Hip osteoarthritis
Arthritis that wears down cartilage and inflames the joint lining, causing pain, stiffness and trouble moving.
Hip pain keeping you from walking?
For selected people with arthritis-related hip pain, our team evaluates whether transcatheter arterial microembolization (TAME) may be an option alongside conservative care.
- Minimally invasive options
- Outpatient care, no hospital stay
- Insurance checked before your visit
- Se habla español
TAMETranscatheter arterial microembolization
Why it matters
Options for hip arthritis pain
Arthritis can inflame the lining of the hip. That inflammation is one reason hips hurt in the groin, thigh or buttock, often worse with walking. Hip pain can also limit sleep and everyday tasks.
Treatment starts with the basics, like physical therapy, weight management and medicine. For people who are not ready for, or not able to have, hip replacement, TAME may ease pain. Research on TAME for the hip is at an earlier stage than for the knee, and your consultation should cover the likely cause of your pain, what you have tried, the possible benefits and risks, and other options.
Common symptoms
Does this sound familiar?
If any of these keep you from the things you enjoy, a visit can help find the cause and the options that fit you.
- Pain in the groin, thigh or buttock
- Hip pain that's worse with walking
- Pain that limits how far you can walk
- Hip pain that disrupts sleep
- Stiffness in the hip
- Pain lasting 3+ months despite care
Conditions we treat
Conditions we evaluate and treat
Inflamed hip lining
Hip arthritis pain is driven partly by inflammation in the joint lining, which TAME aims to calm.
Hip pain before replacement
Arthritis pain in people who are not ready for, not eligible for, or want to delay hip replacement.
Pain that may start in the back
Lumbar spine problems can cause pain felt in the hip, thigh or buttock. We look for competing causes before recommending treatment.
Treatments
Treatment options
Every plan starts with an evaluation. Your provider reviews your history, imaging and the treatments you have tried, then explains which options may fit.
TreatmentConservative care
Weight management, physical therapy and walking aids are the base of hip arthritis care. Anti-inflammatory medicines can help some people.
- Low-impact activity keeps joints moving
- A physical therapist can show you safe exercises
- Continues alongside any procedure
Who it may help: Everyone with hip arthritis pain.
TreatmentImage-guided hip injection
An injection into the hip joint guided by imaging. It is one of the standard options before considering a procedure.
- Guided by imaging
- Part of standard care
Who it may help: People whose hip pain continues despite therapy and medicine.
TreatmentTAME
Transcatheter arterial microembolization
A thin catheter is placed in an artery, usually at the top of the thigh, and guided by X-ray to the small arteries around the lining of the hip joint. Tiny particles are released to reduce blood flow to the inflamed tissue. TAME for the hip is still investigational, with limited data.
- Outpatient; same-day recovery at home
- No incision, just a small puncture
- Research is at an earlier stage than for the knee
- Results vary
Who it may help: People with chronic hip arthritis pain for 3 months or more who haven't found enough relief with other treatments and want to delay, or can't have, replacement.
Find out which options fit you
Our team checks your insurance before your visit.
What to expect
From first visit to follow-up
Screening visit
We review your history, examine your hip and look at your imaging. Bring your medication list, insurance card, recent X-rays or MRI reports, and a list of treatments you have tried.
An honest plan
You and your specialist make a plan together, usually starting with the simplest options. We explain benefits, risks and alternatives, and if a procedure is not a good fit, we will tell you and suggest next steps. We check your insurance before anything is scheduled.
Outpatient treatment
If you are a candidate, the procedure is done at our main center through a small puncture, with numbing medicine and relaxing medicine. Most people rest a few hours and go home the same day.
Follow-up
We check in after treatment and track your pain, walking and sleep. Follow-up visits help you and your specialist see whether the treatment has helped.
Our team
Led by experienced physicians
Chief Medical Officer
Vinod Kumar, MD, FACC, RPVI
Dr. Kumar is a board-certified cardiologist and vascular specialist who leads the Heart Vascular & Leg Center and Advanced Joint Pain & Vascular Center team. He treats arterial and venous disease, nonhealing wounds and joint pain with minimally invasive, image-guided techniques, and trained in joint embolization in Tokyo with Dr. Yuji Okuno.
Serving Kern County since 1992Part of Heart Vascular & Leg Center.
Minimally invasive careImage-guided options, done as outpatient procedures.
Insurance checked firstWe verify coverage and referrals before your visit.
Se habla españolOur team speaks English and Spanish.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is TAME?
Transcatheter arterial microembolization uses the same approach as knee GAE to treat long-lasting pain from inflammation in other joints. It uses imaging and a small catheter to target abnormal vessels linked to the inflamed hip lining.
Is TAME a replacement for hip surgery?
No. TAME does not replace the joint. It may be an option for people who are not ready for, or not eligible for, hip replacement. Severe arthritis may be better treated with joint replacement.
How strong is the evidence?
TAME for the hip is investigational. Studies so far have been small, and results from the knee should not be assumed to apply to the hip. Your specialist will talk with you about what is known.
What should I tell my specialist?
Tell us where you feel the pain (groin, side or back), how far you can walk, whether it affects your sleep, and what treatments you have tried.
Is embolization safe?
It is done through a tiny puncture, not surgery, but like any procedure it has risks. The most common are soreness, a short-term increase in joint pain and a bruise at the puncture site. Less common risks include temporary skin color change over the treated area, a reaction to contrast dye, infection or injury to the artery. Your specialist will talk through the risks for someone like you before you decide.
Will my insurance cover it?
Coverage for joint embolization varies, and some plans consider it still being studied. Before your visit, our team verifies your coverage, referral requirements and any expected costs. We accept Medicare and many other plans, but plan acceptance does not mean every procedure is covered.
Locations
Find a location near you
Enter your ZIP code or city to see our offices sorted by distance. Procedures are done at our main center; our other offices see patients for consultations and follow-up visits.
Visit us
- Call for an appointment
- (661) 324-4100
- Locations
- 8 offices across Central and Southern California. Find the one nearest you
- Main website
- heartandleg.com