Just been diagnised with onset hip arthiritis very emotional

Hi Cheryl,

I was diagnosed with severe OA in both hips, the right hip being very short of cartilage, four years ago, and it was a big shock. The G.P. referred me for major surgery. However, I luckily found Susan Westlake on this web-site. She told me about Trigger Point Therapy and the importance of following it up with exercise. Her book is available on Amazon, try to get a copy. I am simply no worse than I was four years ago, the pain and stiffness is controllable, and I'm determined not to have surgery for as long as possible. 

I was 46 when I started having groin pain during long runs.

It was a further year before I was diagnosed with arthritis of the hip and facing hip surgery.

My wife wrote to the doctor and told I wasn't coping with not being able to run.

He told me I was still fit and to forget about running and cycle instead. It's that or I get treated for depression.

The cycling did it for me, right up to before I had hip replacement surgery and I was told by the surgeon my hip muscles would remember how they'd formerly been and it'd make the recover easier.

You're very young to be facing hip surgery but if you look after yourself fitness wise you'll be fine and you'll feel better emotionally too.

Good luck

Sorry it's hit you so hard Cheryl.  It's going to be difficult for you to hear this but in reality, its so not the end of the world.  I have arthritis in multiple places, the first started in one ankle following an accident which destroyed the cartilage.  Some days I'm in pain, others I'm not.  Some things are a bit difficult, others arent.  OA varies both in its intensity/pain levels and also how fast or slow it progresses.  Best advice, try not to get distressed or stressed - this will in fact make it worse.  Stress increases the inflammation and therefore the symptoms.  The future is just that, not here yet.  Your symptoms may not get any worse, they may take a long time to progress or they may get painful quickly - BUT, big but......that hasnt happened yet.  There are loads of things you can do to minimise the progression of the OA - exercises, changing your diet to include anti inflammatory foods, supplements, anti inflammatory medications, etc etc etc., long before surgery becomes necessary, if at all.  I've got my ankle pain down to a very manageable level - I know what to avoid in terms of what not to eat, how much I walk, what other things I can and cant do.  Surgery for my ankle is not an option so I manage it and its no more than an annoyance.  I have OA in both thumb joints too now.  They were killer painful and got to a point where I couldnt do even the simplest things with my hands.  I've found a whole range of things to ease off the pain, I know to avoid gripping in a certain way and to rest them etc.  They stil have the OA, but it's again something that is definitely manageable.  With hip OA - things that help are losing weight if that's an issue, research what foods aggravate OA, read up on some of the threads on here about what supplements have helped, go swimming (great gentle non load bearing exercise), google specific PT exercises etc etc.  Lastly, dont automatically assume the worst - there are always horror stories on here but honestly, really, absolutely, they are the exception not the rule.

We're here for you.  Yes, it's normal to feel like that.  Don't think of the future, focus on the moment.   

So you have been diagnosed with OE in your hip, what is the problem? It's not cancer or a terminal illness, it's a condition in your hip that is easily treatable. I have a friend who had her hip replaced in her 40's it's not uncommon. She leads a very full and active life, replacement hips mean that you can move as before and no pain. 

I have had 2 finger joint replacements and I am pain free. I never understand why people delay having surgery when they are in pain. Unfortunately finger joints don't move like hips so it's not perfect, if I had the choice I would want OE in the hip. 

I realise its a td a shock but it's not the end of the world and you can be a bit like the bionic women 

Please don't cry!!!!

This might not be what it seems. There is not test for OA. It a diagnosis of exclusion. It can only be diagnosed when all else has been ruled out. I bet they haven't ruled out muscle imbalance as the cause?

Go to my profile. You'll find a link to a website. Go there, have a read and see what you think.

For what it's worth, I was diagnosed with hip OA at age 42. I'm now 54 and symptom free. Living a very full and active life with lots of strength training and sports. Mine was said to be a 'classic case' and the doctors were very certain. They were wrong. They are wrong about very many people.

MUCH too soon to give up and cry!

Sorry but you can clearly see OE damage on an X-ray or MRI. It's not a guessing game it's very clear when it's OE