Hip arthritis has a way of creeping into daily life until an ordinary walk feels like an obstacle course. For some, it’s a dull ache after standing too long. For others, it’s the stiffness that turns climbing a flight of stairs into a small feat of endurance. It’s easy to brush these symptoms off as a normal part of getting older, until the pain becomes serious enough to raise the one word most people dread: surgery.

Hip surgeries can be the right call for some, but it isn’t the only option, and it usually isn’t the first one. In this guide, we break down what hip arthritis is, what causes it, and the non-surgical treatments available today.

What Is Hip Arthritis?

Hip arthritis develops when the smooth cartilage cushioning the hip joint gradually wears away. Healthy cartilage lets the joint glide smoothly, allowing you to move without pain. As that cushioning erodes, bone begins to meet bone, and the resulting friction brings on pain, stiffness, and inflammation that make everyday movement harder.

Age is the most common cause of hip arthritis, but it’s rarely the only factor at play. Inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, past injuries, joint abnormalities, and other underlying health conditions can also contribute to cartilage damage and chronic hip pain.

Because different forms of arthritis affect the hip in different ways, getting an accurate diagnosis is the first step toward relief, and that starts with recognizing the symptoms most people notice first. 

What Are the Symptoms of Hip Arthritis?

Hip arthritis pain doesn’t always show up where people expect. While some people do experience pain directly in the hip joint, others may notice it elsewhere. The most common symptoms we hear from our hip arthritis patients include:

  • Pain in the groin, outer hip, upper thigh, or buttock
  • Stiffness after waking or sitting for long periods
  • Pain that radiates down the leg toward the knee
  • Clicking, catching, or grinding when moving
  • Difficulty bending, squatting, or putting on shoes
  • Reduced range of motion in the lower body
  • Pain in the knees or hips that worsens with weight-bearing activity or prolonged standing
  • Weakness, instability, or limping as the condition progresses

Since many of these symptoms overlap with other conditions, persistent hip pain and stiffness deserve a thorough evaluation rather than guesswork. Pinpointing what’s really driving your discomfort is the key to understanding why it started in the first place.

What Causes Hip Arthritis?

Hip arthritis rarely develops because of a single event. In many cases, it results from a combination of mechanical stress, genetics, lifestyle habits, and changes within the body that gradually wear down the joint over time. Some of the most common risk factors include:

  • Age-related cartilage wear
  • Previous fractures, dislocations, labral tears, or other hip injuries
  • Excess body weight
  • A family history of arthritis
  • Repetitive stress from work or sports
  • Structural conditions such as hip dysplasia or femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)

These factors increase the likelihood of developing hip arthritis, but they don’t always explain why symptoms progress differently from one person to the next.

Research suggests that overall health may also play a role in joint degeneration. Chronic inflammation, hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies, metabolic health, and lifestyle habits may also influence cartilage health, pain levels, and the body’s ability to repair damaged tissue. Considering both the condition of the joint and these broader health factors can provide a more complete understanding of hip arthritis and whether you need surgery to treat it.

Can Hip Arthritis Be Treated Without Surgery?

For many people, yes, hip arthritis may be treated without surgical methods.

However, not everyone experiencing arthritis-related hip discomfort needs surgery, and not everyone who eventually undergoes surgery needs it right away. Many people with hip arthritis may find significant, lasting relief with alternative care, especially when treated early. It’s important to note that the right treatment will often depend on the extent of your joint damage as well as your symptoms, activity level, and goals.

Regenerative Non-Surgical Treatment Options for Hip Arthritis

No single treatment works for every hip arthritis patient, which is why a real evaluation matters more than a one-size-fits-all protocol. Some people respond well to targeted exercise and lifestyle changes alone, while others need the deeper support of regenerative medicine to protect their remaining cartilage and calm the inflammation driving their pain. Below are the 5 regenerative treatments we turn to most often, each chosen to match where a patient is in their journey rather than applied as a default step before surgery.

1. PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Therapy 

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy taps into your body’s own healing response, using a concentrated sample of your blood to encourage repair right where your hip needs it most.

It tends to work best for patients with mild to moderate hip arthritis who still have healthy cartilage worth protecting. While healing will vary on a patient by patient basis,  most patients have reported steady improvement in just a few weeks.

At Meeting Point Health, this treatment is performed using real-time ultrasound guidance, allowing our team to precisely direct treatment where it’s needed most.

2. Stem Cell Therapy 

When cartilage damage has progressed beyond what PRP alone can address, stem cell therapy offers another way to support your body’s repair process without surgery. These cells can develop into specialized tissue types and release signals that encourage healing, and early research suggests they may help grow new tissue, calm chronic inflammation, and support hip cartilage regeneration over time.

