Many cases of hip pain will go away with time and can be managed with rest and over-the-counter painkillers. However, if pain is ongoing you should see your GP who may refer you for treatment or surgery. Pain relief – getting weak muscles strong and less stiff is usually not a painless process.
The loss of cartilage leads to pain and inflammation. Pain due to arthritis in the hip is usually felt in the groin or thigh rather than the buttock. It may radiate down your thigh to your knee. Swelling in the joint can also make it harder for you to move your hip.
Back pain can often times be mistaken for hip pain since the hip joint is so close to the spine. Generally, hip and back pain can range from a dull ache to sharp pain. This can affect your mobility and everyday activities.
Arthritis. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are among the most common causes of hip pain, especially in older adults. Arthritis leads to inflammation of the hip joint and the breakdown of the cartilage that cushions your hip bones. The pain gradually gets worse.
Go to a hospital or get emergency help if: Your hip pain is acute and caused by a serious fall or other injury. Your leg is deformed, badly bruised, or bleeding. You are unable to move your hip or bear any weight on your leg.
Hip pain can sometimes be caused by diseases and conditions in other areas of your body, such as your lower back.
Other red flags of concern with respect to the patient presenting with hip and/or groin pain include a history of trauma, fever, unexplained weight loss, burning with urination, night pain, and prolonged corticosteroid use.
Symptoms of bursitis of the hip
Symptoms include joint pain and tenderness. You may also see swelling and feel warmth around the affected area. The pain is often sharp in the first few days. It may be dull and achy later.
When tests like X-rays and MRIs show severe osteoarthritis, it can also signal the need for you to undergo hip replacement surgery. Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage in your joint to wear down over time, causing friction on your bones. This leads to inflammation and pain that can get worse the longer you have it.
The average patient age for a hip or knee replacement surgery is between 66 and 68, which means that it is reasonable to expect a joint replacement to last for the remainder of life in 80 to 90 percent of patients.
Walking is one of the best ways to relieve hip pain. But, if you find that despite a daily walk you are still experiencing it, there are other options available to you as well. If you've had a hip injury, ongoing physical therapy can help you immensely.
Pain that worsens with vigorous or extended activity. Stiffness in the hip or limited/decreased range of motion (ex: can't sit cross-legged) Limited ability to do everyday activities. Pain comes and goes; as it progresses, good days decrease and bad days increase.
Any hip pain that does not improve in a short period of time should be checked out by a qualified medical professional. First of all, minor muscle strain or ligament sprain can resolve which rest, but they can also develop into more chronic, nagging, long-term strain and repeated hip injury.
Causes of hip pain
It might be caused by a sudden injury or a longer-lasting problem such as arthritis. Your symptoms might give you an idea what could be causing the pain. But do not self-diagnose, see a GP if you're worried.
Hip pain involves any pain in or around the hip joint. You may not feel pain from your hip directly over the hip area. You may feel it in your groin or pain in your thigh or knee.
Diagnosis of hip pain
Diagnosis may also be based on imaging scans such as x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, which provide an accurate picture of the bones and soft tissues such as ligaments and bursae surrounding your hip joint. Blood tests or joint aspiration may be needed for a correct diagnosis as well.
The main symptom of trochanteric bursitis is pain at the point of the hip. The pain usually extends to the outside of the thigh area. In the early stages, the pain is usually described as sharp and intense. Later, the pain may become more of an ache and spread across a larger area of the hip.
"Hip pain from sitting can be from poor posture, but if you're sitting 40 to 50 hours week over 5, 6 months or longer, you probably have decreased strength in your hips. When you do get up from your desk, your glutes, core and hip extensors will be weaker, and you don't feel as strong."
If you experience these for longer than 6 weeks, you may need to speak to a healthcare professional. Occasionally, problems felt in your hip can be due to a back problem - even though you don't feel pain in your back.