joint. The "ball part of the joint is the top part of the thigh bone. It is the femoral head. The "socket" is a part of the pelvic bone. There are many muscles and tendons that attach on and around these bones. There are also bands of strong tissue that connect the bones together. These are ligaments. Cartilage is a smooth tissue that covers the bones inside of the hip joint. It lets the hip joint glide more easily. Sometimes, you have an injury to one of these parts of the hip joint. It may be inside of the joint or around the joint. This can lead to hip pain. You may feel hip pain on the outside of the hip. You may also feel it on the inside near the groin area. ‚
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What are the causes?
Talk to your doctor about what is causing your hip pain. Hip pain may be caused by many things. A few of them are: ‚
- Wear and tear of the joint that leads to swelling. This is arthritis.
- Swelling of the small fluid filled sacs in the hip. This is bursitis.
- Stretching or tearing of ligaments or muscles. This is a strain or sprain.
- Pain that is referred from another area. Problems like back pain or a hernia may be felt as hip pain.
- Infection
- Using the hip too much may lead to swelling in the tendons. This is tendinitis.
- Many other causes
What can make this more likely to happen?
- Older age
- Osteoporosis
- Taking a corticosteroid drug over a long period of time
What are the main signs?
- Hip pain which may also go down the thigh or up into the buttock
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Trouble walking or walking with a limp
- Weakness in the hip
- Less movement in the hip
- Leg looks deformed or shorter
How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?
Your doctor will look at your hip and other nearby areas such as the back, leg, and knee. Your doctor will feel around your hip to find where the pain is. Your doctor may move your hip and push or pull on your leg. This is to check your motion and see how strong the muscles and joint are. Your doctor may have you stand and walk to look at your hip. The doctor might check for numbness and feel your pulse in your leg. Your doctor may order: ‚
- Blood tests
- X-ray
- CT or MRI scan
- Bone scan
How does the doctor treat this health problem?
Your doctor will want to find the cause of your hip pain. Some things that may lessen your hip pain are: ‚
- Rest
- Ice
- Heat may be used later but not right away. Heat can make swelling worse.
- Brace, padding, or compression wrap or shorts
- Crutches, cane, or walker to take pressure off the injured hip
- Exercises
- Physical therapy (PT)
- Chiropractor
- Surgery if there is a bone break, serious hip injury, or very bad arthritis
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling, like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). These are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).
- Help with pain, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Fight an infection
The doctor may give you a shot of an anti-inflammatory drug called a corticosteroid. This will help with swelling. Talk with your doctor about the risks of this shot. ‚
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Stay active and work out to keep your muscles strong and flexible.
- Keep a healthy weight so there is not extra stress on your joints. This makes it more likely to be hurt.
- Stand with your weight equal on both legs.
- Bend your knees when you lift to avoid extra pressure off your hips.
- Wear the right equipment when playing sports. This includes protective equipment and padding.
- Warm up slowly and stretch before you work out. Use good ways to train, such as slowly adding to how far you run. Do not work out if you are overly tired. Take extra care if working out in cold weather.
- Wear supportive shoes. If your feet are flat, talk with your doctor about getting inserts or orthotics for your shoes.
Helpful tips
If you have hip pain: ‚
- Take breaks often when doing things that use repeat movements.
- Try to limit working in a stooped position.
- Do not sit or lie in one position for a long time. Do not lie on your painful hip. Use a pillow between your legs if you lie on your side.
- Avoid activities that put a lot of stress on your hip joints. These are ones with a lot of twisting, bending, running, and jumping. Also stay away from those with a lot of sudden stopping and starting. Sports like basketball and tennis can put stress on your hip joints. Better sports if you have hip pain are swimming or bicycling.
- Try to go up and down stairs as little as possible.
Where can I learn more?
Better Health Channel ‚
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Hips_explained ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/irritable-hip/Pages/Introduction.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