How to Recognize the Causes of Hip Loss

If you are experiencing pain in one or both of your hips, you may be experiencing a symptom of hip loss. Common in adults age 60 to 75 years old, it is important to recognize the causes of hip loss and to know that hip replacement surgery is the only cure for this type of discomfort.

Instructions

Recognize the Causes

• 1

  Osteoarthritis may be the cause, since this is the most common reason for hip loss. Essentially, the cartilage surrounding the hip bone wears down over time, allowing the bones to rub against which another, which causes pain.

• 2

  Consider rheumatoid arthritis as the cause. This can occur in younger people, and causes a chemical change in the body which wears down cartilage. The bones rub against one another once the cartilage has deteriorated and causes pain. Rheumatoid arthritis is 3 times as likely in women than in men.

• 3

  Consider post-traumatic arthritis, which is caused by injury to the area. This happens when the area does not heal correctly and therefore the bone and cartilage no longer fits together smoothly and cause pain.

• 4

  Joint pain can become worse over time if you fall into bad habits. For instance, you may try to limp to try to use the painful leg less than usual. When in fact, this causes the ligaments which hold the area together to weaken and the pain to increase.

• 5

  Avascular necrosis can cause hip pain if you have recently had an organ transplant or have undergone cortisone treatment for a significant amount of time. Both of these cause a deprivation of blood supply to the bone, and can result in joint pain.