Cartilage, the natural cushion between bones, is gradually destroyed and the painful contact of bone against bone can literally knock people off their feet. But in some patients it gets so bad that you don't want to do the things you once did with ease. Then it gets to the point that it hurts at rest. Patients may find themselves unable even to sleep. Pain becomes a ruling factor in their lives and they tumble into a downward spiral of inactivity and often depression.
All studies point to a direct relationship between the physical and mental effects of aging.
Conversely, if the brain deteriorates, you lose the ability to drive your body and develop many different types of musculoskeletal aches and pains. A major reward of performing hip replacement surgery, he said, is that it can help pull people out of a downward spiral of pain, depression and inactivity. Arthritis and genes are key risk factors for developing problems with the hip joint. Sickle cell anemia and lupus also are risk factors, as is excessive drinking, obesity and taking cortico-steroids. Research today is focusing on ways to protect your natural joints from the ravages of age and disease, including looking at the effects of diet and exercise, he said.