Translated, arthritis means inflammation of joints. The symptoms associated with arthritis, often include pain and difficulty in moving joints (stiffness). Unfortunately arthritis is extremely common. More than 9 million people, in the United Kingdom suffer from it. There are many forms of arthritis. Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common forms, which cause joint pain. Other types of painful joint conditions include psoriatic arthritis, gout, ankylosing spondylitis, and Polymyalgia rheumatica. There are many others.

Arthritis Treatment
There is no cure for arthritis sadly, the symptoms of pain and swelling are in the majority of cases very well treated with non-operative measures.

Very often simply by taking pain killers and avoiding straining of the affected joints can lead to good symptom control.

When non- operative measures have failed, patients may be surgical candidates. The types of surgery used for the treatment of arthritis include Keyhole surgery (arthroscopy), osteotomy and joint replacement.

Osteoarthritis of the Hip
The commonest problem with the hip joint is osteoarthritis. Patients often complain of groin pain, which is worse on walking. They often complain of stiffness, first thing in the morning and have symptoms related to stiffness of the hip, such as difficulty in cutting their toenails, difficulty getting in and out of a bath or a car etc. These symptoms can often lead to misery, reducing the quality of life for patients.

Non Operative Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Hip
Although hip replacement surgery is a highly successful operation, improving the quality of patient’s life; many patients can be very well treated by modifying their life styles and taking simple analgesics, thus avoiding the need for surgery.
» Read more about hip replacement surgery.
» Read more about Osteoarthritis of the Hip.

Knee Arthritis
» Read more about Knee Arthritis.