Hip Pain

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Hip Pain

Hip Pain

Definition

Chronic hip pain is a common condition that often occurs when the cartilage in our hip starts to break down. This can be due to the natural degeneration of the body as we age, but it can also be the result of an underlying hip injury. Hip pain may come from the joint itself, or from problems affecting areas surrounding the hip joint, such as the bursa.

Causes

Hip pain may be caused by an injury. When people think of a hip injury, they often think of a fall or severe trauma. However, overuse injuries are another possible injury that can occur to the hip. Overuse injuries of the hip typically develop from repetitive hip motions, like running or routinely sitting and standing in a bad posture that puts increased pressure on the hips. Arthritis of the hip is another factor the physicians at Tulsa Pain can evaluate. Arthritis may cause the cartilage around the hip joint to degenerate. When no more cartilage is left, the bones may rub together, causing pain.

Symptoms

Patients experiencing hip pain may feel a sharp twinge or dull ache on the outside of the hip. This pain may flare up when the patient sleeps on the affected side or exercises the damaged limb. Patients may have limited mobility and experience difficulty moving around due to their pain. If the injury or condition causes nerve damage, patients may feel pain shoot toward their buttocks and down the back of their legs. Patients may have inflammation in the joint and notice swelling and heat around the hip.

Treatments

When patients first experience hip pain, our pain management experts recommend resting and icing the area. Rest allows the body to heal faster, and ice may reduce inflammation. If patients still feel pain after staying off their hip for a while, the physicians at Tulsa Pain Consultants may prescribe medication to ease the pain. Medications may also include anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce symptoms of pain, swelling, and limited mobility. If this helps patients move around with less pain, exercise or physical therapy may be recommended as well. If the patient's arthritis has progressed and deteriorated the joint, a physician may recommend hip joint replacement surgery, also known as arthroplasty, to replace the damaged hip with a prosthetic.

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