When someone has pain in the hip, it's often an achy feeling down in the joint itself, where the leg meets the body. It can also be a stabbing, sharp, or sudden pain that occurs on walking or movement, because that puts pressure on the hip joint itself. Most cases of hip pain, though, are more of an ache, and they often don't go away just because a person is not standing or walking. They can be very uncomfortable even when sitting or lying down, and they often drive people to their doctors, trying to determine why the pain won't go away.
There are a lot of causes of hip pain. Some causes of hip pain are from degenerative conditions to injuries, but some of the causes are much more common than others. Understanding the cause of the hip pain is the first step to recovering from the problem or relieving the pain from the problem Here are a few common hip pain causes.
• Arthritis – when a person has arthritis, he or she can experience a lot of pain in specific joints. The hip, as a major joint of the body, is one of these places where there could be a lot of pain. People with arthritis often have stiffness and tenderness in their joints, too, and arthritis in a hip joint can make walking very uncomfortable. If the arthritis is severe, it can also make sitting and standing uncomfortable, as well as lying down on that side. Arthritis of the hip can be very debilitating if it's not diagnosed and treated.
• An injury – anyone who dances, works out, or simply is very active could pull muscles or tendons around the hip and cause pain. Even someone who isn't normally that active could move wrong and 'pull something.' When that happens, the hip is tender and sore for some time because it's used so much by the person that resting it and keeping it immobile is almost impossible to manage.
• Malformation – someone who has a birth defect or other type of malformation of the hip joints or of the spine could have hip pain, as well. The joint needs to be able to move and work properly, and if the joint doesn't fit correctly or a spine problem such as scoliosis is pushing the hip out of proper alignment, pain can be the result of that.
• Trochanteric Bursitis – this problem is extremely common. It causes inflammation of the bursa over the outside of the hip joint.
• Tendonitis – this condition can occur in any tendons in the body. When it occurs in the hit region, it affects the tendons surrounding the hip joint. The iliotibial band most often experiences tendinitis.
• Osteonecrosis – this condition happens when the blow flow to the bone is restricted. If the blood cannot reach the bones, the cells can die and the bone will collapse. The hip is one of the most common places for osteonecrosis to occur.
• Lumbar pain – in some cases, back and spine problems can cause symptoms to flare up around the buttocks or hip area. The most common problems are herniated discs and sciatica.
• Snapping Hip Syndrome – this describes three distinct hip problems. The first problem occurs when the IT band snaps over the outside of the thigh. The second snap occurs with the deep hip flexor over the front of the hip joint. And the last snap results because tears of the cartilage around the hip socket cause a snap.
• Muscle strains – these strains are common around the hip and pelvis areas. They can cause pain and spasm. The most common strains are in the groin area and hamstring.
• Fractures – fractures can occur in the hip area. Some are a result of stress fractures. Others are larger fractures resulting from osteoporosis.
Treating hip pain doesn't have to be difficult. There are many treatments options out there today for all kinds of conditions, and keeping that in mind is a great way to ensure that problems get the solutions that they need in order for a person with hip pain to start feeling better.
• Over-the-counter medication or prescription medication can be used for people who have arthritis in their hips. While it won't correct the problem, it will relieve some of the pain and stiffness. Often, that can be enough to make a person who's dealing with arthritis feel much better. It also allows that person to do a lot more than he would otherwise do.
• Treatment for injuries to the hip can include bed rest and avoiding a specific type of movement. That's important to know, but it may take a doctor's diagnosis to see what's actually wrong with your hip and be able to treat it effectively.
• Surgery can be required in rare cases, especially if there is a malformation of the hip joint or the spine. The pain will often go away once the problem itself is corrected.
• If the pain is related to over use, it is recommended to cut back on activity.
• Consultation with the doctor may help evaluate the problem and what can be done to fix the issue.
• Medication for the pain will be helpful. Over the counter medication can be purchased. And there is medication that a doctor can prescribe as well. Both options can alleviate pain in the hips.
Hip pain might be difficult to manage. However, it is important to begin by trying to manage the pain individually. See if the over the counter medications are affective. They might be a great short term remedy to remove the swelling and help relieve pain in the short term. Then, if pain persists, individuals can think about seeing a doctor.
Also, rest is key. Staying of the injured area is the only way to ensure that more pain will not be added to the area. Therefore, try to relax and get as comfortable as possible. This may be difficult, however it is possible. And it will definitely help the hip pain. While sitting and resting, try to ice the area. This will help decrease the swelling and also eliminate some of the pain.
Remember, while experiencing hip pain, anything that adds to the discomfort will most likely increase the recovery time. This can be something as simple as standing. Therefore, make an effort to simplify. Do activities that are easy on the body and promote healing. Read a book, watch movies, rest. Enjoy this time to recover from the injury rather than making it worse. It is the best way to manage the pain.