Hip pain is common problem, and it can be confusing because there are many causes. It is important to make an accurate diagnosis of the cause of your symptoms so that appropriate treatment can be directed at the underlying problem. If you have hip pain, some common causes include:
Arthritis
Arthritis is among the most frequent causes of hip pain, and there are many treatments available. If conservative treatments fail, hip replacement surgery is an option.
Trochanteric Bursitis
Trochanteric bursitis is an extremely common problem that causes inflammation of the bursa (small sac filled with fluid that prevents friction between the soft tissue and the bone) over the outside of the hip joint.
Tendonitis
Tendonitis can occur in any of the tendons that surround the hip joint. The most frequently encountered tendonitis around the hip is iliotibial band (IT band) tendonitis.
Labral Tear
The labrum is the cartilage that surrounds the hip joint. Hip labral tears are being recognized as a cause of pain and catching sensations in the joint. Often hip arthroscopy is a treatment option.
Osteonecrosis
Osteonecrosis is a condition that occurs when blood flow to an area of bone is restricted. If an inadequate amount of blood flow reaches the bone, the cells will die and the bone may collapse. One of the most common places for osteonecrosis to occur is in the hip joint.
Lumbar Pain – Referred Symptoms
Many back and spine problems can cause symptoms around the buttocks and hip. The most common problems that refer pain to the hip region are herniated discs and sciatica.
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
Sacroiliac joint is the joint between the pelvic bone and the sacrum (triangular bone at the bottom of the spine). Biomechanical dysfunction of this joint may refer pain to the hip, buttock or groin area.
Snapping Hip Syndrome
Snapping hip syndrome is a word used to describe three distinct hip problems. The first is when the IT band snaps over the outside of the thigh. The second occurs when the deep hip flexor snaps over the front of the hip joint. Finally, tears of the cartilage, or labrum, around the hip socket can cause a snapping sensation.
Muscle Strains
Strains of the muscles around the hip and pelvis can cause pain and spasm. The most common strains are groin pulls and hamstring strains.
Hip Fracture
Hip fractures are most common in elderly patients with osteoporosis. Treatment of broken hips requires surgery to either replace the broken portion or repair it with a metal plate and screws.
Stress Fracture
Stress fractures of the hip are most common in athletes who participate in high-impact sports, such as long distance runners. Treatment usually is successful by avoiding the impact activities.
Childhood Hip Problems: Developmental Dysplasia
When the hips are dislocated or out of position in infancy, the joint may not develop properly. While this is not usually painful as a child, it will lead to early arthritis and problems with walking.
Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
Also called Perthes disease, this is a problem similar to osteonecrosis (see above) but in childhood. If severe, it can lead to permanent damage to this hip joint and early arthritis.
Treatment of hip pain must be directed at the specific cause of your problem. Some signs that you should see a doctor or a physiotherapist:
- Inability to walk comfortably on the affected side
- Weakness in your hip
- Injury that causes deformity around the joint
- Hip pain that occurs at night or while resting
- Hip pain that persists beyond a few days
- Inability to bend the hip
- Swelling of the hip or the thigh area
- Signs of an infection, including fever, redness, warmth
- Any other unusual symptoms
What are the best treatments for hip pain?
Treatment depends entirely on the cause of the problem. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that you understand the cause of your symptoms before embarking on a treatment program. At Dorval Physiotherapy in Oakville, we have vast experience in assessing and treating conditions related to the hip pain. Your course of treatment will be solely based on thorough examination and determining the causes of your symptoms.
