If you are experiencing hip pain there could be a variety of things impacting it. Sometimes, the hip pain is due to something wrong in the hip, other times it is a deeper, different problem altogether. The following injuries could be causing your hip pain.
Fractures
Many times, hip pain is due to a hip injury, such as a fracture. Fractures of the hip are more common as people get older. Often, hip fractures happen in conjunction with falling. The risk of falling is increased in the icy winter, so it is always important to be careful and to remember to walk like a penguin on the ice.
Arthritis
Arthritis is another big factor in causing hip pain. When arthritis hits in the hip, physical therapy is often ordered to help strengthen the muscles around the joint. A joint replacement is often needed once the more conservative treatment options have failed.
Bursitis
One other common cause of hip pain is bursitis, which stems from an inflammation of fluid-filled sac or the bursa. These sacs help cushion tendons, muscles and ligaments. Thus, when they swell it can cause a lot of tenderness and pain. Not all hip pain stems from an issue within the hip, sometimes it is something different.
Sciatica
Another reason one might be experiencing hip pain is sciatica, the inflammation of nerve roots from the spinal cord. Often times, this causes hip pain and pain that shoots down the leg. Sciatica can occur because of a variety of reasons such as spinal stenosis, which is often from osteoarthritis, spasms in the lower back, or bulging or ruptured disks. This pain, despite often occurring in the hip, is actually from an issue in the spine.
Peripheral Neuropathy
The sciatic nerve is not the only nerve that can become inflamed and pose as a hip problem. Peripheral nerves are another set that, when inflamed, can cause hip pain. This is often caused in pregnancy, but there are other triggers for it as well, including diabetes and too tight of clothing.
Receive a Proper Diagnosis Today
A proper diagnosis is crucial when trying to take care of hip pain. For instance, if someone were to get a cortisone shot in their hip, but the issue is a ruptured disk in their back, then the injection is not going to do a ton of good. Proper diagnosis is important to know the proper treatment plan. It can help people know what exercises might help or hurt their condition. It is also important for the patient to know if there is a deeper underlying condition that could be more serious of an issue than they originally anticipated.
If you are experiencing hip pain, come in and see one of our total joint doctors or come see our spine specialist if the pain is running through your back or leg as well. They can help provide a proper diagnosis and determine the root cause of the condition. This will help them work with you to come up with an individualized treatment plan to best address your pain.
