Have you ever experienced incessant hip pain that leaves you limping, makes lying on your side difficult, or makes standing up really tough?
There are a number of reasons why this is happening. Hip pain can be caused by the following:
Arthritis is a common cause of prolonged hip pain. It can cause stiffness, tenderness, and pain in the joints. It can also make walking excruciating.
Fractured hips can also be the cause. This usually happens to older people and those suffering from osteoporosis. A hip fracture can be very serious and needs urgent medical attention.
Tendinitis or inflamed tendons is also a leading cause of hip pain. This is usually caused by muscle overuse or excessive exercise. This can be very agonizing but usually goes away after resting for a few days.
Trochanteric bursitis can also cause hip pain. Hip pain occurs when the bursa, which can be found at the greater trochanter (lateral point of the hip), is swollen or irritated. Trochanteric bursitis can be caused by improper posture, injury to the greater trochanter, excessive climbing, running or walking, and other diseases such as gout and arthritis.
Avascular necrosis can also cause hip pain. This happens when blood is unable to make it to the bones. Bone tissue can die due to blood supply loss. Avascular necrosis is also known as ischemic bone necrosis, aseptic necrosis, or osteonecrosis. If left untreated, avascular necrosis can lead to bone collapse.
Another probable cause of hip pain is coxa saltans or snapping hip syndrome. It can be distinguished by the snapping sound in the hip or a feeling a snapping sensation whenever the hips move. This happens when muscle tendons are overused and become swollen. They rub with the hip socket bone and make a clicking sound. Snapping hip syndrome usually happens to athletes and dancers.
When to consult your doctor?
Consult your doctor if the pain lasts for more than a few days, if the hip is swollen, if there’s a bone exposed, if there’s bleeding, or if the pain is unbearable. Immediate medical attention is needed if these signs are present.
Treating your hip pain
Treatment for your hip pain would depend on what’s causing it. For hip pain due to arthritis, the doctor will probably advise you to take medications that would help to relieve the stiffness and pain caused by arthritis.
For hip pain caused by fractured hips, surgical intervention might be required. Your doctor will determine the degree of the fracture and will recommend the appropriate treatment. Depending on the severity of the fracture, there are several options such as internal repair with the help of screws and metal plates, partial hip replacement, and total hip replacement.
For hip pain caused by tendinitis, doctors usually prescribe pain relievers and rest. It is also advised to apply ice packs and ice massage to the affected area to lessen the swelling.
For hip pain caused by trochanteric bursitis, this can be treated at home. Treatment at home would include rest, anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications, physical therapy, and application of ice packs to the affected area.
For hip pain caused by avascular necrosis, treatment would depend on the severity of the disease. In its early stages, avascular necrosis can be treated with anti-inflammatory medications, osteoporosis drugs, blood thinners, cholesterol-reducing medicines, exercise, rest, and electrical stimulation. However, early stages of this disease usually don’t show any symptoms, and only when it gets worse that pain is felt. When this happens, the doctor usually recommends surgery.
For hip pain caused by snapping hip syndrome, doctors usually prescribe pain relievers and the application of cold compress on the affected area. The patient might also be advised to lessen physical activities for tendons and muscles to recover. In severe cases, steroid injections to relieve pain or physical therapy might be required.
To keep your hips healthy, try our Yamuna Save Your Hips Kit. The Kit includes Save your Hips DVD, Black Balls, and Pump.