Download Hip Pain Treatment: Medications Your doctor may recommend

Hip Pain Treatment: Medications
Your doctor may recommend medication treatment for hip pain, including:
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Over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and
naproxen and prescription NSAIDs
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can slow down the progress of certain kinds
of arthritis (DMARDs won’t have a noticeable effect for weeks or months after you begin the
treatment.)
Corticosteroid such as prednisone or methylprednisolone (anti-inflammatory drugs that can be
taken orally)
Corticosteroids are typically only used as a treatment in people who have severe arthritis or aren’t
getting benefits from other medications. These medications have side effects like weight gain,
osteoporosis, increased blood pressure, and high blood sugar, among others, and are not typically
recommended for long-term use.
Hip Pain Treatment: Injections
Injections can help determine the source of pain, as well as alleviate the discomfort.
Your doctor will inject the medication directly into the hip joint; this approach may have a somewhat
lower risk of oral corticosteroids’ side effects. Corticosteroid injections can be repeated at various
intervals. A non-corticosteroid medication can be injected to lubricate a painful joint.
The injection itself only takes a few minutes, but the overall procedure will usually take between thirty
and sixty minutes. Your doctor will explain the procedure to you.
Post-Injection:
After the hip joint injection procedure, the patient typically remains resting on the table for twenty to
thirty minutes, and then is asked to move the area of usual discomfort to try to provoke the usual pain.
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Patients may notice a slight increase in pain lasting for several days as the numbing medicine
wears off and the cortisone starts to take effect.
If the area is painful two to three days after the injection, applying ice or a cold pack to the
general area of the injection site will typically provide pain relief.
The patient may begin to notice pain relief starting two to five days after the injection.
If no improvement occurs within ten days after the injection, further diagnostic tests may be
needed to accurately diagnose the patient's pain.
One day following the procedure, patients may return to their regular activities. When the pain has
improved, it is advisable to start regular exercise and activities in moderation. Even if the pain relief is
significant, it is still important to increase activities gradually to avoid recurrence of pain.
Your doctor will discuss any potential risks of injection with you prior to treatment.