What causes hip pain?

An article investigating the causes of hip pain in patients. A break down of concern of symptoms that individuals should look out for and how to start looking for treatment.

Hip pain is a common problem, and there are many causes. It is important to make an accurate diagnosis of the cause of your symptoms so that appropriate treatment can be directed at the underlying problem. Some of the most common causes include: Arthritis, Trochanteric Bursitis (inflammation of the fat pat that covers the outside of the hip), Tendonitis (inflammation of the tendons surrounding the hip), Osteonecrosis (decreased blood flow to the hip, causing deep pain).

Those with chronic hip problems, may experience lumbar referred pain, causing
back and spine problems. The most common problems that refer pain to the hip region are herniated discs and sciatica.

Then, you have the Snapping Hip Syndrome which is when the IT band ( a structure within the hip consisting of ligaments) snaps over the outside of the thigh. Tiny tears of the cartilage, or labrum, around the hip socket can cause a snapping sensation.

Strains of the muscles around the hip and pelvis can cause pain and spasm. The most common strains are groin pulls and hamstring strains.

Hip fractures are most common in elderly patients with osteoporosis. Treatment of broken hips requires surgery to either replace the broken portion or repair it with a metal plate and screws. It is very important to make early diagnostic choices when dealing with hip fractures.

It is not uncommon for children to develop hip problems.  Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease is a problem similar to osteonecrosis (see above) but in childhood. If severe, it can lead to permanent damage to this hip joint and early arthritis.

The question is when do you need to call your doctor about your hip pain?  If you are unsure of the cause of your symptoms, or if you do not know the specific treatment recommendations for your condition, you should seek medical attention immediately. Treatment of hip pain must be directed at the specific cause of your problem. Some signs that you should be seen by a doctor include:
o    Inability to walk comfortably on the affected side
o    Injury that causes deformity around the joint
o    Hip pain that occurs at night or while resting
o    Hip pain that persists beyond a few days
o    Inability to bend the hip
o    Swelling of the hip or the thigh area
o    Signs of an infection, including fever, redness, warmth
o    Any other unusual symptoms

What are the best treatments for hip pain?

Treatment depends entirely on the cause of the problem. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that you understand the cause of your symptoms before embarking on a treatment program. That is why I strongly recommend that you contact your physician or (if you live in Chicago area) consider our Chicago physical therapy clinics.

Also, to learn more about managing and reducing pain, please visit our website at www.AdvancedPhysicalMedicine.org and click through to the blog.

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