I saw my consultant today and he spoke about bone on bone whilst looking at my xray. What does that mean? Thank you
This Probably means that your cartilage, which acts as a cushion between the bones in joint, has worn away leaving the bones to grind together.
It means that you have no cartilage in your hip, which is what cushions your joints. The pain you get, which is what happened to me, is the bones rubbing together and gives you pain every time you move your hip. Its great afterwards because you have a replacement joint which does not rub anymore. Good luck with the op.
The cartilage that should lie between you bones at the top of the leg and the ball and socket, i. e. Your hip bone, has worn away. Hence your pain and the need for a hip replacement
Bone on bone just meant that the protective padding ( cartalage ) has worn away leaving a joint with no protection from the other bone from grinding on the other bone in the joint causeing arthritus and pain.
Thank you!
It is not my entire hip just three quarters ~ does it make a difference? Thank you for your reply Barbara. They seem to talk about these things expecting the patient to know. I have never heard of the expression.
It means that your cartilage has worn away so your bones are rubbing together hence the pain . My x ray didn't look too bad but after op surgeon told me my cartilage had all gone so was glad I had op .
Good luck
Same as what everyone else has commented on which is correct. I had exactly the same experience, very painful and to think I thought it was groin pain. When I had my op I was offered to keep my ruined joint which I did and it was wasted. Instead of being smooth, it was pitted to the point it looked like grooves in a tyre, that's how bad it had deteriorated.
I am not sure how we are supposed to know what all of this means as a person with zero experience. I was just about to book an appointment with the gynecologist because I thought the persistent groin pain was connected with my ovaries! I had no idea! I just 'happened' to say how painful it was, in passing, and he said oh yes that is from the hip joint....!! Bone on bone means nothing at all to me so why didn't he explain it carefully to me...I am feeling a bit cross, because all the consultants say is keep going as long as you can, you are only forty so will potentially need 12 hip replacements in your life time. I have problems with both hips. Meanwhile I can barely walk or sleep and I am fed up with being in pain.
Thank you for your lovely post and for replying ~ it is a huge relief to have people who understand and care xx
No worries rose that's why myself and others like me are here on this site because we all have something in common. I guess you are like everyone, I was skeptical at first about the procedure but I assure you, your quality of life will be greatly improved later on. There will be times of pain and anguish but I assure you, it will be one of the best decisions you will make in your lifetime, period. I too was like you searching for answers deliberating, yes or no to proceed with the procedure. I'm 35 from NZ. I Was initially misdiagnosed as having S.U.F.E and upon further investigation was told that my hips were in the correct position it's just that osteoarthritis had deteriorated my left hip joint erasing any cartilage in the joint and thus giving me the excruciating pain we commonly associate with "bone on bone" hence how the term came about. Try and cheer up and all will be well soon
So sorry to hear this, Rose .... I had/ have the same thing, as all of us fellow hippies - apparently it can deteriorate real fast - I also thought I had pulled a groin muscle after a long intercontinental flight - sitting in the same sardine-like position for 12 hours .... 75% means that there is still some cartilage and sometimes they want to wait with the surgery - but if it is bone-on-bone there is none .... come back here with all your questions and concerns ... you couldn;t be in better and more loving hands ----
It seems like such a major operation for what is ultimately just a little bit cartilage ~ why can't they simply find a way to solve the cartilage issue....I
I have this in both hips no protective cartilidge at all so when I walk I just have arthritic bone grinding on bone, it's agony as you will know, had my right hip replacement done on Wednesday and although I am still very sore and stiff that boney pain has gone , just left with post op pain In that leg now x
Thank you x
Thanks Evileye, it will be fine, I am in a much better place now I have accepted it all. I feel okay but just wondered what on earth the consultant was talking about!
It does feel like a pulled muscle abeit a bad one, so I am not surprised you thought it was that. I thought I had the return of ovarian cysts! Hee hee! At least I don't have anything else to worry about!! I was kind of dreading the prospect of having two operations, so that at least is good news 
I can't imagine having it in both hips ~ it is bad enough in one. It must be agony for you. The painkillers do not touch this kind of bone pain either it is just relentless. Well done for getting through your operation on Wednesday, and it is all upwards and onwards for you now.
I am sure that some research is going on in that direction. It may mean that we could be one of the last generations to have to have the surgery. Just think how many people there woul be in agony now if the op had not been invented and improved upon over the years
Hi Rose they don't like to do hip replacement on people they consider young. I say can you sit in the bath and get out easily, can you put on sox, can you tie shoe laces, do you wake every 30 mins and need to turn over. is is painfull to walk, is your life restricted, do you take pain killers just ot go to the shops.
If the answer to these questions, even some of them you need to push for help, have you had Xrays of your hips? If not go to your GP and ask for help, one thing is for certain if it is bone on bone it gets no better and a hip replacement will help you. I am 4 weeks post op and my life is already 1000% better, I hope to get the other hip done later this year and will have my life back.
I hope I can help you best wishes Margaret