Hip Pain
Comprehensive Care for Hip Pain
Everyone experiences hip pain from time to time, typically when muscles around the hip joint are stretched beyond their limits. These large, weight-bearing ball-and-socket joints join the pelvis to the legs and allow us to walk.
Damage or disease in the hip can cause significant pain and threaten your very independence. While there is no cure for hip pain or hip bursitis, skilled orthopedic doctors use pain management techniques to effectively manage discomfort.
Common Causes of Hip Pain
When you experience pain in your hip, it may be due to a wide range of diseases, disorders, and conditions, including:
Bone spurs, or osteophytes, are small bony growths that develop along the edges of bones, often in response to joint damage or arthritis. When they form near the hip joint, they can lead to pain, stiffness, and reduced movement by irritating surrounding tissues or nerves. These growths are a common cause of hip discomfort and may require treatment to improve mobility.
A strain in the hip flexor muscles occurs when these muscles, which are responsible for lifting the knee and bending the hip, are overstretched or torn. This condition can cause sharp pain in the front of the hip, along with reduced range of motion and muscle weakness. Hip flexor strains are often caused by overuse, sudden movements, or athletic activity.
An infection in or around the hip joint, such as septic arthritis or osteomyelitis, can cause intense pain, swelling, and fever. These infections may result from injury, surgery, or the spread of bacteria from another area of the body. Prompt medical treatment is critical to address the infection and prevent long-term complications.
Nerve compression, such as sciatica or pinching of the femoral nerve, can lead to pain, tingling, or numbness in the hip and surrounding areas. This occurs when nerves are irritated or compressed by conditions like herniated discs, bone spurs, or muscle tightness. The resulting nerve irritation often radiates pain down the leg, making mobility a challenge.
Snapping hip syndrome describes a sensation or sound of snapping during hip movement, caused by tendons or muscles moving over bony structures. While often painless, it can lead to hip pain and inflammation if overuse persists. Imbalances in hip muscles or repetitive motions are common risk factors often found in athletes or dancers.
Trauma to the hip, such as a fracture, dislocation, or severe bruising, can result in considerable pain, swelling, and difficulty bearing weight. Depending on the severity, injuries may damage surrounding tissues, joints, or nerves, contributing to lasting hip discomfort.
Both benign and malignant tumors can develop in the hip region, causing pain, swelling, or difficulty with movement. These growths can place pressure on surrounding tissues and nerves, affecting the joint’s function. Early detection and treatment are essential for managing tumors and addressing their impact on the hip.
Diagnosing Hip Pain
Being able to pinpoint where your hip pain is coming from can help narrow down its possible cause. For example, generally speaking:
- Anterior hip pain (felt on the abdomen side or groin area) may point to issues with the hip joint.
- Lateral hip pain (felt at the sides) or posterior hip pain (felt at the buttocks) may point to soft tissue problems such as the muscles, ligaments, and tendons that surround the joint.
Making diagnosis even more tricky is that the pain you’re feeling in the hip can actually be radiating from elsewhere in the body, such as the lower back.
Because there are so many conditions that can cause hip pain, it is important to see an orthopedic specialist, such as the providers at the Joint Replacement Institute, who can not only accurately diagnose but also properly treat problems affecting the hips.
Hip Pain Treatment Options
Treatment will depend on the cause of your hip pain. Physical therapy can help you strengthen your core and regain lost mobility. Because the hip joint is a weight-bearing joint, your weight, strength, and flexibility matter — the better each of these is, the healthier your hips.
Cortisone injections are common when treating causes of hip pain. When more conservative methods fail, hip surgery at a surgical center may become necessary to address your symptoms.
Looking for Pain Management for Hip Bursitis in Naples, FL? Get Relief at The Joint Replacement Institute!
Don’t let your hip pain keep you from the activities you love. The orthopedic pros at the Joint Replacement Institute in Naples, Florida, can alleviate your symptoms and help get you back to enjoying your life. Call (239) 261-2663 or request an appointment now.
