I0ve Been Diagnosed With Osteoarthritis Of The Hip… What Treatments Are Available?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and affects more than 30 million Americans. It is also known as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease.
It is characterized by the wearing away of joint cartilage. Cartilage is the gristle that covers the ends of bones in a joint. When cartilage breaks down, it allows bones to rub against each other, resulting in pain and loss of movement. Over time, the joint loses its normal shape. Also, bone spurs, called osteophytes, may grow on the edges of the joint. Pieces of bone or cartilage can break off and float inside the joint space, causing more pain and damage. These pieces are called 0loose bodies0 or 0joint mice.0
OA most often occurs in people over the age of 40, but younger people can get it from a previous joint injury. While both men and women are prone to develop OA, after age 50 women are more commonly affected. OA most often occurs in the neck, low back, hands, hips, and knees.
Key predisposing factors can lead to OA. These include heredity, obesity, joint injury, and overuse of joints. Genetic factors account for about one-half of OA in the hands and hips and a […]

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