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Halcy Orthopedics

Hip Osteoarthritis Treatment in New York

Also known as: Hip OA, Osteoarthritis of the Hip, Hip Arthritis, Degenerative Hip Disease, Wear-and-Tear Hip Arthritis

3 min read
Reviewed by Dr. Maya Chen, MD, FAAOS

Hip osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease in which the smooth cartilage that lines the ball-and-socket hip joint gradually wears away, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion. As cartilage thins and the protective joint space narrows, bone may rub on bone, often producing pain felt in the groin, thigh, or buttock. Hip osteoarthritis is the most common type of hip arthritis, particularly in adults over age 50, and can range from mild discomfort to severe disability that limits walking and daily activities.

At a Glance

  • Osteoarthritis is the most common type of hip arthritis, particularly in adults over age 50[1]
  • There is no cure for osteoarthritis, but a range of treatments including activity modification, physical therapy, medications, and surgery can relieve pain and improve mobility[1]
  • Total hip replacement has high success rates for advanced hip osteoarthritis, with modern implants commonly surviving more than 15 years[4]

Affected Anatomy

  • Hip joint (acetabulum and femoral head)
  • Articular cartilage of the femoral head and acetabulum
  • Subchondral bone
  • Synovial lining of the hip joint
  • Acetabular labrum
  • Surrounding hip capsule and ligaments

What are the symptoms of Hip Osteoarthritis?

  • Pain in the groin, thigh, or buttock that worsens with activity
  • Stiffness, particularly in the morning or after sitting for long periods
  • Decreased range of motion, especially in rotation and flexion
  • A grinding, clicking, or catching sensation in the hip
  • Pain that interferes with walking, climbing stairs, or putting on shoes and socks
  • Worsening pain over months to years, sometimes with episodic flares
  • Limping or alteration of gait to offload the affected hip

When should you seek care for Hip Osteoarthritis?

  • Hip pain that interferes with sleep, work, or daily activities
  • Difficulty walking, climbing stairs, or putting on socks and shoes
  • Symptoms that worsen despite a trial of conservative care
  • Sudden hip pain after a fall (to rule out fracture)
  • Fever or systemic symptoms with hip pain (to rule out infection)

If any of these apply, consider reaching out to schedule a visit.

What causes Hip Osteoarthritis?

Causes

  • Age-related wear of the articular cartilage
  • Prior hip injury, including fractures and dislocations
  • Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) over many years
  • Developmental hip dysplasia
  • Avascular necrosis (osteonecrosis) of the femoral head
  • Inflammatory or autoimmune conditions affecting cartilage health

Risk Factors

  • Older age (most common after age 50)
  • Family history of osteoarthritis
  • Excess body weight, which increases joint loading
  • Prior hip surgery or significant hip injury
  • Repetitive high-impact occupational or athletic loading
  • Hip dysplasia or developmental anatomic variation
  • Inflammatory joint diseases

How It's Diagnosed

  • 1History and physical examination, including assessment of range of motion and gait
  • 2Plain X-rays to evaluate joint space narrowing, osteophytes, and bone changes
  • 3MRI in selected cases to assess cartilage, labrum, or early disease
  • 4Intra-articular anesthetic injection to confirm hip as the pain source
  • 5Laboratory tests to rule out inflammatory or infectious causes when indicated

How is Hip Osteoarthritis treated?

At Halcy Orthopedics, we offer several approaches for hip osteoarthritis:

Hip Arthroscopy

Hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which a small camera, called an arthroscope, is inserted into the hip joint through smal...

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Cortisone Injection

A cortisone injection is a procedure that delivers a corticosteroid medication, often combined with a local anesthetic, directly into a painful or inf...

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Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a healthcare discipline that uses guided movement, manual techniques, and targeted exercise to restore function and reduce pain af...

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Prognosis and Recovery

  • Symptoms typically progress slowly over years, with periods of stable function and flare-ups
  • Many patients manage symptoms successfully for years with conservative care
  • Total hip replacement has high success rates for relieving pain and restoring function in advanced disease
  • Implant survivorship for modern total hip replacements often exceeds 90 percent at 15 years

Frequently Asked Questions

Hip osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease in which the smooth cartilage lining the hip joint gradually wears away. As the protective joint space narrows, bone may rub on bone, producing pain in the groin, thigh, or buttock, along with stiffness and reduced range of motion. It is the most common type of hip arthritis.
Common symptoms include pain in the groin, thigh, or buttock that worsens with activity, stiffness in the morning or after sitting, decreased range of motion, and difficulty walking, climbing stairs, or putting on shoes and socks. A grinding or catching sensation in the hip is also common.
Hip osteoarthritis is most often related to age-related wear of the cartilage. Other contributors include prior hip injury or surgery, femoroacetabular impingement, hip dysplasia, and avascular necrosis. Genetics, excess body weight, and repetitive high-impact loading also increase the risk.
Consider seeing a clinician if hip pain interferes with sleep, work, or daily activities, if you have difficulty walking, climbing stairs, or putting on shoes and socks, or if symptoms worsen despite a trial of conservative care. Sudden hip pain after a fall warrants urgent evaluation to rule out a fracture.
Treatment typically begins conservatively with activity modification, weight management, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and image-guided injections. Total hip replacement has high success rates for advanced disease that fails conservative care.
Many patients manage symptoms successfully for years with conservative care, often with periods of stable function punctuated by flares. When the disease progresses to advanced joint space narrowing and persistent pain, total hip replacement reliably relieves pain and restores function in well-selected patients.

Your Practitioner

Dr. Maya Chen, MD, FAAOS

Fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in cartilage preservation and minimally-invasive joint procedures. Dr. Chen treats high-performance athletes and weekend warriors alike, with a focus on returning patients to the activities they love.

Dr. Marcus Rivera, MD

Fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon focused on conservative-first care for sciatica and herniated discs. Dr. Rivera has performed more than 1,500 lumbar microdiscectomies and lectures internationally on minimally invasive spine surgery.

Dr. Priya Nair, MD

Non-operative sports medicine physician focused on regenerative orthopedic care. Dr. Nair leads the practice's PRP and ultrasound-guided injection programs, and serves as team physician for two NYC-area collegiate athletic departments.

Sources & References

This article draws from 4 sources, including leading medical institutions.

Medical Institutions

Educational & General

Medically reviewed by Dr. Maya Chen, MD, FAAOS · Last reviewed: 2026-05-11