At Meeting Point Health, we source our stem cells through trusted, rigorously screened partners like Vitti Labs, so you always know what’s going into your body. Every injection is guided by ultrasound imaging, giving our team the precision to place cells exactly where your hip needs them most.

4. Peptide Therapy

Peptide therapy represents one of the newest frontiers in regenerative medicine, and it’s a therapy we use regularly for our hip arthritis patients. Since peptides support tissue repair, regulate inflammation, and aid recovery after orthopedic injury, they’re a standard part of every treatment plan we offer at Meeting Point Health rather than an afterthought. Keep in mind though, that  your medical history, wellness  goals, and your overall health will play a role, so no two peptide treatment plans look exactly alike.

5. Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy uses focused acoustic sound waves to stimulate blood flow, reduce inflammation, and trigger the body’s natural repair response in the tissues surrounding an arthritic hip. Since it’s non-invasive, it gives hip arthritis patients another way to ease pain and improve mobility without needles, incisions, or downtime, making it a valuable option for those looking to avoid surgery.

At Meeting Point Health, we offer shockwave therapy as part of a broader regenerative treatment plan for those with hip arthritis, pairing it with therapies like PRP, stem cells, or peptides to support healing from multiple angles. Sessions are quick, require no recovery time, and can be scheduled alongside your other visits.

6. Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been used for centuries, but it earns its place in your treatment plan for a more modern reason: a growing body of research backs its ability to ease chronic musculoskeletal pain. Thin needles placed at precise points can reduce pain, improve circulation, and relax the muscles surrounding a stressed hip joint. It won’t reverse arthritis on its own, which is exactly why we never offer it as a standalone fix.

At Meeting Point Health, we weave acupuncture into your broader regenerative and functional medicine plan, where it can amplify the results of the therapies doing the heavier lifting.

When Should Surgery Be Considered for Hip Arthritis?

Although many people can successfully manage hip arthritis without surgery, non-surgical care may not always be the right long-term solution for hip pain.

If your hip joint has sustained extensive cartilage loss, or if your hip pain has severely limited your mobility and range of motion despite seeking appropriate treatment, hip replacement surgery may offer the greatest opportunity to restore function and improve quality of life.

At Meeting Point Health, every treatment begins with a comprehensive evaluation rather than a predetermined recommendation. Our goal is always to exhaust every regenerative option first, but we’re also dedicated to being transparent with you about where you stand and what your body needs. For some patients, regenerative therapies, rehabilitation, and lifestyle changes may provide enough relief to postpone surgery for years. Others may learn that the condition has progressed to the point where an orthopedic surgeon is the most appropriate next step.

The key is providing you with the confidence that your decision is based on a clear understanding of your condition and not simply on the assumption that surgery is your only option.

Looking for Non-Surgical Hip Arthritis Care in Philadelphia?

Living with chronic hip pain can change the way you exercise, travel, work, sleep, and spend time with family and friends. When every step hurts, it’s easy for your world to become a little smaller, and for you to miss out on the things, and people you love.

If you’re looking for a path back to mobility that doesn’t involve surgery, you deserve a provider who takes that goal seriously. At Meeting Point Health, we offer every patient a comprehensive 60-minute evaluation that looks beyond just your hip joint so we can determine which route will best fit your long term wellness goals. 

Led by Dr. Stephen Matta, an SSRP fellow and faculty member in cellular medicine, Meeting Point Health combines regenerative orthopedics, functional medicine, and personalized care to help patients explore treatments for hip arthritis without resorting to surgery first.

Hip pain doesn’t have to define your life, and surgery doesn’t have to be your first option. Simply reach out to our team or  schedule a discovery call online to start your personalized, non-surgical treatment plan today 

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the most common questions we receive from patients struggling with hip arthritis.

What not to do with hip arthritis?

Staying active is generally beneficial for hip arthritis, since long periods of inactivity can lead to increased stiffness, muscle weakness, and reduced mobility. However, it’s important to choose activities that do not put added strain on your hip joints.

High-impact exercises such as running or jumping may aggravate symptoms for some people, particularly during painful flare-ups. Repetitive movements that increase discomfort, lifting heavy loads without proper mechanics, or pushing through significant pain can also worsen irritation.

When you speak with our team, we’ll create a personalized movement and activity plan that supports your healing without putting unnecessary strain on your hips.

What is the success rate of PRP Injections in the hip? 

Success rates for PRP vary, since outcomes depend on the severity of your arthritis, your overall health, and how your body responds to treatment. Since a  single statistic can’t capture that, we’ll let our success stories speak instead. Feel free to explore them or schedule a discovery call with our team today to learn more.