Hip Pain
Have you started to notice pain around your hip area? Hip pain can appear over time when the hip joint cartilage wears down after years of use. The hip joint can resist repeated motion and your body’s natural wear and tear. However, after a certain number of years, this cushioning cartilage that prevents the friction of the hip bone in its socket can wear down.
Signs & Symptoms
Discomfort on your thighs, groin, buttocks, and the inside and outside areas of the hip joint are frequent symptoms. Developing pain in your femur may be a sign that something is wrong with your acetabulum, which is the socket of the hip bone.
It is not uncommon for discomfort from other regions to radiate to the hip, such as pain coming from the back or a hernia. Over time, you will start noticing that the pain worsens with activity. You might also suffer from a reduced range of motion, stiffness, or develop a limp from persistent hip pain.
Common Triggers
Several conditions can cause hip pain. Let’s go through the most common ones:
- Arthritis
Even though it can affect people of all ages, older folk are more likely to have this condition. Arthritis can cause inflammation of the hip joint and the consequential rupture of the cartilage that cushions your hip bones. The pain can worsen over time, causing stiffness or a reduced range of motion.
- Hip fractures
As you grow older, bones tend to become weak and brittle. If you fall with enough force, you’re more likely to get a fractured hip. If this were to happen to you, a hip replacement surgery might be in order.
- Bursitis
Your body contains bursae, sacs of liquid between tissues that provide cushioning to your joints. Inside the hip, these sacs can become swollen or inflamed from injury or overuse, resulting in pain.
- Hip labral tear
This condition arises from a rip of the cartilage ring on the outside rim of your hip joint socket. If you’re an athlete or perform repetitive twisting motions, you’re at risk.
- Avascular necrosis
Avascular necrosis occurs when blood doesn’t adequately reach the hip bone, causing the cartilage to collapse over time, eventually causing bones to break. A hip fracture and high use of steroids and alcohol can lead to this.
Treatment
Your treatment will depend on the condition. For pain related to exercise, rest is often enough to allow the hip to heal. Medication such as acetaminophen or anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen works well in relieving pain and stiffness. Low-impact exercises, stretching, and resistance training can improve joint mobility and lessen the pain. Anything from swimming to physical therapy can work favorably to increase your range of motion.
More severe conditions like a fully deformed hip joint, fractures, and injuries may require surgical intervention. Interventions range from repair work to full hip replacement surgery.
Schell Spinal Has The Expertise You Need
Hip pain has the potential to develop into something worse. Don’t let that happen. Dr. Schell is at the helm of Schell Spinal, a series of spine and pain care clinics all over the Michigan area with a high level of expertise in delivering the quality care your body needs. At Schell Spinal, we’ll work with you to professionally assess and treat your condition so that you can enjoy a healthy life free from pain.
Professional spinal care and pain care experts are standing by to assist you. If we are not able to answer your question without an on-site appointment, we can schedule one for you.
