Abstract
Do you want to know the cause of your hip pain? Read the article to know about the possible causes, associated symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options for hip pain.
Contents
Published on Mar 20, 2020 and last reviewed on Mar 24, 2020 - 5 min read
Abstract
Do you want to know the cause of your hip pain? Read the article to know about the possible causes, associated symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options for hip pain.
The joint where the tip of the femur (thigh bone) joints the pelvis in a socket (acetabulum) is called the hip joint. Cartilage covers both the femur bone and socket in this joint. Synovium, which is the tissue lining the joint, also surrounds the hip joint. This synovium produces synovial fluid that lubricates and provides nutrients to the joint. The femur is attached to the hip joint with the help of ligaments, muscles, and tendons. There are many fluid-filled sacs (bursae) in the joint which provides gliding surfaces in the hip joint. The muscles and tendons move around these gliding surfaces. The sciatic nerve (longest nerve) and other major arteries, nerves, and veins pass behind the hip joint.
Hip pain can be mild to severe and can cause aching, sharp, or burning type of pain. There are various causes that can lead to hip pain, some of which are serious and need immediate medical treatment. Some cause, such as a hip fracture, arthritis, or infection, can lead to permanent hip damage or can be debilitating.
Your doctor will first try to identify the cause of your hip pain and suggest a treatment plan, which can include surgery, home remedies, rest and ice, painkillers, and physical therapy, depending on the cause.
Some of the possible conditions that can cause hip pain are:Arthritis - Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common causes of hip pain in older adults. Arthritis causes inflammation of the hip joint, which breaks down the cartilage and destroys the cushioning effect. This results in hip pain, hip stiffness, and reduced range of motion.
Tendinitis - Tendons are bands of tissue that attach the head of the femur to the muscles in the hip joint. Repetitive stress due to overuse can result in the inflammation of these tendons (tendinitis).
Hip Fractures - The bones become weak and brittle with age, which is more common with women. This weakening makes the bones more prone to fracture during a fall. A hip fracture can also lead to life-threatening complications. The symptoms include severe hip and groin pain, inability to put weight on the injured side, stiffness, and swelling.
Bursitis - The fluid-filled sacs (bursae) found in the hip joint help ease the friction the bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments rubbing together. In case when these bursae get inflamed, they result in hip pain. It can be caused due to overuse or repetitive actions that overwork the hip joint.
Muscle Strain - Overworking the joint without proper stretching exercises can put unwanted strain on the muscles and ligaments. This causes hip pain and a limited range of motion.
Hip Labral Tear - The labrum is the rim of the cartilage that lines the hip socket, which provides cushioning to the hip joint and holds the ball of the femur securely in the joint. When this labrum gets ripped, it results in severe hip pain. It is commonly seen in athletes and people who repetitively twist their bodies.
Cancer - Hip pain can also be caused by bone tumors that originate in the hip bones.
Osteonecrosis - Otherwise called avascular necrosis, it is when the bone tissue dies because of reduced blood flow. It can affect any bone including the hip. The causes include a hip fracture or hip dislocation, and prolonged steroids use.
Snapping Hip Syndrome - It commonly affects dancers and athletes. It is a condition that results in snapping feeling or sound in the hip while walking and getting up from a sitting position. In some rare cases, it can cause hip pain, but mostly it is painless.
Femoroacetabular Impingement - Here, hip pain is caused when abnormally shaped bones in the hip rub together.
Hip Dysplasia - This is a condition where the hip socket does not completely cover the head of the femur.
Osteomyelitis - Infection in the bone or hip joint.
Sickle Cell Anemia - People with sickle cell anemia often complain of hip pain. This is because of bone death caused by permanent or temporary loss of blood supply to the bone.
Based on the cause, the symptoms associated with hip pain are:
Groin pain.
Pain while walking.
Joint pain.
Loss of motion of the hip joint.
Swelling.
Tenderness.
Most causes of hip pain get better with rest and over-the-counter painkillers. But always consult a doctor before taking any medicines. In the following situation, go to the emergency room immediately:
If you are in pain even after resting for a week.
If you have a fever or rash.
If you have sickle cell anemia and you are experiencing hip pain.
If more than one joint is painful.
The doctor will try to diagnose the cause of your hip pain by conducting a physical examination, taking a complete medical history, and by asking you questions about the pain. Be ready to answer questions like when the pain is severe, what aggravates or relieves pain, when did the symptom first began, and has it affected your ability to walk.
