Hip arthritis, in itself, can be debilitating and disruptive. If you’ve been diagnosed with it, the last thing you want is having to live through a flare—a period in which your symptoms tend to crank up, and the very medications that you take to control them don’t seem to work.
While it can be quite hard to know when exactly a flare will occur, it’s not entirely uncontrollable. Knowing your triggers, in addition to adhering to your treatment plan, can go a long way toward keeping your symptoms from interfering with your overall quality of life.
The possible causes of your flares can vary depending on your specific type of hip arthritis (i.e., osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or post-traumatic arthritis). Outlined below are three potential triggers common among the different types of hip arthritis.
Stress
Although the exact mechanisms are unknown, stress has been linked to flare-ups of arthritic symptoms. High levels of emotional stress can lead to the exacerbation of joint pain and the other symptoms of hip arthritis. Many medical experts ascribe this to the production of more pro-inflammatory cytokines during stressful situations.
Learning effective coping skills and strategies can greatly help with managing or even preventing hip arthritis flares.
Overexertion
While exercise is essential for keeping your joints limber, sudden or too much physical activity can also put a stress on them and their supporting tissues, resulting in a flare.
Your best way forward is to do only light- to moderate-intensity exercises, and know when to stop. If you feel your hip hurts, stop—don’t make a mistake of putting up with pain.
Changes in Atmospheric Pressure
There have been several studies done over the years to establish the connection between arthritis-related joint pain and the weather, but without success. Nonetheless, scientists have pointed out a few theories. One plausible theory is that cold weather can cause the thick fluid that lubricates and enables your joints to move smoothy (synovial fluid) to get even thicker. In turn, your hip gets stiff or “creaky.”
Hip Arthritis Treatment in Farmington Hills, MI
At Tri County Orthopedics, our orthopedic experts are cognizant of the daily challenges that arthritis can put people through. As such, in addition to providing outstanding and comprehensive medical care, our physicians take pleasure in sharing useful strategies to help patients, like you, live well with the condition.
To learn more about our services or to schedule your visit with one of our orthopedic experts today, contact our friendly staff at (248) 474-5575. We look forward to helping you break free from pain and move freely again!
