What is the Cause of Hip Pain?
Hip joint pain is a very common complaint, and
with a
number of hip pain causes it can be complex to diagnose - I know
firsthand! However, to avoid injury, it is very
important to hold
off on hip
exercises
or other forms of
treatment until you've figured out why you are so sore.
In my own case, I found that when experiencing a
painful hip, the pain
was not
actually originating in the hip - but elsewhere - and
manifesting itself
in the hip area.
What could cause this?
As
is often the case with man aches and pains...
If left untreated, pain can easily radiate to
other
parts of the body (often called referred pain), causing disruption
there as well.
For instance, someone who has knee arthritis
may likely
favor
one leg over the other, resulting in an imbalance of the hips.
Over time, even a very short period of time, the hip may
begin to feel the ill effects of this. For this reason hip and knee
pain,
hip
and
leg pain, hip and lower
back pain
often go hand-in-hand.
Understanding the source of symptoms is vital, as
treating those first may be the
most useful step, and maybe the only
step needed for hip
pain
relief. In my case, I get hip pain after sitting and lower
back pain that radiates across the pelvis.
My
remedy...
I have found the most relief through a combination
of walking
and hip stretching exercises,
both of which I also use for the occasional arthritis
hip pain flare up.
When should you consult a doctor?
According to many medical websites, if
you have the following hip pain symptoms, or others 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 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
and Walking for
exercise may be recommended as the pain
subsides.
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 whereby
one side isn't being favored over the other.
Maintain
reasonable weight: Since each pound on your body
puts additional pressure on your joints. maintaining a reasonable
weight 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 is
also often recommended 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 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 your health care provider advises
otherwise, regular hip
exercises
such as stretching and walking
can help maintain mobility of the
hip joint.
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