Published by Commons Clinic. [Web version](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/hip-arthritis-nonsurgical-options/) Reviewer names are abbreviated. Patient reviews describe individual experiences. Review counts describe source records, not unique patients or clinical outcomes; the acquired snapshot may not include complete platform histories. Clinical education and patient accounts do not replace a consultation. Hip & joint replacement # Hip arthritis without surgery: how to build a useful plan Nonsurgical care should have a purpose, a tolerable starting point and a way to decide whether it is helping enough. Published by Commons Clinic · Updated October 20, 2026 · 5 min read [Questions to ask ↓](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/hip-arthritis-nonsurgical-options/#consultation-questions) [Patient experiences ↓](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/hip-arthritis-nonsurgical-options/#patient-experiences) In this guide 1. [Confirm what is driving the hip pain](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/hip-arthritis-nonsurgical-options/#guide-section-1) 2. [Make exercise a treatment you can sustain](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/hip-arthritis-nonsurgical-options/#guide-section-2) 3. [Ask about small changes that protect your day](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/hip-arthritis-nonsurgical-options/#guide-section-3) 4. [Give medications and injections clear boundaries](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/hip-arthritis-nonsurgical-options/#guide-section-4) 5. [Agree on the point for reconsidering surgery](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/hip-arthritis-nonsurgical-options/#guide-section-5) 6. [Explore our hip and joint team](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/hip-arthritis-nonsurgical-options/#guide-section-6) 7. [Know which injection evidence fits hip osteoarthritis](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/hip-arthritis-nonsurgical-options/#guide-section-7) 8. [Make maintaining activity a goal you can recognize](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/hip-arthritis-nonsurgical-options/#guide-section-8) [Go to your consultation questions ↓](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/hip-arthritis-nonsurgical-options/#consultation-questions) ## Confirm what is driving the hip pain Groin pain, stiffness and difficulty walking can fit hip osteoarthritis, but the consultation should still connect the history, examination and any images. Ask whether a tendon, the back or another problem may be contributing. Not every pain around the hip comes from the same structure. Bring a few concrete examples: putting on socks, walking a usual route or getting out of a car. Describe the activities that remain comfortable as well. This helps the clinician understand what a successful nonsurgical plan would need to change. Sources: [AAOS OrthoInfo: Hip Osteoarthritis](https://www.orthoinfo.org/diseases--conditions/osteoarthritis-of-the-hip/) ## Make exercise a treatment you can sustain A useful exercise plan is tailored to your strength, motion, fitness and symptom tolerance. NICE recommends therapeutic exercise as a core part of osteoarthritis care. Ask how to begin, what to do during a flare and when the program should progress or be adjusted. If an earlier program was too painful, bring it to the appointment. The response may help identify a better starting level or a different activity. Ask how the team will balance strengthening with work, family responsibilities and the activity you want to keep doing. Sources: [NICE NG226: Osteoarthritis in Over 16s—Recommendations](https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng226/chapter/recommendations) ## Ask about small changes that protect your day Footwear, a walking aid or changes to the way you tackle difficult activities may make daily life easier. Ask whether a cane or other device would be useful and have someone show you how to use it. These are tools for maintaining independence, not a judgment about age or ability. Talk about the practical obstacle: a long grocery trip, a steep driveway or standing through dinner preparation. A specific problem is easier to solve than the vague instruction to “avoid overdoing it.” Bring home and work constraints into the plan. Sources: [AAOS OrthoInfo: Hip Osteoarthritis](https://www.orthoinfo.org/diseases--conditions/osteoarthritis-of-the-hip/) ## Give medications and injections clear boundaries Ask what a medication or injection is expected to improve, how long benefit may last and what side effects matter with your health history. Include kidney or stomach problems, blood thinners and prescriptions from other clinicians in that discussion. Do not assume an over-the-counter option is suitable for everyone. Temporary symptom relief can be useful, but it should not be confused with regrowing an arthritic joint. If a regenerative treatment is proposed, ask about evidence for hip osteoarthritis specifically, costs, uncertainty and whether it changes later options. Sources: [AAHKS: Relieving Hip Pain Without Surgery](https://hipkneeinfo.org/hip-care/relieving-hip-pain-without-surgery/) ## Agree on the point for reconsidering surgery You do not have to decide on replacement at the first conversation. Ask how the team will judge whether nonsurgical care is helping enough and when to reassess. Worsening sleep, declining walking tolerance or loss of