Hip Pain: Causes And Relief
Hip pain is a common problem that can be the result of an injury, overuse, or even from sitting too long. In addition, the pain can come from tendonitis (inflammation of the tendons). It may be due to bursitis (inflammation of the fluid filled sack) that is present around the joints. A hip muscle strain can also be the cause of this problem.
Whatever the reason, hip pain is definitely not a pleasant experience. The discomfort can range from mild to severe, even to the point of radiating pain into other areas including the thigh, calf, and foot.
The hip a strong, weight bearing, ball and socket joint – the largest in the body – and when pain is experienced in this area, it can make simple daily activities nearly impossible. The hip joint considered the connecting point of the pelvis and femur. Hip pain may manifest slowly as the result of problems with in the foot, knee, pelvis, or even the lower back.
Hip pain is experienced by many people where the pain can be felt in other places such as the groin, buttocks, the inside or outside of the hip joint. This kind of pain can confuse a person, where their pain is felt in one location, but the problem is somewhere else causing the pain.
Let’s take a look at the major causes of hip pain:
Osteonecrosis – aka Avascular Necrosis (AVN) – is is when the blood flow to a certain area is restricted. When a bone, such as the hip bone, does not receive enough blood flow, the cells will perish and the bone will eventually collapse. The hip joint is one of the most common areas where osteonecrosis occurs, therefore making it one of the most common causes of hip pain.
Trochanteric Bursitis – This condition, otherwise known as hip bursitis, is commonly seen in athletes. This occurs when the bursa sac found in the hip is inflamed, mainly because of running, thereby causing lots of pain.
Osteoarthritis (OA) – Another one of the most common causes of hip pain is arthritis. General wear and tear of the cartilage can cause this degenerative disease. When the cartilage of a joint wears away, the bones begin to touch, causing extreme pain when weight bearing. OA typically affects individuals over the age of 50, and may actually cause so much pain, forcing the patient to walk with a limp.
Hip Fracture – Hip fractures are the most common reasons for hip pain in elderly. Fractures are generally are the result of a fall. When a hip is broken, it requires surgery to replace the broken bone altogether or repair the broken bone with metal screws or plates. Hip fractures can be very debilitating. Less than 50% of people who suffer from hip fractures return to high stress level activities.
Treatment Of Hip Pain
Treatment for hip pain varies depending on the condition of the individual patient. Chiropractic is the most appropriate method to treat hip pain. This treatment is a safe non-surgical way of finding the cause of hip pain and treating it for relief.
Chiropractors check and treat the hip, pelvic, lower back, knee, and ankle joints when problems are experienced in the hip. They may also recommend exercises that can help to strengthen and condition the muscles of the hip. The way you sit or sleep may affect the hips and put stress on the joints.
Activities that you may consider pleasurable, and not particularly strenuous, such as bowling or golfing can actually strain the hip joints. It is best to stop these activities if you are experiencing hip pain until you find out the cause.
The hips are essential to the movement of the body and when they hurt, it can affect many aspects of our daily lives. Hip and back pain are closely related and although there can be many causes the most common is a misalignment of the bones and joints of the pelvis. Seeking the professional expertise of a chiropractor is often a highly effective method of eliminating this pain.
If you are experiencing hip pain and are looking for relief, call our office to schedule and appointment.