Hip Arthritis

Arthritis of the hip is a disease which wears away the cartilage between the femoral head and the acetabulum, causing the two bones to scrape against each other, raw bone on raw bone. When this happens, the joint becomes pitted, eroded, and uneven, resulting in pain, stiffness, and instability. In some cases, motion of the leg may be greatly restricted.

Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the Western world. It is degenerative, and although it most often occurs in patients over the age of 50, it can occur at any age, especially if the joint is in some way damaged. It is usually confined to the large weight-bearing joints of the lower extremities, including the hips and knees, but may also affect the spine and upper extremity joints. Patients with osteoarthritis often develop large bone spurs, or osteophytes, around the joint, further limiting motion.

Causes
Osteoarthritis of the hip is a condition commonly referred to as 'wear and tear' arthritis. Although the degenerative process may accelerate in persons with a previous hip injury, many cases of osteoarthritis occur when the hip simply wears out. Some experts believe there may exist a genetic predisposition in people who develop osteoarthritis of the hip. Abnormalities of the hip due to previous fractures or childhood disorders may also lead to a degenerative hip. Osteoarthritis of the hip is the most common cause for total hip replacement surgery.

Symptoms
The first and most common symptom of osteoarthritis is pain, usually occurring towards the groin area during weight-bearing activities such as walking.

To decrease hip arthritis pain people usually compensate by limping, which reduces the force across the arthritic hip. Hip osteoarthritis may also result in loss of motion of the hip joint, causing difficulty in doing daily living activities such as putting on socks and shoes. As a result of the cartilage degeneration, the hip loses its flexibility and strength, and may develop bone spurs. As the arthritis worsens, the pain may increase and may become constant, even during non weight-bearing activities.

Treatment
Treatment of osteoarthritis can be achieved with a variety of non-surgical therapies.