painful hips and knees and ....

lollypop223,

There is a disorder called coxa magna, where the head and neck of the femur are enlarged. It is usually the sequela of the treatment of Leggs-Calves-Perthes disease in children or it is also seen in late osteoarthritis (DJD).

If you did not have treatment for LCP as a child, then it is most likely from DJD.

When the joints degenerate, the body will often produce osteophytes around the joint, to help stabilize it. Thus it is not uncommon degenerative joint disease to have joints that are no longer congruent.

In this disorder, the cartilage that used to line the ends of the bones, is either gone, or is not in good enough shape to produce the slippery surface needed for smooth joint motion.

Patients will often complain of snapping, popping, cracking, 'rice krispy' feelings in the joints. And since the joint is no longer congruent, its motion is not normal. Abnormal motion causes pain.

You state that NSAIDs do not work, have you tried steroid injections? Or possibly one of the newer injections such as Synvisc? Just a suggestion.


But, if the non-operative treatment methods do not work, and you can no longer do the activities that you have to do, then about your only option is to have surgery. Total joint replacement are indicated when non-operative treatments fail.

Total hip replacements have a good track record, if the patient has realistic expectations and is willing to not do impact activities.


You should discuss your options at length with your surgeon. Good luck.