Marc Darrow, MD,JD.
Over the years we have seen our fair share of people with a diagnosis of a bone-on-bone hips. The people we usually see have a lot of hip pain and instability which causes walking difficulties, balance difficulties and prevents these people from feeling stable on their feet. They also come into our office claiming that they have been told they only have one treatment option, hip replacement and that they should get on the list to get one. They are here in our office to ask, “Is hip replacement really my only option?”
Diagnosing Hip Pain and arthritis – MRI or physical examination
Alternatives to Hip Replacement
Someone who suffers constantly from pain and who does not want to learn to live with it may consider hip replacement as their only way to get back to a pain-free life and resumption of their normal activities. Others choose hip replacement because of concerns over losing their independence. This includes concerns over their ability to walk, drive, and perform daily and routine personal chores such as dressing, meal preparation, and hygiene. These same concerns are also brought up by people who do not want to have hip replacement. Hip replacement is a major surgery. The post-recovery rehab can put the person into these same situations that they were hoping to avoid, the inability to drive and be independent for weeks or months.
Management and pain relief from bone-on-bone hips
Medicine can offer many options for hip pain relief beyond drugs and medications. Research suggests that people with hip arthritis are too often told only about hip replacement as a treatment, so they do not even know about a nonsurgical arthritis treatment option that may be available beyond pain medication or “live with it.”
When a patient comes into our office, the realistic expectation of effectiveness of treatment is confirmed by a physical examination and a patient history. Following the consultation we sit down with the patient and present our recommendations for their hip pain treatments. How do we decide which treatment will be best? Many factors. For instance, a patient who wants to climb a mountain in a few months will need a different treatment program than someone who simply wants to walk up a flight of stairs without loss of stability and pain. Someone who needs to get back to work or not lose time from a physically demanding job will need a different program than a retired person with limited activity.
Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy is part of a group of treatments that come under the term “regenerative medicine.” PRP treatments involve collecting a small amount of your blood and spinning it in a centrifuge to separate the platelets from the red cells. The collected platelets are then injected back into the injured area to stimulate healing and regeneration.
The use of mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow concentrate (BMC) has become an increasingly popular option as an alternative to total hip replacement. In our published research we showed short-term outcomes of 4 hip osteoarthritis patients who each underwent 4 stem cell injections. On average, the last follow-up was administered 3.5 months after the first injection. The results show that patients experienced an average 72.4% total overall pain improvement. Patients also reported less difficulty in performing daily activities following the procedure.
Free phone consultation
While hip osteoarthritis can cause severe pain, conservative care or regenerative medicine can help many people with disability, pain and loss of function.
In our practice, bone marrow aspirate or bone marrow derived Stem Cell Therapy is a treatment for musculoskeletal disorders. We treat degenerative joint disease, degenerative disc disease of the spine, and tendon and ligament injury. With over 27 years of experience, Dr. Marc Darrow and his team are pioneers in regenerative treatments, offering expert insights and personalized care tailored to your needs.
Schedule a free phone consultation today and receive our exclusive Regenerative Medicine Stem Cell & PRP Quick Start Guide —a digital resource packed with:
- Insights into Stem Cell & PRP Therapy
- Research-backed treatments for chronic tendon injuries, joint pain, arthritis, and sports injuries
Take the first step toward a pain-free, active life today.
Call for a free phone consultation with our staff 800-300-9300
