Did you know nearly 1 in 10 Americans suffer from some form of hip pain?
Our hips help us balance while we stand and we walk. The hip joint also allows for motion as a ball-and-socket joint. When we have hip pain, it can radiate. This means that we can feel in areas away from our hips like in our groins, down the front of the leg and in the knee. In fact, sometimes knee pain might be the only sign that we have a hip problem. Hip issues can cause difficulty balancing, climbing and walking down stairs, stooping and kneeling, and even carrying weight.
Common Causes of Hip Pain
Bone Spurs
Bone spurs are bony growths on top of normal bone. They become more common with age. They can form as our bodies respond to a breakdown of our joint cartilage. These spurs can cause painful hip movements, reduced range of motion and pain that radiates to the thighs and buttocks.
Bursitis
This condition involves inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the hip joints. It can be a result of repetitive motions or positions that put pressure on the sacs around the joint.
Muscle Strain
Strains in the muscles surrounding the hip can cause pain. These include the hamstring, hip flexor, and groin.
Fractures
Hip fractures can involve any bone in and around the hip. These injuries can cause sudden and severe pain. Fractures can be serious and lead to major problems. They become more common as we age because our bones become weaker.
Hip Dislocation
A traumatic injury to the hip can cause a dislocation where the thighbone is forced out of its socket in the hip bone. This type of dislocation typically takes a major force like a car accident or a fall from a significant height.
Arthritis
There are many different types of arthritis that can affect the hip including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid, psoriatic, and post-traumatic. Because of the damage to the cartilage that takes place with arthritis, people suffering from the condition might feel stiff, have a limited range of motion, or even experience a clicking or catching sensation.
Do you know the cause of your hip pain?
Do you have hip pain, but don’t know why? You might have an idea that it could be related to an injury you had or maybe you think it might be long term use related, but you aren’t quite sure of the cause yet.
If this is you, then reach out to your primary care team to schedule an appointment. If you don’t have a primary care doctor, then reach out to us at Sky Lakes Primary Care.
Types of Treatment for Hip Pain
Non-Surgical Options
There are non-surgical options for helping treat hip pain. The right care plan of conservative therapies can aid in maintaining joint function and relieve pain for many people.
Sky Lakes offers:
- Physical therapy
- Therapeutic exercise programs
- Guidance on diet changes and nutrition
- Oral and topical medications
- Pain-relieving injections
Total and Partial Hip Replacements
There are both partial and total hip replacement options available. In partial replacements, the ball or the head of the femur is replaced. In a total joint replacement, both the ball and the socket are replaced.
Joint replacement surgeries have become less invasive over time. In the past, a hip replacement might have left a 10-12 inch scar, but with minimally invasive procedures, smaller incisions (3-6 inches) are used. As a result, there is less blood loss during surgery, less pain after surgery, less damage to muscles and tendons, less time in the hospital, and ultimately faster recovery and rehabilitation.