Osteoarthritis is more common among women and people aged 40 and it's a major cause of disability and reduction in quality of life. Many people think that osteoarthritis keeps on getting worse, but this often isn't the case. Instead, it's likely that your osteoarthritis will settle down over time as your body repairs itself. However, sometimes the damage is too severe to repair and leads to stiffness and pain, esp in the hip and the knee.
Attribution: BUPA