Common Hip Pain Causes and Treatments

Your hips are one of the biggest joint and muscle systems in your entire body, and they are designed to take a lot of stress. But hips can and do break down. When your hips begin to have trouble, the pain can keep you from doing even the most basic activities.

Fortunately, you don't have to live forever with hip pain, and many treatments and procedures are available. Here is more about what causes hip pain and how hip problems are commonly treated.

Common Causes of Hip Pain

Hip pain is caused by a variety of issues due to its position in the body. This means that it is prone to pain and overuse injuries. Here are some of the top causes for hip pain.



Sciatica

Sciatica is a term that refers to a pinched or irritated nerve that runs across the hip and down each of your legs. Common causes of sciatica include a herniated disc and bone spurs. Sciatica is especially a problem if you sit or stand in one position for long periods.

Tendinitis

Your hip has a bundle of tendons to support your back muscles and legs. Any of these tendons, or several of them, could become inflamed and cause stiffness and pain. Age and overexertion are common causes of tendinitis in this part of the body.

Arthritis

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can deteriorate the thick cartilage that cushions where your femur and pelvis connect. When the cartilage gets thin or disappears completely, then severe pain is usually the result. Osteoarthritis is difficult to completely prevent but can be slowed down with proper therapy and good health habits.

Fracture

If you've recently had a fall, then you could have a fractured hip. Fractured hips are especially a problem for older women who are more likely to have osteoporosis. Hip fractures often cause sudden, intense pain, and they need immediate treatment.

Gynecological Issues

Your hip area supports and carries many internal organs and body parts, so a pain in the hip area may be due to something other than the actual hip. For example, if you are female, then endometriosis can cause severe pain that radiates across the hips and the lower back. Fibroids also cause a great deal of pain in the pelvic area.

Effective Methods of Hip Pain Treatment

How your hip pain is treated depends on the cause and severity. A pain specialist will help determine the best way to relieve your pain or refer you to a surgeon if needed.

Bed Rest

If your hip pain is mainly caused by overexertion or strain, then the doctor is likely to recommend temporary bed rest along with medication. This will give your hip time to heal. If the pain does not subside, then you may require additional therapy and treatments.

Medications

Traditional medicines and anti-inflammatories are immensely helpful when it comes to muscle and joint pain. If your pain is severe and muscle-related, then you may particularly benefit from injection therapy as well.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is especially helpful for sports-related injuries as well as when you recover from hip or back surgery. Electric stimulation therapy, combined with medication, can also help aid in pain reduction and recovery.

Surgery

Surgery is usually reserved for cases where the hip's structure has been severely compromised such as a hip fracture or osteoarthritis. In these cases, the hip's structure needs to be corrected before any other type of pain management and therapy can begin.

Hip pain affects all aspects of your life whether you are an active athlete or someone who is sedentary. Therefore, if you are experiencing chronic pain, you should contact a pain specialist for help. Pain Care Management has experienced pain management doctors to help reduce pain and make you more comfortable. Contact one of our two Florida locations for an appointment.