What causes hip pain?
Hip pain can occur at any age. The most common causes include:
- Osteoarthritis
- Muscle strains
- Hip labral injury
- Hip synovitis
- Trochanteric bursitis
- Tendonitis
- Nerve entrapment
- Hip impingement
Lower back problems or a pulled groin muscle can also cause hip pain.
Will I have symptoms in addition to hip pain?
The conditions responsible for hip pain may cause additional symptoms such as:
- Swelling
- Stiffness in the joint
- Muscle weakness
- Grinding noise when moving the hip
- Limited range of movement
- Inability to bear weight on the affected side
- Pain that feels worse if you lay on the affected side
- Pain that gets worse when you’re active
- Increased pain during rainy weather
In some cases, a problem in your hip may also cause pain in your knee, thigh, or buttocks.
How is hip pain treated?
Your ROC Orthopedics provider begins by reviewing your medical history and symptoms and performing a physical exam. Depending on the results of your exam, they may order diagnostic imaging such as X-rays.
Severe injuries such as a fracture, dislocation, or torn ligament may need immediate surgery. In most cases, however, the first line of treatment for hip pain includes non-surgical options such as:
- Activity modification
- Resting your hip
- Physical therapy
- Weight loss if needed
- Assistive devices
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Corticosteroid injections
- Viscosupplementation
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
Early treatment for hip osteoarthritis includes lifestyle modifications, physical therapy, and joint injections. As the disease progresses and the joint becomes extensively damaged, your provider may recommend a hip replacement.
Whether you need a hip replacement or another type of hip surgery, ROC Orthopedics specializes in minimally invasive surgery.
What happens during minimally invasive surgery for hip pain?
During minimally invasive surgery, also called arthroscopy, your provider makes a few small incisions. Then they insert a narrow instrument, the arthroscope, which contains a light and video camera.
Using the arthroscope, your provider evaluates the inside of your hip joint and diagnoses the problem. If you need surgery to repair the problem, your provider inserts specially designed surgical instruments through the other tiny incisions.
Minimally invasive surgery causes less bleeding during surgery, reduced pain after surgery, and lowers your risk of complications. You can also rehabilitate at a faster pace following hip arthroscopy.
Don’t wait to get help for hip pain. Call ROC Orthopedics or book an appointment online today.
