Osteoarthritis in mid-30s!

[Radiator23]

I have just found out that the last few months of hip pain are due to osteoarthritis. All the online advice is geared towards much older people and very gloomy. I am a healthy person otherwise and feeling rather overwhelmed by this. I don't want pain for the rest of my life but also don't want surgery or a zimmer frame!

Has anyone experienced this at a relatively young age? I don't feel like I should start taking things easy.

i havent but i have a condition called femeroacetabular impingement (FAI) aka hip impingment which can lead to early development of osteoarthritis.

the cartilage (labrum) in my hip tore and i had to have it surgically repaired to try and prevent osteoarthritis. i wonder if thats something you could look into? did you have MRI with contrast or just an xray?

i dont know if it’d help but might give you some answers and help slow progression, maybe look into a vit d/calcium supplement aswell.

otherwise might just be bad luck

I have osteoarthritis in one ankle as a result of a bad injury. I am still learning what I can and can't do with it. I imagine the hip is much worse.

I was told I had osteoarthritis in both hips in my 30s. It's pretty gutting. I found exercise really helped strengthen the surround muscles and ease the pain. I had a steroid injection in the worst hip which didn't help much, and then a mix of water and local anesthetic which stopped all the pain. That was five years ago. The other hip twinges if I run on hard ground but is OK most of the time. Waiting lists for the injection are now enormous or I'd ask for the other hip to be done. I do get knee pain which could be referred pain or more arthritis but it's minor.

Sorry, bit of a screed. But I was diagnosed seven years ago and so far I'm in less discomfort than I was then. They told me I'll need both hips replaced eventually but I should try to make sure that was as late as possible and so far I am absolutely fine.

I was told to lose weight which I have had some success at but a lot more to lose before I have an athletic physique. Aqua aerobics is great as it's low impact resistance exercise that cushions the joints.

The physio that referred me thought I had hip impingement but that wasn't the diagnosis. I still worry that it was missed though.

I haven't had it confirmed but pain clinic think I either have or will get osteoarthritis in most of my joints, due to hypermobility. At the moment my knees are the hardest to bear, and I use lidocaine patches when they are especially bad.

Esk1mo, it was just an xray.

Isitmybathtime, I haven't been told about an injection yet, just told to take painkillers. But I think the GP missed a chance to spot this sooner as I was being fobbed off with physio and being told my problem was muscular. I wish I could have known earlier. I want to have an active retirement, not that I am at all close to that stage of life. This is gutting. I haven't told anyone yet as I am too embarrassed. Perhaps I brought this on myself?

Radiator 23: I know yours is your hip but I have it on my knee and I can tell you the things I did to help the pain

Almost as soon as I turned 40 I developed a very stiff & swollen knee and was told by my GP that it was osteo. He said there wasn't much to do about it, but he recommended supplements (as other patients have told him they work). They are:

Hyaluronic acid
Glucosamine
Chondroitin
MSM

I swear these four ingredients have really helped! But it's very, very hard to get them all in ONE tablet! You have to search around but i found one on Amazon that has helped me a lot. It's called Flexacil, which has been brilliant. Solgar also does one too, but it's quite expensive & the tablets were bigger so I couldn't take them.

I also take MSM powder sometimes, mixed with water (it's supposed to be really good for hair growth too!)

My knee is almost back to normal - though it will never be normal - I pretty much always walk everywhere but if I do a lot of walking in a day I still get leg/knee ache later. Just rest a lot when you have a flareup. Movement/exercise is supposed to be good for osteo (but just not during a flareup).

I can't wear heels anymore, but that doesn't bother me as they were never really my style personally.

I'd also recommend fish oils, calcium & Vitamin D. And I've found drinking ginger tea helped with the inflammation when it was bad, as did Deep heat or ibuprofen gel. I also have a sexy knee wrap that I wear if I know I'm doing a lot of walking/standing. But it helps when my knee feels so weak it's going to buckle.