independence may be more meaningful than a single pain score. If symptoms substantially affect quality of life despite appropriate care, a replacement discussion may become useful. Ask what you can continue safely while considering that choice. A clear review plan lets you pursue conservative care with purpose rather than feeling that you are only postponing an inevitable decision. Sources: [NICE NG226: Osteoarthritis in Over 16s—Recommendations](https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng226/chapter/recommendations) ## Explore our hip and joint team Our team includes Dr. Andrew Wassef, Dr. Prem Ramkumar and Dr. Christopher Combs, whose practices cover hip and joint care, including replacement when appropriate. Their provider pages offer more about their individual focus. Patient experiences below can help you learn about communication and support before a conversation about the options that fit your symptoms and priorities. ## Know which injection evidence fits hip osteoarthritis The AAOS hip osteoarthritis guideline supports physical therapy as an option for mild to moderate symptoms and describes corticosteroid injections as an option for short-term relief. Its patient summary does not recommend hyaluronic acid injections for hip arthritis because benefit over placebo has not been demonstrated. If an injection is proposed, ask about the specific product and the expected duration and purpose of relief. Clarify how it will support daily activity or rehabilitation and what the next step would be if it does not help. Discuss relevant risks and costs before treating an injection as an inevitable part of care. Sources: [Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hip](https://www.aaos.org/quality/quality-programs/osteoarthritis-of-the-hip/) ## Make maintaining activity a goal you can recognize HSS describes how hip pain can reduce activity, while reduced activity can weaken the muscles that help control the joint. A nonsurgical plan should therefore explain how you can remain active within a tolerable, individualized program, rather than leaving you uncertain about every movement. Choose an everyday goal to discuss, such as putting on socks, walking to a nearby shop or finishing a work shift. Ask how the therapist will choose a starting level and adjust it if symptoms increase. Reassess both comfort and function at follow-up; less activity alone can make pain look better without restoring the life you want. Sources: [Hip Arthritis](https://www.hss.edu/health-library/conditions-and-treatments/list/hip-arthritis) Make the most of your visit ## Questions to bring to your consultation Choose the questions that matter most to you. Bring them along, and ask us to explain anything that is unclear. - What findings indicate arthritis is my main pain source? - What should a tailored exercise program improve? - How should I adjust activity when symptoms flare? - Would a walking aid or practical home change help? - Which medication risks matter with my medical history? - What is the goal and expected duration of an injection? - What evidence supports any proposed regenerative treatment for this diagnosis? - When should we reconsider the plan or discuss replacement? - What evidence supports this particular injection for hip osteoarthritis? - How would short-term pain relief help me progress with activity or therapy? - Which daily task will we use to judge whether the nonsurgical plan is helping? ## Sources & further reading - [AAOS OrthoInfo: Hip Osteoarthritis](https://www.orthoinfo.org/diseases--conditions/osteoarthritis-of-the-hip/) - [AAHKS: Relieving Hip Pain Without Surgery](https://hipkneeinfo.org/hip-care/relieving-hip-pain-without-surgery/) - [NICE NG226: Osteoarthritis in Over 16s—Recommendations](https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng226/chapter/recommendations) - [Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hip](https://www.aaos.org/quality/quality-programs/osteoarthritis-of-the-hip/) American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons · Published December 1, 2023 - [Hip Arthritis](https://www.hss.edu/health-library/conditions-and-treatments/list/hip-arthritis) Hospital for Special Surgery We use these medical sources to help explain your options and prepare you for a conversation with our team. Our guides feature our own clinicians; patient reviews describe individual experiences. [Read as Markdown](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/hip-arthritis-nonsurgical-options/index.md) Meet our team ## People behind your care. [**Andrew Wassef, MD** Orthopedic Surgeon, Joints](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/andrew-wassef-md/) [More about Andrew Wassef ↗](https://commonsclinic.com/physicians/andrew-wassef-md/) [**Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA** Orthopedic Surgeon, Joints & Sports Medicine](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/prem-n-ramkumar-md-mba/) [More about Prem N. Ramkumar ↗](https://commonsclinic.com/physicians/prem-n-ramkumar-md-mba/) [**Christopher Combs, MD** Orthopedic Surgeon, Joints & Sports Medicine](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/christopher-combs-md/) [More about Christopher Combs ↗](https://commonsclinic.com/physicians/christopher-combs-md/) Explore our clinicians, then talk with us about your symptoms, goals, and the care you need. Patient experiences ## Experiences, *in their words.