Hip Pain Treatment

Hip pain is discomfort and pain in the hip (which can be from your pants line to the start of the thigh) that can also be felt in the thigh and groin. Hip pain can affect your range of motion, making it challenging to walk where you may limp, or you may struggle to walk altogether. Mobility is crucial when diagnosing hip pain. If hip pain is caused by inflammation or strained tissues from overexerting yourself, this pain will most likely resolve itself in a matter of days. Most hip pain resolves on its own within two weeks. After two weeks, seeking medical attention and evaluating the area may be a good idea. Hip pain is a common ache people experience. More often, older adults will experience hip pain; roughly 14% of adults older than 65 years old experience hip pain regularly. Additionally, if an individual is overweight, they will have a greater chance of experiencing hip pain.

What Causes Hip Pain?

 

Arthritis

Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is the condition where the flexible cushion-like cartilage located at the ends of your bones deteriorates and breaks down over time. This is the most common form of arthritis and slowly begins alongside the aging process. 80% of older adults show signs of arthritis, but not all of them show symptoms. When Osteoarthritis is the cause of hip pain, you can experience stiffness, decreased flexibility, tenderness, and swelling in the hip. In addition, it may be hard to bend down and get out of your seat. Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that causes the body to attack its own tissue and targets smaller joints first. As a result, Rheumatoid Arthritis causes painful inflammation that can cause bone deterioration and deformed joints. Rheumatoid Arthritis affects both sides of your body simultaneously, so if RA is the root of your hip pain, you will most likely be experiencing pain on both sides of your hips. Rheumatoid Arthritis can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in your hips.

Injury

Tendonitis

Hip tendonitis is also called trochanteric bursitis. This condition causes painful swelling of a hip tendon. Hip tendonitis is more common in athletes and people who overuse their hips. The pain can worsen, and the condition can lead to restricted movement.

Hip Labral Tear

A hip labral tear is the injuring of the connective tissue between your femur (thighbone) and hipbone called the labrum. The tears can occur in the front or back of the joint and typically occur due to overuse, serious injuries, and deformities in the bone. A labral tear can cause hip pain, limited mobility, and produce clicking sounds when moving the joint. However, an individual can also have a labral tear and experience no pain at all.

Hernia

Inguinal and femoral hernias are when there is a rip or tear in the abdominal muscle wall that holds your organs in place, and an organ or tissue starts bulging through that opening. People with a hernia may feel swelling and pain in the groin, and upon laying down, the pain subsides. Additional symptoms are constipation, a burning and aching bulge, weakness and pressure in your pelvic region, and pain when lifting. Obesity, heavy lifting, and poor nutrition can increase the risk of weak muscles, and in return, you may be at an increased risk of a hernia.

Hip Fractures

A hip fracture is a break in the femur. Around 300,000 people fracture their hip annually, and most hip fractures occur in older adults and, more commonly, older women. It is a severe, potentially life-threatening injury that needs medical treatment. Hip fractures are typically caused by falling. When individuals have fractured their hip, they will most likely not be able to stand or walk and experience extreme pain. Besides lack of movement, an individual may experience bruising, one leg appearing shorter than the other, and pain in the buttocks and leg.

Avascular Necrosis

Avascular Necrosis is the death of bone tissue from blood supply deprivation. Individuals between 30 and 50 years old are more likely to develop Avascular Necrosis. This condition is typically present after a dislocated joint, broken bone, frequent use of alcohol, and steroids. It is very common to experience hip pain when you have Avascular Necrosis. The pain may be moderate or severe and can worsen over time.

Cancer

One possible cause of hip pain is hip cancer. This cancer can occur in the bone and create intense pain in the hip and joints. Pain is the most prevalent symptom of hip cancer. Other symptoms of hip cancer are nausea, night sweats, fevers, and feeling generally unwell. When a person’s hip cancer is causing them pain, they could have primary or secondary cancer.

Primary Cancer

When a person has primary bone cancer, their cancer originated in the bone. There are three common types of primary bone cancer: osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and Ewing’s sarcoma.

Osteosarcoma

This type of bone cancer occurs when your bone cells produce unneeded new bone resulting in a tumor.

Chondrosarcoma

Chondrosarcoma is when bone cells multiply too quickly and keep growing, without cells dying at the rate they are expected to, resulting in a tumor’s formation. This cancer forms from cartilage cells which you will find at joints and the end of bones. Ewing’s sarcoma This is an extremely rare condition that typically presents itself in younger people. In Ewing’s sarcoma, cells begin to multiply quickly in the soft tissue near the bone, forming a tumor.

Secondary Cancer

Secondary cancer is a cancer that starts in another location in the body and spreads to the bone. For example, breast cancer may spread to any of the bones in the body, causing secondary cancer. When cancer spreads to another location in the body, like the bones, this is considered stage four cancer. There are two types of secondary bone cancer osteolytic and osteoblastic.

Osteolytic

Osteolytic cancer breaks down the bone and does not produce new bone.

Osteoblastic

Osteoblastic cancer produces new bone, creating abnormal bone structures that result in disfigured and fragile bone.