Talk to me about Arthritic Hips when you're in your 20's or 30's

[SirChrisHoysThighs]

I have arthritis in my spine and waiting for results from a pelvic x-ray that looked at my hips, it's looking like I have arthritis in my hips too.

As i'm already on some heavy duty painkillers what can be done for me? I have asked that regardless of the x-ray to be refered for physio but beyond that whats to be expected? What are the limitations? What is a good fix for pain?

Hi. I can only speak from the experience of my DH who has hip arthritis so this may be completely different to what you have so please speak to your GP / specialist for proper info specific to you especially to do with medication. Painkillers with anti-imflammitries should be helpful but do please speak to your consultant/GP.

Dh ended up with arthritic hips probably due to running and injuries. He ended up having a hip resurface in one hip. He is leaving the other hip for as long as possible before he has to have it done. The reason to leave it as long as possible is that once you have the op it can only last 10-20 years and then you have to have a hip replacement and this leads to a lower amount of flexibility in that leg. He didn't have the first one done until the day came that he couldn't get out of bed without screaming. I hope you don't get to this point but if you did need an operation please do get on a waiting list as soon as possible otherwise it could be a long long time before you can get it done. Even if you don't think you need an op now it might be worth getting on a 1 year list just in case.

DH's xray had what looked like spiky things radiating out from his hip which were catching on ligaments etc. and were causing the pain. His op involved an epidural and then a cut to the leg and removing the spiney boney stuff and putting in a new surface. After about 6 weeks he was walking about and is now fairly pain free and has taken up cycling.

A fair few 30 year old runners have had this op and there is a specialist centre at Oswestry (?Gobowen) that do hip replacements for younger people. When DH was in there were other young chaps having similar operations.

I hope you are not this bad but do make sure you speak to a consultant and get the right treatment for you.

Hip resurfacing may be an option though hip replacements are not unheard of. In a younger patient the prosthesis is left uncemented so it can be revised easier.
The centre that rainy mentioned is The Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic NHS Trust. They take patients from all over the UK.

Thanks. I have to say im nervous about the results as it looks like the long term prognosis is surgery and that petrifies me.

Can't believe im not yet 30 and im having Shit most people don't get til they're collecting a pension.

Can't believe im not yet 30 and im having Shit most people don't get til they're collecting a pension

Been there, done that.

What type of arthritis is it? You may be able to take 'disease modifiers' to slow down the damage.