5 causes of hip pain

Does it hurt when you walk up and down stairs? Is there pain in your hips when you bend over? Do your hips hurt when you lie down to sleep? Does pain from your hip often radiate down your leg? 

If you could say yes to any of the above, hip pain is most likely affecting the quality of your daily life. If so, there are medical treatments available to help alleviate your pain. Everything from therapy to medication to injections to hip replacements.

Read on to see common causes of hip pain and what can be done about it.

What are the common causes of hip pain?

The top causes of hip pain include, but are not limited to:

1. Arthritis – Arthritis, which leads to inflammation in the hip joint as well as a breakdown of cartilage, is one of the most common causes of hip pain. The pain can get worse over time, leading to more breakdown, stiffness in the leg and a reduced range of motion.
2. Injury – Through wear and tear, hip bones can become weak and brittle. This leads to fractures or even breaks in your hip. Although you may experience immediate pain from a large fall or accident, small fractures can also cause pain during daily activity.
3. Bursitis – Bursitis is another common cause of pain in the hip. This painful condition affects small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion the joint. When these sacs, also caused bursae, become swollen, it leads to pain and inflammation.    
4. Tendonitis – There are many tendons that surround the hip joint. When any of these become inflamed, irritated or swollen, it can lead to immense pain.
5. Hip labral tear – Labrum is the cartilage around the hip joint that holds the ball of the thigh bone into the hip’s socket. Tears from injuries, repetitive motion and even genetics can lead to pain and a popping sensation in the hip.

What are common hip pain symptoms?

Hip pain symptoms don’t always mean just pain in your hip. It could be a sore hip, hip pain radiating down the leg to your foot, and even pain in the groin or buttocks.

In addition, common hip pain symptoms include a reduced range of motion, limping and worsening of the pain.

When is it time to see a doctor?

In short, when hip pain is affecting the quality of your daily life, it is time to see an orthopedic surgeon. Signs of this include:

• Hip pain at night or when resting
• Intense pain, swelling, redness or warmth near the joint
• You can’t bear weight on the hip
• You can’t move your hip or leg
• Sudden pain in your hip from falling or from another injury

When you’re ready to find a doctor, it’s important to search for an experienced and trusted orthopedic surgeon. Ask for referrals from friends, research credentials and take a list of questions to surgical consults to find the surgeon that’s right for you.

What are the treatments for dealing with hip pain symptoms?

Depending on the severity and longevity of your pain, there are a wide range of treatments available. You can do the first steps at home. Elevate your knees above your hips, ice the area and take over the counter medications like ibuprofen and try to stay off your feet as much as possible. 

If these at home treatments don’t help, then talk to your surgeon about non-invasive procedures which may include therapy, prescription medication and steroid injections. If your pain is severe, is a result of an injury or is of long duration one of the following procedures may be recommended by your orthopedic surgeon:

• Rapid recovery hip replacement: This type of replacement is minimally invasive and is great for younger patients. It allows for a quicker recovery and return to work. Thanks to the advancement of this procedure, many patients are able to return to heavy lifting and bending.
• Anterior hip replacement: The anterior approach is another minimally invasive procedure that is designed to preserve muscle and minimize trauma to the surrounding tissue. It also leads to fewer restrictions and a faster recovery. In this procedure, the surgery is done from the front of the hip.
• Total hip replacement: A complete hip replacement uses a titanium replacement to replace your injured hip joint. Titanium is a flexible material that will bend without breaking and stimulates bone growth around the replacement. At the Kennedy Center, more than 99% of our total hip replacements have lasted more than 26 years.

Take a step towards recovery

When hip pain is affecting your ability to enjoy life, it may be time to consider a hip procedure. No matter the cause of hip pain you experience, there is an option for you at the Kennedy Center. 

To discuss the benefits of a hip replacement, give us a call today at 1-800-322-2141.