About Osteoarthritis and Hip Pain

The most frequent cause of debilitating hip pain is arthritis. It is estimated that 70 million people in the United States have some form of arthritis - that’s one in every seven people or one in every three families.

Of the more than 100 types of arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and trauma-related arthritis are the most common causes of joint damage.

Osteoarthritis is a disease which involves the wearing away of the normal smooth joint surfaces. This results in bone-on-bone contact, producing pain and stiffness. Osteoarthritis occurs primarily in people over 60.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease because it may attack any or all joints in the body. It affects women more often than men and can strike young and old alike. Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis causes destruction of the joint by severe inflammation. The body’s immune system attacks and destroys the synovial lining covering the joint capsule, the protective cartilage and the joint surface, causing pain, swelling, joint damage and loss of mobility.

Trauma-related arthritis results from damage to the joint from a previous injury. It is the third most common form of arthritis. It also results in joint damage, pain and loss of mobility.

When debilitating pain and stiffness in your hip limit your daily activities, you may need a total hip replacement. More than 249,000 people in the United States annually undergo hip replacement surgery to relieve pain and stiffness and restore mobility.¹

When conservative methods of treatment (pain medications, physical therapy, etc.) fail to provide adequate relief, total hip replacement may be a good option for you. Total hip replacement helps relieve pain and allows patients to perform some activities that may have been limited due to hip pain.

Speak with your orthopaedic surgeon and explore this site to learn more about your treatment options.

References:

1. © 2005 Solucient, LLC