Arthritis Types

Arthritis causes pain, stiffness and swelling from the inflammation of a joint or the area around joints.

The three basic types of arthritis that may cause hip and knee pain: osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis (most commonly rheumatoid arthritis), and traumatic arthritis.

Osteoarthritis

  •  Joint disease that gets worse over time
  • Characterized by the breakdown of the joint's cartilage
  • Does not cause swelling in joints (not inflammatory)
  • Cartilage that cushions the bones of the hip starts to erode, eventually allowing the bones to grind or rub together
  • Causes pain and stiffness
Osteoarthritis in Hips

Rheumatoid Arthritis

  • Causes joint swelling (inflammatory condition)
  • The immune system mistakenly attacks the
    tissue that lines and cushions the joints
  • Cartilage wears away and the cushioning fluid in the joint (the synovium) becomes swollen
  • Inflammation causes chemicals to be released that damage the cartilage and bone
  • Causes pain and swelling
Arthritis in Hips

Traumatic Arthritis

  • The culprit here is a serious hip injury or fracture that can lead to a condition called avascular necrosis where the blood supply to the ball portion (the femoral head) of the thighbone is cut off
  • Lack of blood supply causes the femoral head of the thighbone to deteriorate, produce pain, and other symptoms

 Hip Fracture