Will My hip pain last forever?

Treating hip pain can be a little tricky. The hip is challenging because it is a weight bearing structure that is influenced by multiple factors. Hip pain can be caused by a local problem in the hip or it may be due to something more distant from the hip itself.

A joint is formed by the ends of two or more bones that are connected by thick bands of tissue called ligaments. The hip--which, like the knee joint, must bear the full force of your weight--consists of two main parts:

. A ball (femoral head) at the top of your thigh bone (femur).

. A rounded socket (acetabulum) in your pelvis

The ball (femoral head) on the thigh bone fits into the rounded socket (acetabulum) in the pelvis. Ligaments--bands of tissue--connect the ball to the socket and help keep the ball and socket steady. The surfaces of the ball and socket are covered by a smooth, tough material call articular cartilage, which cushions the bones and lets them move easily.

All the rest of the surfaces of the hip joint are covered by a thin, smooth tissue liner called synovial membrane, which makes a small amount of fluid that acts as a lubricant so that the bones in the hip joint will not rub against each other.

One of the most common causes of hip joint pain is arthritis. The most common types of arthritis are: Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Post-traumatic Arthritis.

What's causing your hip pain? Is getting relief through total hip replacement an option for you? These are just some of the answers that an orthopaedic specialist can provide. But first, it's a good idea to be sure you have information about joint replacement that will help you understand what the specialist tells you.

If arthritis (or injury) has damaged your hip and different treatments for your pain haven't helped you get through your everyday activities comfortable, you might be ready to consider hip replacement surgery. You'll be in good company. Today, more than 300,000 Americans a year have total hip replacement surgery. It has amply fulfilled the promise of restoring many people to the lives they knew before their hip pain worsened.