Arthritic Hip Pain

Hip arthritis is a major cause of disability and pain, especially in older people, although the disease can, and does, occur in younger individuals. Hip arthritis normally occurs gradually over the course of many years, and in severe cases, may require surgical intervention.

Significance

• Hip pain arising from an arthritic hip can be severe, often times requiring the use of an assisted walking device and/or a wheelchair. In mild cases of hip arthritis, pain levels may be minor. In severe hip arthritis cases, pain levels may be intolerable.

Function

• Hip arthritis results in a gradual destruction and deterioration of the articular cartilage lining the hip joint. As cartilage degradation increases, pain and stiffness usually increase, and in advanced cases, bone spurs and joint deformities can result.

Types

• Hip arthritis can affect only a small portion of the hip joint, or it can affect the entire hip joint socket, including both the femoral head as well as the acetabulum. The greater the degree of hip joint involved in the arthritic process, the greater the chances of significant pain and disability arising.

Geography

• The hip joint is a classic ball and socket type of joint. The hip bone, or femoral head, fits snugly into the hip socket, or acetabulum. Cartilage lines both the femoral head and the acetabulum. The actual arthritic process begins in the cartilage separating the two hip joint pieces. As hip arthritis progresses, the majority of cartilage is lost and the underlying bone can become eroded, pitted and deformed.

Prevention/Solution

• Although mild cases of hip arthritis are normally managed effectively with activity modifications and/or pain medications and muscle relaxers, more advanced stages of hip arthritis usually require the replacement of the arthritic hip joint with an artificial hip joint, which restores normal hip joint movement and eliminates hip joint pain.