Which is best for osteo athritis steriods or hip replacement?
Steroids are never given orally for osteoarthritis since it is not primarily an inflammatory condition but a degenerative one. They also cause osteoporosis which would make matters worse! Sometimes an area of a joint becomes inflames for a period however and local steroid injection can sometimes relieve this. It is used in the hip very occasionally, but the procedure is more difficult that injecting smaller joints and generally only carried out by orthopaedic surgeons. Hip replacement , as with any other joint replacement, is always the last choice, due to the finality of the procedure and its finite lifespan. However when used appropriately the results can be excellent.
