Facts about Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis and usually begins with pain in the affected joint. Osteoarthritis causes the normally smooth joint surfaces to wear away.

This results in:

Bone-on-bone contact

Pain

Stiffness

Facts about Hip Replacement Surgery

Total hip replacements have been used to treat and repair joint disease caused by conditions such as osteoarthritis since the 1960s, and more than 330,000 people in the United States have a hip replacement each year. Yet many Americans who are potential candidates for hip replacement choose years of conservative care, such as physical therapy, drugs, or injections, to reduce their joint pain. There is no cure for osteoarthritis and it is degenerative, which means that any pain and limited mobility are likely to get worse over time. Many people with osteoarthritis of the hip gradually stop doing the things they love and adapt their lives to cope with reduced movement. Today, advanced designs and materials, along with refinements in surgical techniques, have improved hip replacement surgery. When medication, physical therapy and other conservative methods of treatment no longer relieve pain, it may be time for the patient to consider hip replacement.