That Clicking and Cracking on Your Hip Could be an Early Sign of Arthritis
Are you experiencing pain, locking, grinding, limping, and trouble walking upstairs or being unable to stand or sit for long periods? These are all common symptoms of hip pain or hip dysplasia or an early sign of hip Arthritis which many adults may not realize they have.
According to media reports, Sienna, the three-month-old daughter of Made in Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh is suffering from developmental hip dysplasia (DDH). Millie told the Daily Mail that doctors had advised that her firstborn should wear a harness for six to 12 weeks. If the condition is not treated during infancy, problems can suddenly occur in adulthood.
The earliest signs of the condition include hip pain that is soon followed by cracking, clicking or locking sensation around the hip. This happens because the ball at the top of the thigh bone feels as if it doesn’t ‘fit.’ The condition can lead to developing a limp because of the pain and weakness that develops.
Doctors believe that it leads to an earlier onset of osteoarthritis as the instability of the ‘ball’ in the socket causes wear and tear. DDH is the most common cause of osteoarthritis in the hips in people under 50. Research suggests that that newborns with DDH are still slipping through the net when pre-emptive treatment could prevent problems in adulthood.
Doctors told Millie that if she fails to wear the harness, the baby risks pain, walking difficulties, or the appearance of waddling besides an early onset of osteoarthritis and hip deformities in later life. DDH is a medical, developmental condition where the ball at the top of the thigh bone doesn’t fit properly into the socket in the hip because the socket is too shallow. This can affect one side, but often both sides of the hip are involved.
The “ball” is the top of your thigh bone; it sits in a “socket” that is formed by part of your pelvic bone. A slippery tissue called cartilage covers the bone surface and helps cushion the joint, creating a low-friction environment so you can move quickly and without pain.
However, when you have Arthritis in the hip, you can start to lose that cartilage in the joint that cushions the bones. You can experience inflammation and pain in reaction to that degeneration. This makes routine tasks like bending over to tie a shoe, getting up from a chair, or going for a walk becomes more challenging and downright painful. Jonathan M. Vigdorchik, MD, hip and knee surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City says:
“Arthritis is a wear-and-tear or immune response that makes this cartilage gets thinner or wears away. It’s like the treads on a tire. As you wear out the treads, they get thinner and thinner.”
The development of Telehealth Apps, such as Solve.Care means that you can consult at the earliest signs of DHH with your healthcare provider using video conferencing. The introduction of Global Telehealth Exchange (GTHE) means physical or geographical barriers will no longer limit anyone seeking healthcare. GTHE will provide physicians who wish to practice telemedicine the opportunity to be listed on the global blockchain registry. Pradeep Goel, CEO of Solve.Care commented during the launch of GTHE:
“Now, more and more patients are reluctant to visit their doctors due to the pandemic. Medical practitioners who are not primarily involved in treating Covid-19 cases have experienced a significant drop in patient appointments. The launch of Global Telehealth Exchange is geared towards remedying this imbalance. We at Solve.Care believe that GTHE is the first of its kind in the world, a true landmark deployment of blockchain and digital currency that addresses many of the challenges that the global healthcare system is facing today.”