Non-Surgical Options for Hip Arthritis Pain Relief

Hip Arthritis Treatment Begins With Conservative Care

Hip arthritis affects a significant share of adults at some point in their lives — genetics, age, weight, bone density, prior injury, muscle weakness, and joint laxity can all play a role. Dr. Grimsley has spent decades helping patients manage hip arthritis, and while hip replacement is sometimes necessary in severe cases, treatment almost always starts with conservative, non-surgical care.

What Is Hip Arthritis?

Hip arthritis is the gradual wearing away of the cartilage that cushions the hip joint. Cartilage is remarkably smooth — smoother than anything we can manufacture — and has no nerve endings, which is why a healthy joint moves freely and without pain.

Once that cartilage wears away, though, the underlying bone — which does have nerve endings — becomes exposed. Bone rubbing against bone causes real pain, and the resulting debris triggers inflammation that speeds up further joint damage.

Non-Surgical Options for Treating Hip Arthritis

Dr. Grimsley always starts with conservative treatment before considering surgery. The goal is to reduce stress on the joint and control the pain that comes with cartilage loss. Common approaches include:

• Weight loss
• Walking aids
• Heat therapy
• Activity modifications
• Oral medications
• Physical therapy
• Injections

None of these reverse the underlying joint damage, but they can meaningfully ease your symptoms and help you postpone more significant intervention, like joint replacement.

Weight Loss

Normal walking puts significant force through the hip — multiple times your body weight with every step — so even modest excess weight adds real, cumulative stress to the joint. It’s why weight loss is the first thing we recommend for joint health generally: losing weight measurably slows joint deterioration and reduces pain, and for some patients, it’s the difference between needing surgery and not.

Reducing both dietary fat and total calories is more effective than cutting fat alone — consistent weight loss happens when you’re taking in less energy than you’re using. Most successful approaches lean on vegetables, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates like oats and whole grains. For patients who haven’t had success with diet and exercise alone, it’s worth discussing options like bariatric surgery with your doctor before considering joint replacement.

Walking Aids

A cane or other walking aid reduces the muscle effort — and therefore the force — placed on a painful hip with each step, and can help with stability if you’re dealing with reduced strength or sensation in the joint. One detail worth remembering: hold the cane in the hand opposite your affected hip.

Heat Therapy

Heat is a simple, inexpensive way to ease stiffness and pain — it increases blood flow to the muscles around the joint and improves flexibility in the surrounding tissue. To actually help, heat needs to penetrate beyond the surface, so aim for at least 30 minutes per session rather than a quick application.

Activity Modifications

Staying active — within reason — genuinely helps. Patients who exercise regularly despite arthritis tend to have less pain and better function than those who become sedentary. The key is choosing low-impact activities: swimming, stationary biking, walking on a flat treadmill, yoga, and tai chi are all good options. High-impact activities — tennis, running, jumping, heavy lifting, or long walks on hard surfaces — put more stress on the joint than it needs.

Strength training is also worth building into your routine, ideally with guidance from a trainer who understands your specific limitations — it helps build and maintain bone mass alongside easing joint stress.

Oral Medications

Over-the-counter NSAIDs — ibuprofen, naproxen, and others — are a common first step for managing hip arthritis pain, though not everyone can tolerate them due to allergies or gastrointestinal side effects. If you’re trying one, watch for side effects over the first couple of weeks, and talk to your doctor before continuing long-term use, since chronic use needs periodic monitoring.

Physical Therapy

A physical therapist can help strengthen the muscles around your hip, improve balance to reduce fall risk, and increase flexibility to ease stiffness and pain — working alongside Dr. Grimsley to target treatment specifically to your condition.

Injections

Corticosteroid injections are a well-established option — delivered directly into the joint, they reduce inflammation and pain, often with fast, meaningful relief that can last weeks to months. These are typically done under imaging guidance as an outpatient procedure.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a newer option some patients ask about. The evidence so far suggests it’s safe and may help patients with early-stage hip arthritis specifically, though it isn’t the right fit for everyone. [Learn more about PRP →]

Final Thoughts on Hip Arthritis Treatment Options

Hip arthritis is progressive — it won’t reverse on its own, though how quickly it worsens varies a great deal from person to person. If your symptoms are mild, these non-surgical approaches may keep you comfortable for months or even years, and you may never need anything more invasive.

But if hip pain is keeping you up at night, it’s time to talk to Dr. Grimsley. He’ll evaluate your condition and build a treatment plan aimed at managing your symptoms and easing your pain. Schedule an appointment or call us today.