Dr. O'Connor explains if hip arthritis is a fatal condition.
Dr. O'Connor:
Arthritis for the hip in and of itself isn’t fatal, but it can lead to a serious decline in your health if you have lost your mobility. Because basically as we get older, I think one of the most important things for us to remember is we use it or we lose it. And just like your mother probably told you when you were growing up, you got to use it or you are going to lose it. You need to keep active and keep moving.
The people that are older, that are mentally sharp and really engaged are those that stay physically active. So it’s important that you can move and walk.
About Dr. O'Connor, M.D.:
Dr. Mary O'Connor, M.D., was accepted as a resident in orthopedic surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, New York in 1985. She joined the orthopedic surgery staff at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida in 1991, and since 2005 has served as department chair. Dr. O'Connor cares for people with hip and knee arthritis, failed joint replacements, and pelvic tumors.