Your Trusted Chronic Hip Pain Treatment Experts in Rapid City, SD & the Black Hills
What Is Chronic Hip Pain?
Chronic hip pain is persistent discomfort, stiffness, or aching in or around the hip joint that lasts three to six months or longer despite conservative care. The two most common inflammation-driven causes are hip osteoarthritis and greater trochanteric pain syndrome — chronic inflammation of the tendons and bursae on the outside of the hip, often called hip bursitis. Less commonly, chronic hip pain can be referred from the lower back or spine; a physical exam and imaging help confirm the true source before treatment.
If hip pain has been limiting your daily activities despite physical therapy, medication, or injections, hip artery embolization offers a minimally invasive option that targets the source of inflammation without surgery.
Conditions That May Benefit From Hip Artery Embolization
Hip artery embolization (HAE) may help patients with a range of chronic, inflammation-driven hip conditions, including:
- Hip Osteoarthritis (Mild-to-Moderate) — wear-and-tear joint damage that causes chronic inflammation and pain
- Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (Hip Bursitis & Tendinopathy) — chronic inflammation of the tendons and bursae on the outside of the hip
- Chronic Inflammation of the Hip Joint Lining that hasn’t responded to conservative care
Hip artery embolization is not a treatment for pain referred from the lower back or spine — your care team will confirm the true source of your pain with a physical exam and imaging before recommending treatment.
What Is Hip Artery Embolization?
Hip artery embolization (HAE) is a minimally invasive, image-guided procedure that reduces abnormal blood flow to the tissues driving chronic inflammation and pain in the hip. Using advanced imaging, an interventional radiologist maps the small, abnormal blood vessels that develop around an arthritic or inflamed hip — whether the cause is osteoarthritis or greater trochanteric pain syndrome — and blocks them with tiny, dissolvable particles. This calms the inflammation at its source while preserving healthy blood flow to the rest of the joint, all without incisions or a hospital stay.
Read more about our Vascular Treatments. If you’ve been told hip replacement is your only option, consider getting a second opinion with our minimally invasive specialists.
Quick Facts
- Outpatient procedure, typically 30–60 minutes
- Performed under moderate sedation — no general anesthesia
- Most patients go home the same day
- Light activity resumes within 1–2 days
Symptoms of Chronic Hip Pain
Typical signs include:
- Pain on the side of the hip, especially when lying on it
- Discomfort when walking, climbing stairs, or getting up from a chair
- Hip stiffness or a limited range of motion
- A deep ache in the groin or tenderness on the outside of the hip
- A clicking or catching sensation in the hip
- Pain that radiates into the buttocks or thigh
- Symptoms persisting 3–6 months or longer despite physical therapy, medication, or injections
Causes & Risk Factors for Hip Pain
Age 50 and older
Prior hip injury
Obesity or excess body weight
Repetitive strain from activity or occupation
Family history of osteoarthritis
Sedentary lifestyle
How Is Hip Pain Diagnosed?
At Black Hills Cardiovascular, our approach includes:
- Review of your medical history and symptom evaluation
- A physical exam
- X-ray or MRI to assess joint damage and rule out other causes of pain, including referred pain from the lower back
- Imaging to map the hip’s abnormal blood vessels before treatment
Hip Pain Treatment Options
- Physical therapy to strengthen and stabilize the hip
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Activity modification
- Image-guided injections
When conservative care hasn’t provided lasting relief, and you’d like to avoid or delay surgery, hip artery embolization offers a minimally invasive option that treats the underlying inflammation driving chronic hip pain, whether from osteoarthritis or greater trochanteric pain syndrome.
What to Know About Hip Artery Embolization (HAE)
How Does Hip Embolization Work?
- Performed as an outpatient procedure, typically 30–60 minutes
- A thin catheter is guided through the wrist or groin to the hip using imaging
- Advanced imaging maps the abnormal blood vessels feeding inflammation in the hip’s tendons and joint lining
- Tiny, dissolvable particles block these vessels while preserving healthy circulation
- No incisions, no general anesthesia, no hospital stay
What Are the Benefits of Hip Embolization?
- Minimally invasive with a fast return to normal activity
- Targets the underlying cause of pain rather than just masking symptoms
- An option for patients who want to avoid or delay hip replacement surgery
- Preserves healthy blood flow to the joint
Am I a Candidate for Hip Embolization?
- Patients with mild-to-moderate hip osteoarthritis or greater trochanteric pain syndrome (hip bursitis) where inflammation is a key driver of pain
- Symptoms lasting 3–6 months or more without relief from physical therapy, medication, or injections
- Medically cleared by an interventional specialist after imaging confirms suitable vascular anatomy
- Note: for advanced hip degeneration, a surgical approach like hip replacement may be more appropriate
What Is Recovery Like After Hip Embolization?
- Most patients go home the same day
- Light activity can resume within 1–2 days
- Avoid strenuous activity for about a week
- Continued improvement typically develops over the following weeks
Frequently Asked Questions About Hip Embolization
What conditions can hip artery embolization treat?
Hip artery embolization may help patients with chronic, inflammation-driven hip conditions, including mild-to-moderate hip osteoarthritis and greater trochanteric pain syndrome (hip bursitis and tendinopathy). It is not a treatment for pain referred from the lower back or spine.
How much does hip artery embolization cost?
Cost depends on your insurance coverage, imaging findings, and treatment plan. Our team can help verify your insurance benefits and review self-pay options during your consultation.
Is hip artery embolization painful?
The procedure is performed under moderate sedation after numbing the catheter access site. Most patients feel minimal discomfort during and after the procedure.
Can hip artery embolization be repeated?
Yes. If symptoms persist or return, repeat embolization or complementary therapies may be considered.
Can hip artery embolization help me avoid hip replacement surgery?
For many patients with mild-to-moderate hip osteoarthritis, yes — hip artery embolization can provide meaningful relief and delay or avoid the need for hip replacement. For advanced joint degeneration, surgery may still be the better option, which your care team will help determine.
Why Choose Black Hills Cardiovascular for Hip Pain Treatment?
Our team combines advanced vascular and interventional expertise with a holistic, patient-centered approach. We collaborate with orthopedic providers and primary care physicians to create a personalized plan for lasting relief from chronic hip pain, whatever its cause.
Schedule Your Hip Pain Consultation in Rapid City
If you’re ready to explore hip artery embolization or other advanced treatments for chronic hip pain, contact Black Hills Cardiovascular today. Call (605) 503-8192 or send us a contact form to schedule a consultation.
