Dealing with hip osteoarthritis?

The title pretty much speaks for itself. I’m 23 years old and quite an active soccer player, but I was recently hit with a diagnosis of hip osteoarthritis. I was wondering if anyone else here has dealt with such a diagnosis at this stage of their life? Beyond the standard advice my orthopedic surgeon already gave me—which basically boils down to limiting heavy impact, sticking to mobility work, and focusing on strengthening my quadriceps—is there anything else I should be doing to manage this?

It looks like you've been backed into a corner—there really isn't any other way out for you! I truly am sorry to see it come to this.

Kenneth Bailey64 said:The title pretty much speaks for itself. I’m 23 years old and quite an active soccer player, but I was recently hit with a diagnosis of hip osteoarthritis. I was wondering if anyone else here has dealt with such a diagnosis at this stage of their life? Beyond the standard advice my orthopedic surgeon already gave me—which basically boils down to limiting heavy impact, sticking to mobility work, and focusing on strengthening my quadriceps—is there anything else I should be doing to manage this?

...it sucks, but so many young people are dealing with this nowadays—it used to be something you only saw in older folks. I actually had to get both hips replaced before I even hit 50, and it wasn't even optional—it was an absolute emergency. Though, I know some people manage to hold off for years...🤷
...just go swimming, watch the weight, and try not to gain anything extra. That's basically it.😠

Unfortunately, it’s a cold, hard fact: hip issues are hitting younger people harder than ever. I’m sitting here at 41 with osteoarthritis in both hips, and frankly, it’s just a matter of when I’ll finally be scheduled for total hip replacements. In my case, it’s all tied back to scoliosis—that caused one side to give out first, and then the other followed suit.
As river 53 points out, you really need to try keeping up with physical therapy, swimming, and things like that... 👍

I was diagnosed with shallow hip sockets when I was just 18, which effectively forced me to walk away from the sport I loved most... and now, at 20 years old, I'm also dealing with hip osteoarthritis.
Sometimes, right before I head to bed, I feel this nagging ache and a sense of fatigue deep in my hips, whether it's on the right or the left side.
I’ve been taking chondroitin sulfate supplements, hoping they might offer some relief, but honestly? It hasn't done much for me.

I try not to dwell on how much worse things might feel two decades from now, though I always hold onto the hope that medical science will advance as rapidly as our current technology does.🙂

If you can, I’d say try to steer clear of all those fizzy sodas, especially the ones loaded up with "phosphoric acid"...

I’m starting a new thread here because my mom was recently diagnosed with osteoarthritis, and I’m looking for some guidance! Does anyone have recommendations for top-tier orthopedic specialists in the US who really know their stuff in this field? Unfortunately, it looks like she’s going to need a total hip replacement. I would also love to hear from anyone who has gone through the surgery themselves—please share your experiences regarding the prep work and how the recovery process went afterward!

restlesstrucker11 said:Unfortunately, it’s a cold, hard fact: hip issues are hitting younger people harder than ever. I’m sitting here at 41 with osteoarthritis in both hips, and frankly, it’s just a matter of when I’ll finally be scheduled for total hip replacements. In my case, it’s all tied back to scoliosis—that caused one side to give out first, and then the other followed suit.
As river 53 points out, you really need to try keeping up with physical therapy, swimming, and things like that... 👍

🤷

Same story here, just a bit younger at 35. I'm fighting osteoarthritis in both hips because of scoliosis and spondylosis in my spine, plus general osteoarthritis in my joints and bones. And now, rheumatoid arthritis joined the party—it’s probably just a domino effect where one thing triggers the next...
With therapy, it's the same advice: don't overwork your hips or joints, go swimming, eat right, and drop any extra weight if you've got it... and that's really it. Some people manage to hold out until they're much older depending on how bad the damage is, while others have to get artificial hips way sooner. I'm rooting for you guys to stay on the non-surgical side as long as possible! 🙂

Hey everyone... I’m reaching out because if anyone here has dealt with hip osteoarthritis, please, please share your wisdom... I really need it. I’m only 24, but they just diagnosed me with arthritis in my right hip (back when I was a kid, I had bilateral hip dislocation and had to wear those little hip harnesses—I started walking a bit before age 2, but everything seemed fine until recently... 😢 ). Honestly, my left hip isn't exactly perfect either, though doctors say it might hold up for a while longer. I’ve seen a few different orthopedic specialists, and the consensus seems to be that I should just "tough it out" as long as possible since I'm too young for a total hip replacement, according to them. The pain isn't unbearable, but it flares up whenever the weather changes or if I try to squat or bend down too fast... I’m not even touching the painkillers they prescribed because I can manage without them. But here's the thing—I've been married for two years now and I really want to start a family, so what I actually care about is hearing from other women: what was pregnancy like with hips like this??? Should I get the surgery done before I try to conceive, or wait? Has anyone else been in this exact spot? Pleaseeeee, help a girl out 🙂 I totally blanked on one major detail that everyone dealing with this knows—orthopedists are constantly lecturing me about staying slim, but how on earth am I supposed to avoid weight gain when I'm trying to get pregnant??? Thanks so much, cheers

