Sudden Throbbing While Climbing Stairs... Ignoring It Could Be Serious [Kok! Health]

Structural Abnormalities as a Cause of Hip Arthritis
Cartilage Wear Progresses Without Early Symptoms
When Arthritis Reaches the Final Stage,
Hip Replacement Surgery Becomes Inevitable

Arthritis is commonly perceived as a degenerative disease caused by aging. However, in the case of the hip joint, congenital or developmental structural abnormalities are often the cause, leading to arthritis at a relatively young age. Recently, there has been a rapid increase in the number of young people complaining of hip pain, which warrants attention.

The representative suspicious symptoms are a dull and throbbing pain in the groin or beside the pelvis when walking, climbing stairs, or sitting cross-legged. Getty Images

According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service on January 31, the number of patients with hip dysplasia caused by structural defects reached 7,842 last year, marking a 171% increase over the past five years. There were 5,616 female patients, more than 2.5 times the number of male patients (2,226), and 27.5% of all patients were in their 30s to 50s.

Hip dysplasia is a congenital or developmental disorder in which the acetabulum, which serves as the socket of the pelvis, does not sufficiently cover the femoral head (the upper part of the thigh bone). There are often no clear symptoms during the growth period, but pain frequently develops after reaching adulthood. The main issue is structural instability. Because the hip joint does not fit together properly, body weight is concentrated on specific areas, accelerating cartilage wear. Repeated acetabular labrum tears or cartilage damage eventually lead to secondary arthritis.

Ko Youngseung, an orthopedic surgeon at Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, explained, "Thanks to advances in medical science, subtle cases of dysplasia that went undiagnosed in the past are now being detected early," adding, "A shift in awareness, with more people actively seeking medical care instead of enduring pain, is also contributing to the increase in patients."

Image generated by Google Gemini.

Groin Pain Should Not Be Dismissed as Simple Muscle Soreness

The hip joint is a key joint responsible for walking and daily movements, but dysplasia is difficult to detect early because initial symptoms are not obvious. If high-intensity exercise continues without recognizing the structural abnormality, cartilage damage can progress rapidly.

The representative suspicious symptoms are a dull and throbbing pain in the groin or beside the pelvis when walking, climbing stairs, or sitting cross-legged. If the pain worsens after prolonged walking, or if there is a feeling of restricted movement when spreading or bringing the legs together, abnormalities in the hip joint should be suspected. Ko emphasized, "Many young patients mistake the pain for simple muscle soreness and neglect it, only to visit the hospital when their cartilage is almost completely worn out," and added, "If groin pain is recurrent, a thorough examination is essential."

If arthritis caused by hip dysplasia progresses to the final stage, hip replacement surgery becomes inevitable. Postoperative lifestyle management is also important. Sitting with legs crossed, squatting on the floor, or excessively bending the waist should be avoided. Ko advised, "Because floor-sitting culture can easily burden the hip joint, it is better to switch to a lifestyle using beds and chairs. Maintaining a healthy weight and engaging in strength training are also necessary to extend the lifespan of an artificial joint and to regain pain-free, unrestricted movement."