Like other joints that carry your weight, your hips may be at risk for "wear and tear" arthritis (osteoarthritis), the most common form of the disease. About 30 million Americans have osteoarthritis. You're more likely to get it if you have a family history of the disease, are elderly, obese or have an injury that puts stress on your hip cartilage. You can develop osteoarthritis even if you don't have any risk factors.

Causes
Osteoarthritis results from chemical changes in the cartilage that can cause it to break down faster than it can be produced. In most cases, the cause of this cartilage breakdown is unknown. The smooth, glistening cartilage on the end of your bones helps your hip joint to glide. When it wears thin, trouble can begin.

Symptoms
Your first sign may be a bit of discomfort and stiffness in your groin, buttock or thigh when you wake up in the morning. The pain flares when you're active and gets better when you rest. However, if you don't get treatment for osteoarthritis of the hip, the condition keeps getting worse until resting no longer relieves your pain.

The hip joint may become stiff and inflamed, and bone spurs might build up at the edges of the joint. When the cartilage wears away completely, bones rub directly against each other. This makes it very painful for you to move. You may lose the ability to rotate, flex or extend your hip. If you become less active to avoid the pain, the muscles controlling your joint get weak and you may start to limp.

Treatment
While you cannot reverse the effects of osteoarthritis, early non-surgical treatment may help you avoid a lot of pain and disability and slow progression of the disease. Surgery can help you if your condition is already severe. If you have early stages of osteoarthritis of the hip, your doctor may recommend resting your hip and a program of gentle, regular exercise like swimming, water aerobics or cycling to keep your joint functioning and improve its strength and range of motion. You may opt to use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen for pain. Be sure to get enough sleep each night and lose any excess weight to avoid overburdening your hip. As the disease progresses, you may need to use a cane.

Surgical Options
If you have later stages of osteoarthritis and are experiencing continuous pain or deformity, your doctor may recommend total hip replacement surgery (arthroplasty). This will entail replacing your hip with a two-piece ball and socket joint for your natural hip joint. This will relieve your pain and improve your ability to walk. You may need crutches or a walker for a period after surgery. Rehabilitation is important to restore your hip's flexibility and work your muscles back into shape.