Could these symptoms still be at a treatable stage

Sometimes, yes. Early hip osteoarthritis does not always begin as constant, severe pain: NHS, Mayo Clinic and AAOS describe a pattern that may start with pain during or after movement, stiffness after rest or on waking, reduced flexibility, and occasional catching or grating. Symptoms that come and go can still matter, and hip OA often develops gradually over time. Even so, that pattern suggests a possible early-stage joint problem rather than a confirmed cartilage diagnosis, and it does not by itself prove that a preservation pathway is still open.

A similar "possible, not proven" rule applies after a wrist sprain. Persistent pinky-side pain, clicking, grip weakness, pain with twisting or loading, or a sense of instability can fit a TFCC-type injury, particularly if things are not settling after about 2 weeks. That may still fall within a repair or preservation pathway, but only once proper examination and, where needed, imaging have clarified what is actually injured, because fracture, ligament damage and other wrist problems can mimic the same pattern.

What early hip osteoarthritis often feels like

Rather than relying on a rigid symptom checklist, the more useful clue is a pattern in how the hip behaves over an ordinary day. Mayo Clinic and the NHS describe early osteoarthritis as discomfort linked to movement, then stiffness after rest, so the change may show up on the first few steps after sitting, turning in bed, climbing stairs, or trying to reach shoes and socks. Range of motion can start to shrink before pain becomes dramatic, and some people notice a brief catch, grating, or "not quite smooth" sensation instead of constant pain. In this earlier phase, symptoms may come and go; even mild spells are not trivial if walking distance, sleep, or everyday function is starting to change.

That pattern does not mean the joint is simply "worn out". A PMC review describes hip osteoarthritis as a whole-joint process, with cartilage loss alongside bony change, possible synovial inflammation, ligament laxity, and muscle weakness, which may help explain why symptoms can feel broader than one precise pain point. AAOS notes that hip OA often builds gradually over time, but the amount of pain or stiffness does not map neatly to what an X-ray or MRI will show. There is also overlap with other causes of hip or groin pain, including altered hip shape and other intra-articular problems, so the pattern is suggestive rather than diagnostic.

Does this mean you are still in a preservation window

In hip care, a "preservation window" usually means there is still a stage where treatment may help protect day-to-day function and slow further loss before end-stage arthritis becomes the main issue. The practical takeaway is simpler than the phrase sounds: symptoms may suggest an earlier problem, but they do not show on their own whether joint-preserving treatment is genuinely on the table. AAOS notes that earlier treatment is more likely to lessen the impact of hip osteoarthritis, but that is not the same as promising reversal or proving someone is a preservation candidate.

That is why the first-line pathway is fairly grounded. Mayo Clinic describes the starting point as a clinical history and examination, usually followed by plain X-rays; MRI is added when the picture is unclear or when another source of hip pain needs checking. Once the diagnosis is clearer, major 2019 guidance from the American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation and OARSI places education and structured land-based exercise at the centre of non-surgical hip OA care. In practice, the sequence is: diagnosis first, conservative care first, and only then a discussion about biologic support or joint-preserving surgery if the findings actually point that way.

When a wrist sprain may be more than a sprain

A more useful dividing line is time and function, not whether the injury was first labelled a "sprain". NHS advice notes that most sprains and strains start to feel better within about 2 weeks. When a wrist is still hard to use after that point, or settles then flares again with ordinary tasks, the simple sprain label becomes less reassuring. The pattern that tends to trigger reassessment is pain on the pinky side of the wrist, especially after a fall or twist, with symptoms that interfere with gripping a kettle, turning a door handle, or pushing up from a chair.

That combination is often associated with a TFCC-type injury: persistent ulnar-sided pain, clicking or popping, weaker grip, pain with twisting or loading through the hand, reduced movement, and sometimes a sense that the wrist is not fully stable. The TFCC is one recognised source of that pattern, but the symptoms are not specific enough to diagnose it by symptoms alone. A fracture, another ligament injury, or other post-traumatic wrist problem can still look similar, particularly if rotation remains limited or weight-bearing brings on a sharp catch.

The reason ongoing symptoms matter is practical rather than dramatic. Cleveland Clinic and OCC both note that a minor TFCC tear may settle, but a more significant untreated injury can become chronically painful, weak, or unstable. In that setting, persistent clicking and loss of grip are less a sign to keep waiting and more a sign that the original injury may need a closer look.

What assessment usually involves for hip or wrist pain

In clinic, the assessment usually becomes more of a sorting exercise than a symptom checklist. The first aim is to place the pain in context: did it start after a fall, build over months of loading, flare after rest, or appear only with certain movements? The examination then tests that history against what the joint actually does. In the hip, that helps separate a pattern that may fit early osteoarthritis from other causes of hip pain. In the wrist, the key distinction is often between a lingering “sprain” pattern and something more suggestive of a TFCC or other structural injury.

For hip symptoms, Mayo Clinic notes that plain X-rays are usually the first imaging step after the history and examination, with MRI added if the picture is unclear or earlier tissue change needs a closer look. For wrist symptoms, history and examination come first as well, and MRI is commonly used when the findings point towards TFCC or other cartilage-side injury; depending on the injury story, a fracture or another ligament problem may still need excluding.

What happens next depends on that combined picture, not on the scan alone. If the findings suggest a non-urgent hip or wrist problem, management usually starts with conservative care; for hip OA, 2019 guidance from the ACR and OARSI places education and structured land-based exercise at the centre. Faster escalation is reserved for problems such as clear instability, significant trauma, or another acute issue needing urgent review.

When to seek specialist advice

A practical rule of thumb is change over time, not another symptom checklist. For the hip, specialist review becomes reasonable when episodes keep returning over weeks or months, the joint is plainly losing range, or ordinary tasks such as stairs or putting on shoes start to bring on a distinct catch. AAOS notes that hip osteoarthritis usually worsens gradually, while the NHS says symptoms may come and go early on, so an early opinion is mainly about sorting out what pathway the hip is on.

For the wrist, the useful dividing line is whether a supposed “sprain” is behaving like one. The NHS says most sprains feel better within about 2 weeks. If pain is still limiting normal use after that, grip has not come back, twisting or pushing through the hand remains painful, or the click feels mechanical rather than incidental, reassessment is sensible because a TFCC injury is only one possible explanation.

Early specialist review is not a fast track to surgery. In 2019, major hip OA guidance kept the usual sequence clear: diagnosis first, conservative care first, then injection support or joint-preserving procedures only if the assessment supports that route. For people seeking assessment in London, Liquid Cartilage™ is delivered in the UK at the London Cartilage Clinic on Harley Street, with appointments arranged via londoncartilage.com.

1. [1] 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hand, Hip, and Knee. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1002/art.41142 https://doi.org/10.1002/art.41142