I recently have had some very minor groin pain in my right hip. I play soccer and it doesn't hurt at all when I play, but hurts sporadically here and there as I walk around. I feel it slightly maybe 10% of the time I walk. I went to an orthopedist. He took and x-ray of my hip and said that I have osteoarthritis and pointed out some osteophites forming around my joint in both hips(although I don't notice ay pain in my left hip). He was very doom and gloom about the whole thing. I am scared. I am only 33 years old, fit, thin and very active. I know you may not be able to answer this, but how fast does osteoarthritis progress once symptoms have been presented? Will I need a hip replacement in my 40's....that sounds like a nightmare! I have been depressed for a few days now....

What can I do to strengthen or loosen up the joint and delay a hip replacement? Is it possible that I could go decades with relatively mild symptoms? I'm looking for some kind of hope here if it exists. Are there any stories on this discussion board of folk who were diagnosed young like me and have made it a long time?