I'm 43. Up until three years ago, I was convinced the issues in my left thigh were just muscle problems—until I saw an orthopedist, S. Tiffenbach, in Washington, D.C. He caught on immediately that there was no rotation issue and sent me for pelvic imaging. Turns out, it wasn't just arthritis in my left hip; there's a subluxation there too. His take? Go straight to surgery for a total hip replacement and get on Dr. Hašpl's schedule, since he’s the specialist for those procedures. So, I did. But Dr. Hašpl told me that, given my age, I'm actually too young for a permanent fix—it would basically be a temporary solution that might only last four or five years before I'm back on the operating table. His advice was to lose weight—which is easier said than done when you can barely walk for more than ten minutes at a time without pain—so maybe some cycling, swimming, and low-impact exercises. The pain is getting worse, though. Getting up from a chair is a struggle, stairs are a nightmare, and now the pain hits at night, too—meaning I'm barely sleeping. I've been leaning on Ibuprofen to get by, but then I start dealing with stomach issues. My last checkup was six months ago with a doctor who shares my diagnosis (left hip arthritis). I figured, what better advice could I get? He just looked at me and said, "What kind of surgery? I've been dealing with this pain since I was 35, and now I'm 56." His suggestion was simple: stick to walking on flat ground, swim, and try to drop some weight. It seems like most experts suggest delaying the surgery for as long as possible, but there's a catch—some say that by limping to protect my left side and overcompensating with my right, I'm going to wreck my spine. If I haven't already, because I'm feeling it in my lower back and even my neck. Then again, I know people who got hip replacements and say they feel like a whole new person. So, I guess you have to be smart about what you choose to do... anyway, if this helps anyone else, I'll be glad.

I figured I’d jump in and share my own story too... I’m 46, and about three years ago, I finally went through with a total hip replacement, and honestly? It was like being born again. Look, I won't sugarcoat it—the surgery itself is rough and pretty intense, but man, was it worth every single second of the struggle. Before the procedure, I spent three years thinking I was just going to end up tripping over my own feet constantly. I was dealing with this constant, nagging pain that never really left me 24/7; the intensity would wave up and down, but it was always there. When you hit that wall where your quality of life just tanks, both the doctors and you as the patient kind of realize there's no other way but to go for the fix. I did try everything, from hitting the local YMCA pool to staying active with workouts, but at a certain point, you just can't escape the strain of everyday life. So yeah, that's my two cents... if anyone has questions, fire away! By the way, I'm already prepping for my next surgery, because apparently, that's just how the journey goes. 😁

Adam Scott37 said:I figured I’d jump in and share my own story too... I’m 46, and about three years ago, I finally went through with a total hip replacement, and honestly? It was like being born again. Look, I won't sugarcoat it—the surgery itself is rough and pretty intense, but man, was it worth every single second of the struggle. Before the procedure, I spent three years thinking I was just going to end up tripping over my own feet constantly. I was dealing with this constant, nagging pain that never really left me 24/7; the intensity would wave up and down, but it was always there. When you hit that wall where your quality of life just tanks, both the doctors and you as the patient kind of realize there's no other way but to go for the fix. I did try everything, from hitting the local YMCA pool to staying active with workouts, but at a certain point, you just can't escape the strain of everyday life. So yeah, that's my two cents... if anyone has questions, fire away! By the way, I'm already prepping for my next surgery, because apparently, that's just how the journey goes. 😁

Can you please tell me how the surgery went, where you had it done, and how long the recovery actually took? And if you have any experience with pregnancy and dealing with hips like this, please let me know—I would be so incredibly grateful!!!

hollowskipper21 said:Hey everyone... I’m reaching out because if anyone here has dealt with hip osteoarthritis, please, please share your wisdom... I really need it. I’m only 24, but they just diagnosed me with arthritis in my right hip (back when I was a kid, I had bilateral hip dislocation and had to wear those little hip harnesses—I started walking a bit before age 2, but everything seemed fine until recently... 😢 ). Honestly, my left hip isn't exactly perfect either, though doctors say it might hold up for a while longer. I’ve seen a few different orthopedic specialists, and the consensus seems to be that I should just "tough it out" as long as possible since I'm too young for a total hip replacement, according to them. The pain isn't unbearable, but it flares up whenever the weather changes or if I try to squat or bend down too fast... I’m not even touching the painkillers they prescribed because I can manage without them. But here's the thing—I've been married for two years now and I really want to start a family, so what I actually care about is hearing from other women: what was pregnancy like with hips like this??? Should I get the surgery done before I try to conceive, or wait? Has anyone else been in this exact spot? Pleaseeeee, help a girl out 🙂 I totally blanked on one major detail that everyone dealing with this knows—orthopedists are constantly lecturing me about staying slim, but how on earth am I supposed to avoid weight gain when I'm trying to get pregnant??? Thanks so much, cheers

