What is the Cause of Hip Pain?
Hip joint pain is a very common complaint, with a
number of causes, some of which can be complex to diagnose.
The general rule is to hold off on hip
exercises
or other
treatment until you've figured out why you're so sore.
When experiencing a painful
hip it is quite possible that the pain
isn't
actually originating in your hip, but elsewhere, and
manifesting itself
in the hip area.
What could cause this?
As
is often the case with many of our aches and pains, if left untreated
they easily travel to other parts of our body causing disruption
there, as well. For instance, someone who has knee arthritis
may likely
favor
one leg over the other, resulting in an imbalance in the hips.
Over time, even a very short period of time, the hip
will
begin to feel the ill effects of this. This is why hip and knee pain,
hip
and
leg pain, hip and lower
back pain
often go hand-in-hand.
It is important to understand the source of
your
symptoms before beginning treatment, as treating those first may be the
most useful step, and possibly the only step needed, for hip
pain
relief. In my case, I get hip pain after sitting.
My
remedy - some walking
and hip stretching exercises,
both of which can be helpful for an arthritis
hip pain flare up.
When should you consult a doctor? If
you have the following hip pain symptoms, or other symptoms that just
don't feel
right.
- swelling, redness or warmth in the area of the
pain
- fever accompanying the pain
- severe pain
- excessive hip pain while sleeping or in a
resting position
- pain caused by recent injury
- inability to stand or walk without a lot a pain
Other Hip Pain Causes and Treatments
Arthritis:
Due to their degenerative
nature, osteoarthritis
and rheumatoid arthritis
are two of the major
causes of chronic hip pain.
Strained
muscles: The muscles surrounding the hip and
pelvic area can become strained and cause pain in the hip area.
Groin pulls and hamstring strains commonly contribute to this
type of pain.
Tendonitis:
Tendonitis can occur in any of the tendons that surround the
hip
joint.
Bursitis:
Trochanteric bursitis, which causes inflammation of the
bursea
over the outside of the hip joint, is a very common problem.
Spinal
Pain: Many spinal problems can cause pain
to radiate to the hip area. The most common are
herniated discs
and sciatica.
Hip
Fracture: Elderly individuals with osteoporosis
are the most likely to have hip fractures, resulting in either hip
replacement surgery, or surgery to repair the damaged area.
Avascular
Necrosis: When bone is deprived of its normal
blood flow avascular necrosis may occur. This may happen
after a long-term cortisone treatment, direct injury to the hip joint
or after an organ transplant.
Snapping
Hip Syndrome: Just as its name implies snapping
hip syndrome is accompanied by a loud snap, or popping sound, when the
hip is flexed or extended. Because of the nature of their
movements many dancers and athletes are afflicted with this.
The term is used to describe three types of problems:
- Iliotibial band snap
- Iliopsoas tendon snap
- Hip labral tear
Treatment
recommendations may include:
Rest:
When the discomfort initially begins resting may be one of
the best remedies. Laying on a firm surface will remove
pressure from the hip joints.
Walking
Aids: If putting pressure on the hip joint
causes discomfort, using a cane or crutches may be necessary.
Ice
and Heat: Typically, ice
therapy
is applied immediately
after the onset of pain to reduce swelling and continues to be applied
for a couple of days. After this time heat
is often used to
help loosen tissues and relax the affected area.
Physical
Therapy Exercise: Physical therapy that makes
use of gentle hip stretching
exercises
can be useful as the pain
subsides. Walking for
exercise is also beneficial.
Medication:
A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, NSAID, is commonly
prescribed for patients with hip pain caused by bursitis,
tendonitis and arthritis.
Preventing Hip Pain
In many instances there are preventative measures
that can be taken to reduce the incidents of pain in the hip joints.
Bending
properly: Just as a balanced posture is
important when standing it is also important to bend in a way that
one side isn't being favored over the other.
Maintain
reasonable weight: Since each pound on your body
puts additional pressure on your joints weight maintenance is extremely
important.
Warm
up
and stretching exercise: Prior to physical
activity muscles should have appropriate warm up and stretching exercise
so as not to risk injury to the hip
flexors. Stretching should
also be
done after activity.
Avoid
foot problems: A painful
foot problem
tends to
make us walk in an unnatural manner, thus creating imbalance in the
pelvis.
Avoid this by wearing appropriate footwear and talking to
your doctor about your discomforts.
Sit
upright: Keep your hips positioned properly by sitting
upright and not leaning from side to side. Avoid leg
crossing. Sitting posture can be as
important as standing posture.
Avoid
inactivity: Unless advised otherwise, regularly
do hip
exercises
such as stretching and walking
to maintain mobility of the
hip joint.
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