deep, so where an injection into it is considered appropriate it is placed under imaging rather than by landmarks.
- PRP for Joints & TendonsAn injection prepared from a concentrate of your own blood. Suitability for a given hip is a clinical judgement made at assessment.
- Stem Cell Therapy for JointsConsidered only after assessment and confirmation of suitability. The consultation covers what it involves and what is and is not known about it.
When to be seen
Don’t wait this one out.
Be seen if walking distance is reducing, if pain wakes you at night, or if you are beginning to limp. Hip pain following a fall, an inability to bear weight, or pain with fever needs urgent assessment rather than a routine appointment.
Questions
Good to know.
Why is my groin sore rather than my hip?
Does this mean I will need a hip replacement?
Will an injection help?
How much does it cost?
Licensed & Regulated
DHA-licensed. MOHAP-approved.
Every treatment is delivered at Shookra, a DHA-licensed medical facility in Dubai. Every physician and clinician on our team is DHA-licensed and works to clinical protocol. Our health communications are independently reviewed and approved by the UAE Ministry of Health & Prevention (MOHAP).
Shookra Polyclinic · DHA Facility Permit #3449309 · MOHAP Advertisement Licence T0UOE5NK-020526
Get it assessed properly.
Message our team on WhatsApp and we’ll arrange a specialist consultation in Business Bay — assessment first, options after.