• Hip Pain
  • Understanding Hip Pain
  • Stryker Treatment Options
  • Take Control
  • Real Stories from Hip Recipients
• Knee Pain
  • Understanding Knee Pain
  • Stryker Treatment Options
  • Take Control
  • Real Stories from Knee Recipients
• Shoulder Pain
  • Understanding Shoulder Pain
  • Understanding Your Treatment Options
  • Take Control
  • Real Stories from Shoulder Recipients
• Self-Assessment
• Surgeon Locator
• About Us
  • About Stryker
  • A Company of Firsts
  • Visit Stryker.com
  • Visit Stryker Orthopaedics
• Home

Change Text Size

Share this page

Hip Pain

• Understanding Hip Pain
  • Causes of Hip Pain
  • Treating Hip Pain
  • Orthopaedic Evaluation
  
  
• Stryker Treatment Options
  
  
• Take Control
  
  
• Real Stories from Hip Replacement Recipients
  
  

Orthopaedic Evaluation

Having an Orthopaedic Evaluation

If you're ready to consider having hip joint replacement, the next important step is to talk with an orthopaedic surgeon. The medical management of arthritis and joint degeneration may be handled by a family doctor, an internist, or a rheumatologist. However, when medical management is not effective, an orthopaedic surgeon should be consulted to determine if surgery is an option. In some cases, the orthopaedic surgeon may be the first physician to see a patient and make the diagnosis of arthritis.

Note: Many factors will go into making your joint pain diagnosis. Be sure to print out the results of your Self-Test, 10 Questions to Ask Your Doctor, and Information Your Doctor May Need From You and show them to the orthopaedic surgeon during your visit.

While every orthopaedic evaluation is different, there are many commonly used tests that an orthopaedic surgeon may consider in evaluating a patient's condition. In general, the orthopaedic evaluation usually consists of:

• A thorough review of your medical history
• A physical examination
• X-rays
• Additional tests as needed

The information that the orthopaedic surgeon gathers during the medical history usually suggests the possibility of several different diagnoses (causes). After the medical history is taken, the orthopaedic surgeon conducts a physical examination: If you are experiencing pain in your hip joint, your back may be examined, because hip pain may actually be the result of problems in the lower spine.

Find an Orthopaedic Doctor Search for Orthopedic Doctors in your area. Receive the names and addresses of Orthopedic Doctors who have used or are familiar with Stryker products.

After the physical examination, X-ray evaluation is usually the next step in making the diagnosis. The X-rays help show how much joint damage or deformity exists. An abnormal X-ray may reveal:

• Narrowing of the joint space
• Cysts in the bone
• Spurs on the edge of the bone
• Areas of bony thickening called sclerosis
• Deformity or incorrect alignment
• Other abnormalities

Additional tests may include laboratory testing of blood, urine, or joint fluid and/or magnetic resonance imaging or a bone scan of the joint and surrounding soft tissue.

Treatment Options

Following the orthopaedic evaluation, the orthopaedic surgeon will review and discuss the results with you. Based on his or her diagnosis, your treatment options may include:

• Medication
• Physical therapy
• Hip joint fluid supplements (injections that provide temporary pain relief)
• Total hip joint replacement

If you and your orthopaedic surgeon decide that hip joint replacement surgery is an option to relieve your pain, he or she will provide the specific-to-you details of which type of artificial joint will be used, what you need to know to prepare for the surgery, how the surgery will be performed, and what results you can expect once you're up and moving again.