Prairie Doc Perspective Week of October 13th, 2024

"Doc, my right hip has been bothering me. Do you think I need a new hip?"

"First, tell me more about your hip pain."

Hip pain is a common complaint which can have a variety of causes. The first thing that comes to mind is arthritis of the hip joint. The hip is a ball and socket joint. The main upper leg bone, the femur, has a rounded top called the head. Under the head of the femur is the neck, which can often be what breaks when someone suffers a hip fracture. Arthritis and wear and tear over time can cause the cartilage in the ball and socket joint to break down and become thinner and irregu...