* Hear from patients about our clinicians, the conversations they had, and the support they received. Excerpt > After years of debilitating hip pain I decided to have an anterior MAKO robotic-arm-assisted total hip replacement with Dr P. P. Comer Rating: 5/5 · Source: Google · Date: September 18, 2025 [Reviewer’s Google activity](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/103705602948437078755/place/ChIJN5abTJkz3YARYFiCkifHPjw) Source link type: reviewer place Attributed clinician: Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA On hip pain. Excerpt > Dr Prem is a great surgeon that I would highly recommend to anyone needing pain relief from knee or hip pain. A. Rating: 5/5 · Source: Google · Date: June 19, 2025 [Reviewer’s Google activity](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/117988844815558212617/place/ChIJN5abTJkz3YARYFiCkifHPjw) Source link type: reviewer place Attributed clinician: Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA On hip pain. Excerpt > Fabulous pa office staff all on the same page. J. Fritz Rating: 5/5 · Source: Google · Date: May 12, 2025 [Reviewer’s Google activity](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/100281025689124137630/place/ChIJqeNILuQy3YAR9WA5ym3pGLU) Source link type: reviewer place Attributed clinician: Andrew Wassef, MD On the care experience: staff and team support Excerpt > INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE – Dr. Wassef, Jason his assistant and Mason from the Stryker MAKO team were amazing! C. Delahooke Rating: 5/5 · Source: Google · Date: May 6, 2025 [Reviewer’s Google activity](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/117143475635969503237/place/ChIJqeNILuQy3YAR9WA5ym3pGLU) Source link type: reviewer place Attributed clinician: Andrew Wassef, MD On the care experience: staff and team support Excerpt > Great doctor, he takes enough time to explain your issues and very informative. C. Carreon Rating: 5/5 · Source: Google · Date: November 6, 2024 [Reviewer’s Google activity](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/115375730681578063464/place/ChIJH2XhMeQy3YARbezZye2vIhY) Source link type: reviewer place Attributed clinician: Christopher Combs, MD On the care experience: explanations Excerpt > This is the best decision I made.Dr Combs listens and explains in layman’s words.He gives you the options and let’s you decide. M. Ramanathan Rating: 5/5 · Source: Google · Date: October 18, 2024 [Reviewer’s Google activity](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/109392561636536090273/place/ChIJH2XhMeQy3YARbezZye2vIhY) Source link type: reviewer place Attributed clinician: Christopher Combs, MD On the care experience: explanations Keep exploring ## Your next *good question.* More guidance to help you understand your options and plan your next step. Hip & joint replacement ### [Hip replacement: how to choose the right surgeon for your goals](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/hip-replacement-physician-questions/) Look for an explanation that connects your hip symptoms, the proposed operation and the life you want to return to. [Read the guide](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/hip-replacement-physician-questions/) Knee ### [Knee replacement: what matters when choosing a physician?](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/knee-replacement-decision/) Look for a recommendation that explains the likely benefit, acknowledges the limits and makes recovery workable for your life. [Read the guide](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/knee-replacement-decision/) Knee ### [ACL injury: how to discuss surgery, rehabilitation and returning to sport](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/acl-injury-surgery-or-rehabilitation/) Your knee’s stability, associated injuries and future demands should shape the ACL decision—and rehabilitation belongs in either pathway. [Read the guide](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/acl-injury-surgery-or-rehabilitation/) Meet the clinicians ## Explore your *next conversation.* [![Andrew Wassef, MD](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/assets/andrew-wassef-md.jpg)](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/andrew-wassef-md/) Orthopedic Surgeon, Joints ### [Andrew Wassef, MD](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/andrew-wassef-md/) Lakewood · Long Beach – Douglas Park [Meet Andrew Wassef](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/andrew-wassef-md/) [![Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/assets/prem-n-ramkumar-md-mba.jpg)](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/prem-n-ramkumar-md-mba/) Orthopedic Surgeon, Joints & Sports Medicine ### [Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/prem-n-ramkumar-md-mba/) Lakewood · Long Beach – Douglas Park [Meet Prem N. Ramkumar](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/prem-n-ramkumar-md-mba/) [![Christopher Combs, MD](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/assets/christopher-combs-md.jpg)](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/christopher-combs-md/) Orthopedic Surgeon, Joints & Sports Medicine ### [Christopher Combs, MD](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/christopher-combs-md/) Lakewood · Long Beach – Douglas Park [Meet Christopher Combs](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/christopher-combs-md/) ## Publisher & attribution Commons Clinic Reviews is operated by Commons Clinic. 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