What is Hip Pain?
Hip pain is a common complaint. Hip pain may not always be felt precisely over the hip joint and can occur around the hip joint. The cause for pain could be many different things and the exact position of your hip pain suggests the probable cause or underlying condition causing it.
Causes of Hip Pain
The most common location of pain occurring from the hip joint is in the groin area. Pain felt on the outer side of your hip, upper thigh or buttocks may be a result of the problems of the muscles, ligaments, tendons and soft tissues surrounding the hip joint. However, certain disease conditions affecting other parts of your body such as lower back or knees also cause hip pain.
The main cause of sudden pain in the hip is an injury resulting in the fracture of the hip bone. Hip fractures are common in the elderly because the bones wear out as age advances. Other causes of hip pain may include:
- Arthritis
- Bursitis
- Infection
- Low back pain
- Osteonecrosis of the hip
- Sprains or strains
- Tendinitis (tendon inflammation) resulting from repetitive use
Diagnosis of Hip Pain
Your doctor will evaluate your condition based on your medical history, a physical examination of the hip and thigh region, and diagnostic tests including X-rays and other scans.
Treatments for Hip Pain
Treatment of hip pain is divided into 2 categories: non-surgical and surgical treatment. Non-surgical treatment typically includes medications, exercise, weight loss, injections, and/or use of an assistive device. Avoiding physical activities that may worsen the pain, stretching the quadriceps and hamstring muscles, performing warm-up exercises before your actual exercise regimen can help improve your condition. Applying ice packs over the region for about 15 minutes, three to four times daily can reduce both pain and swelling. If you have an injury with severe hip pain and swelling, talk to your orthopedic surgeon immediately for better treatment outcomes.
Surgical treatment of hip pain could include a hip replacement surgery if you are unable to do the activities you enjoy despite trying non-surgical treatments.
