Hip Arthritis
Hip arthritis is a common condition. Although the average age of a patient undergoing hip replacement in this country is 69, the symptoms can affect patients who are much younger. This is particularly true if there has been an injury to the hip or pelvis, if there is an inflammatory condition (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis) or a previous childhood condition (dislocated hip, Perthes’ disease or a slipped epiphysis).
The commonest symptoms are pain and stiffness. Pain is most commonly felt in the groin and is often mistaken for a groin strain. Pain can also be felt in the outer part of the hip, down the front and inner thigh and the knee and less commonly in the buttock. Other symptoms can be a catching and giving way.
Not everyone with a diagnosis of hip arthritis needs an operation. Many people are able to manage the symptoms with activity moderation, diet and weight loss, walking aids, physiotherapy and analgesics. Some people may benefit from an injection of steroid into the joint. All of this is laid out in more detail in many websites. Two of them are https://www.versusarthritis.org/ and https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteoarthritis/.