The doctor might tell you to walk so that he or she can examine your range of motion. Then the doctor might suggest you get the following tests:
Blood tests.
Urine tests.
Fluid in the joint is tested.
X-rays.
CT and MRI scans.
Ultrasounds.
Based on these test results, the doctor will try to diagnose the cause.
Based on what is causing your hip pain, the different treatment options include:
Avoid activities that aggravate your pain.
A cake or a walker will help you walk and improve mobility.
If you have hip pain and swelling, follow the R.I.C.E protocol, which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
Various NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory) drugs, such as Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, and Naproxen, or Paracetamol are used to ease hip pain.
In severe cases, stronger painkillers like opioids are used.
Other medications include disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) for rheumatoid arthritis and antibiotics for joint infection.
Along with medication, physical therapy plays an important role in the treatment of most kinds of hip pain. It helps in improving strength, flexibility, and mobility of the hip. It also includes massage, ultrasound therapy, ice and heat therapy.
Surgery is indicated for hip fractures, osteonecrosis, and some types of cancer.
To know more about the possible causes of hip pain, consult an orthopedician and traumatologist online.
The first sign of a hip problem is pain while trying to put weight on the affected side. The other symptoms of a hip problem include:
- Joint pain.
- Groin pain.
- Limping.
- Warmth.
- Loss of motion in the hip.
- Difficulty sleeping on the side.
- Swelling of the hip.
- Tenderness of the hip.
If you have hip pain after a difficult exercise where you go about with your daily routine, it can be cured by a period of rest, compression, ice, or elevation. Therefore the exercise-related pain should get normal by a few weeks, but if it does not occur, it is a severe condition, and you should consult with a healthcare provider.
Hip pain can be felt in or around the hip joint or sometimes can be felt in the groin, thigh, or outer buttock, usually caused by problems with tendons, muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissues around the hip joint.
You should visit your doctor for hip pain when the pain does not go away or if there is any swelling, redness, tenderness, or warmth around the joint, and you can also call the doctor if there is pain during rest, at night, or when unable move the hip or leg.
Walking is the best exercise to relieve arthritis symptoms in the knee and hip joints, which are the weight-bearing joints. It is also a low impact exercise that reduces hip pain related to arthritis, swelling, and stiffness.
You can get quick relief from hip pain by:
- Holding ice in that area for about 15 min for a few times a day.
- Giving proper rest to the affected joint.
- Apply heat to the area.
- Taking a warm bath or shower to get relief from pain.
The best position to sleep during hip pain includes:
- Keeping a pillow under the legs while sleeping on the back.
- Keeping the pillow between the legs while sleeping on the side can relieve pain while lying down.
- Do not sleep on a mattress that is too soft or too hard, triggering the pressure points leading to pain.
The hip, which is affected by inflammatory arthritis, will be stiff and painful. The other symptoms also include a dull aching pain in the groin, knee, buttock, and outer thigh. The pain will be worse in the morning, after sitting for a while and resting, which reduces with activity.
The hip pain, which is due to strain or inflamed condition of the soft tissues like tendons caused by strenuous exercise, will get cured on its own within a few days. The long-term hip pain due to severe conditions will not go on its own and requires treatment.
The sciatic pain is the lower back's searing pain, which comes with specific movements and radiates down to one side of the hip, buttocks, and legs. But the hip pain is usually felt in the groin region, or the hip area will radiate down to the thigh to the knee. In this way, you can find the difference between sciatic pain and hip pain.
Applying heat or ice to the hip area can lessen your hip pain. For cold, frozen vegetables or ice can be placed in a cloth and kept in the hip region. For heat, a warm bath or heating pad can be placed over the hip area to prepare the tight muscles for exercise.
One of the common issues with hip pain is pain while lying down on the affected side. This is due to bursitis, which is the inflammation of the small sac that cushions your hip joint. The pain may spread to the side of the thighs and can cause sharp, intense pain, especially at night.
Chondrosarcoma is a type of primary bone cancer that usually affects the hip region and can cause hip pain.
Applying cold packs to the hip area for at least 15 minutes several times a day can help reduce the pain and swelling associated with hip pain. Low impact exercises or gentle exercises like walking, swimming, or stretching can help reduce pain in case of chronic hip pain from arthritis.
Hip pain can be cured without surgery using injections, medications, physical therapy, and walking aids.
The best medication for relieving hip pain are:
- Acetaminophen.
- Ibuprofen.
- Naproxen sodium.
Last reviewed at:
24 Mar 2020 - 5 min read
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