Unfortunately Osteo will never go away (as it's degenerating), but with some pain management the symptoms CAN and DO get better. Hope I helped - Good luck x

Will write more tomorrow but I have this and lifting weights has changed my life.

Thanks Wavy, I will check those out.

Bigheadache! I would be interested to hear more. I do yoga and walking but weights have never been my thing.

Thanks so much everyone who has posted. I am quite scared of how my life will be.

radiator you need an MRI with contrast to diagnose labral tears, although hip impingement can be diagnosed by xray, because its just excess bone.

im not sure if its any use though, since you have already developed osteoarthritis.

weightlifting actually caused my labral tear, although it would have happened eventually over time. most people with hip impingement dont know until they develop OA in their 50s/60s+, but because i have been quite active i tore my labrum in both hips. its quite common in athletes, even andy murray had surgery for it

anyway, i still weightlift and i think swimming would be really good for you, to take pressure off the joints. physio to strengthen glutes/core and some anti inflammatory medication.

should say im in my 20s ^

When I was pregnant I was diagnosed with spd but it didn't go away after having my DC and eventually (after physio, doing gentle exercise at the gym etc) I was given an MRI and they found I had OA. I was in pain every day, when my DC was a baby I could barely leave the house. I had improved a bit by the time I had the MRI but was still in a lot of pain and was told I would need a replacement within a year - I was early 30s and I was devastated. I was lucky to find a physio that recommended a combination of the traditional gentle physio exercises and lifting weights after all I had a small child that was getting heavier every day. I then went to CrossFit with a friend and have never looked back. The coach has been amazing and has worked with lots of people with back issues - there's a lot of stuff I can't/don't do as it would aggravate my hip bit there's loads I can and I'm stronger and have less pain as a result. I don't run or jump but I row, squat, lift weights etc. I recently saw my specialist who was impressed and has put off my replacement.

So in your position I would figure out what triggers it and depending on your level of fitness (I could barely walk so had to start with gentle physio) start with NHS physio or find a physio/coach/personal trainer that has experience of working with clients with OA or back issues.

For me my pain tends to be in the hip crease so anything that compresses my hip joint aggravates it - having said that squats have massively helped but sitting in a chair in the recommended DSE position at work isn't good.

I also have steroid injections which help but in my area there's quite a wait for them. They increase my pain just after I've had one and mess up my periods. Heat also helps.

It can take a while to figure out a what works for you, the difference between OA pain and Dom's, and progress can be really slow and I get really frustrated with myself especially when I'm having a flare up.

Good luck - hope something in my rambling helps!

Bigheadache, thanks for all that advice and it is good to know things can improve. I haven't tried Crossfit but might see if there is a class in my area. I have spoken to my boss and think my employer will be supportive about making adjustments at work.
I have had heat patches every day, and they help but the effect wears off quite quickly. I asked my GP about the injection but he doesn't think I am in enough pain (I would say I am in enough misery).

I have bought the supplement recommended by Wavy upthread, and also saw CBD oil recommended elsewhere so basically will given everything a go and see what works! I can't bear this pain much longer.

Just to update, I ordered the supplements recommended, and CBD capsules, and have needed ibuprofen and heat patches much less.

I also saw a physio who has given me some really simple exercises which are already making a difference. It turns out the cause of the osteoarthritis is my dodgy lower back which is making me lopsided and impacting my hips. So, all in all things are improving.
I am going to see how things pan out and then see about getting some personal trainer sessions so I do the right sort of exercise to manage this long term.

Thank you everyone for your advice.

Hi OP just to say I was diagnosed with OA in both hips last year at 25, I was / am devastated. I’m overweight so I am trying to sort that but it’s hard when you’re in pain but I’m doing it.

Mine was caused by malformation of the hip joints. I also suspect I’m hyper mobile. Both the kids are and all the things they do that are markers are what I used to do if that makes sense?

Sorry I don’t have any advice but you’re not alone.

Ha 35 not 25! In my dreams!