Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, progressive autoimmune disease that often affects joints in the hands, feet, and knees. However, it can also impact the hip joints, causing significant pain, stiffness, and restricted movement. This condition occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints, leading to inflammation and joint damage.
With RA in the hip, individuals may experience discomfort and stiffness in the thigh and groin area. Other symptoms of RA include fatigue, loss of appetite, pain, swelling, and stiffness in other joints. Although RA more commonly affects other joints, about 15 to 28% of people with RA develop hip RA, usually later in the disease’s progression.
RA affects the hip in approximately 10-15% of patients. The symptoms of hip arthritis may include pain in or near the hip joint, stiffness, audible clicking sounds when moving the hip, and weakness. While hip arthritis is generally a chronic condition, treatments are available to help ease symptoms and reduce further joint damage.
In the United States, roughly 1.5 million adults are affected by RA. As an autoimmune disease, RA causes different joints in the body to swell and become painful. Like other forms of hip arthritis, RA leads to swelling and pain in the affected joints.
For more information on hip rheumatoid arthritis, its symptoms, and management strategies, visit the following resources:
WebMD
Medical News Today
Healthline
Healthgrades
HealthCentral
Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Verywell Health