Here’s my take: I’m 27, and just like you, I had hip dislocation as a child—except in my case, they didn't catch it until it was too late, so I ended up having surgery. By my early 20s, the arthritis set in on the hip I had operated on, and the pain was constant whenever I walked too much or when the weather shifted. When I got pregnant at 26, I gained 13 pounds. The pain during the pregnancy was brutal, and it absolutely trashed my hip. When I got scans done after giving birth, I was floored—half the joint was basically gone, it had slipped. Like you, my doctors told me it's better to endure it as long as possible, but after having the baby, I can't even walk for more than thirty minutes without being totally wiped out. Inside the house, I'm fine, but once I head out for a walk with my son and husband, after half an hour I'm finished—I'm walking like an old lady. I've decided to go through with the surgery next year. My surgeon actually said that when your quality of life hits rock bottom, it's perfectly fine to go ahead with the artificial hip. Because while you're sitting there suffering, your spine starts taking the hit too, and once that's damaged, nobody can fix it. I want a second child, too, but I'm waiting until the replacement is done because trying to get pregnant again with this current hip would absolutely destroy me. You know your own limits, but trust me: things will likely get much worse after another pregnancy. Just ask your specialist what they recommend—whether you should operate before or after. I hope this helps somehow... hang in there!

Ryan Mendoza2 said:Here’s my take: I’m 27, and just like you, I had hip dislocation as a child—except in my case, they didn't catch it until it was too late, so I ended up having surgery. By my early 20s, the arthritis set in on the hip I had operated on, and the pain was constant whenever I walked too much or when the weather shifted. When I got pregnant at 26, I gained 13 pounds. The pain during the pregnancy was brutal, and it absolutely trashed my hip. When I got scans done after giving birth, I was floored—half the joint was basically gone, it had slipped. Like you, my doctors told me it's better to endure it as long as possible, but after having the baby, I can't even walk for more than thirty minutes without being totally wiped out. Inside the house, I'm fine, but once I head out for a walk with my son and husband, after half an hour I'm finished—I'm walking like an old lady. I've decided to go through with the surgery next year. My surgeon actually said that when your quality of life hits rock bottom, it's perfectly fine to go ahead with the artificial hip. Because while you're sitting there suffering, your spine starts taking the hit too, and once that's damaged, nobody can fix it. I want a second child, too, but I'm waiting until the replacement is done because trying to get pregnant again with this current hip would absolutely destroy me. You know your own limits, but trust me: things will likely get much worse after another pregnancy. Just ask your specialist what they recommend—whether you should operate before or after. I hope this helps somehow... hang in there!

Thanks a million, you seriously helped me out...🙂>

Hey everyone...😛

I know I’m not really feeling the vibe here today, but honestly, whatever, I just need to get this out there.

So, I've got arthritis in both hips. I'm still pretty young, so I'm trying everything in my power to dodge surgery for as long as I possibly can...

Right now, I'm messing around with some beef gelatin to see if it actually does anything.

Has anyone else here tried what people call "natural collagen" to see if it helps?

I was chatting with a holistic vet recently, and they straight up told me that pig gelatin is pretty much the only thing that actually does anything for joint health, since it's the only type our bodies can actually process and use for our joints. That goes for people just as much as it does for dogs.

Your best bet is sticking to pork trotters—either buying them or making your own bone broth from scratch. You want those trotters to be lean, basically pure gelatin. There are plenty of bone broth recipes out there if you need them.

The second thing is movement; exercise is really the only thing that actually lubricates your joints, and you should definitely do it out in the sun. Vitamin D plays a massive role in keeping your bones and joints in shape. Of course, you’ll want to pair that with fat transporters like vitamin K (or maybe some kefir), B vitamins, magnesium, and L-carnitine...
For strengthening bones, there's this old-school remedy. Just boil some organic eggshells, soak them in some crushed lemon juice, let the mixture sit in the fridge for 24 hours, and then eat it.

If you prefer supplements, you could try Osteobiflex or something containing glucosamine for your joints.

I remember watching this show where they interviewed some of the longest-living people on Earth to figure out how they stay so active and healthy—places like Okinawa, or certain spots in Turkey and Greece.
Having a solid family life, working outdoors, and eating whole foods are the real keys to longevity and staying healthy. Plus, with that kind of lifestyle, you're probably less exposed to infections.
Then there are medicinal herbs. On one specific island, even though the people aren't exactly thin, they don't suffer from heart disease, and that's thanks to a plant called purslane (just a heads up, don't let your pets eat that if you're trying to use it as medicine).
Everything matters, and honestly, we just don't live like our ancestors anymore.

I recall reading somewhere that there are actually different varieties of beef gelatin out there and not all of them are worth a damn when it comes to fixing up your joints. I can't quite remember the specifics though. There are supposed to be certain labels or markers for it.