What are the causes of hip pain? When should you see a doctor for hip pain relief? Discover the answers to these questions and more in this comprehensive guide.

Understanding Hip Pain: Causes and Symptoms

Not all hip pain is created equal. Depending on the type, severity, and underlying cause, the appropriate treatments can vary significantly. To effectively find hip pain relief, it’s crucial to understand the different types of hip discomfort and their potential causes.

Acute vs. Chronic Hip Pain

Acute hip pain is typically the result of a sudden, traumatic injury, such as a car accident or a fall. This type of pain is usually temporary and resolves with proper treatment. On the other hand, chronic or persistent hip pain may indicate an underlying condition, such as arthritis or bursitis, and requires a more comprehensive approach to find lasting relief.

Symptoms of Serious Hip Pain

Hip pain can range in severity from a dull ache to a stabbing sensation. Typical symptoms include pain in the groin, buttocks, or the area where the leg meets the body. In some cases, you may also experience clicking, popping, or a sudden change in the appearance of the hip, such as swelling or redness.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Hip Pain

If you’re experiencing any of the following, it’s time to consult a doctor for hip pain relief:

• Difficulty reaching your feet to put on socks or shoes
• Inability to move or put weight on your hip
• Hip pain that interferes with your daily activities
• Intense pain in your groin or buttocks
• Sudden changes in the appearance of your hip, such as swelling or redness
• Lack of relief from home remedies, such as ice, heat, or over-the-counter medications, within a week

Common Causes of Hip Pain

Understanding the underlying cause of your hip pain is the first step in finding the right treatment. While some causes are related to age-related wear and tear, others may be due to injury, lack of exercise, or even excess weight. Let’s explore some of the most common causes of hip pain:

Hip Arthritis

Hip arthritis is a common age-related condition that occurs when the protective cartilage between the pelvic bones wears away, causing the bones to rub against each other and resulting in pain and stiffness. Risk factors for hip arthritis include advanced age, previous hip injury, family history, and obesity.

Hip Bursitis

Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs located throughout the body, including the hips. When these bursae become inflamed, it can lead to hip bursitis, which can cause pain and stiffness in the hip region.

Non-Invasive Treatments for Hip Pain Relief

Before considering more invasive procedures, there are several non-invasive ways to find hip pain relief:

Lifestyle Changes

Making adjustments to your daily routine, such as maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in low-impact exercises, and using assistive devices like canes or walkers, can help alleviate hip pain.

Medication and Therapy

Over-the-counter pain medications, such as acetaminophen or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), can provide temporary relief. Physical therapy and other alternative treatments, such as heat or cold therapy, can also be effective in managing hip pain.

When Hip Replacement Surgery is Necessary

In some cases, more invasive treatments, such as hip replacement surgery, may be necessary to achieve lasting hip pain relief. Your doctor will evaluate the severity of your condition and recommend the best course of action based on your individual needs.

Factors to Consider for Hip Replacement

Some key factors that may indicate the need for hip replacement surgery include:

• Severe, debilitating hip pain that prevents you from performing daily activities
• Significant loss of hip joint function and mobility
• Failure to find relief from conservative treatments, such as medication and physical therapy

Choosing the Right Healthcare Provider for Hip Pain Relief

When it comes to finding comprehensive and lasting hip pain relief, the healthcare provider you choose can make all the difference. Look for a facility that offers a multidisciplinary approach, with access to a team of specialists, state-of-the-art treatments, and a commitment to personalized care.

The Essential Guide to Hip Pain Relief from Logansport Memorial

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Solutions for chronic hip pain

What’s in this guide—

Everyone deserves to find hip pain relief.

People often associate aching hips with growing older, but you can feel debilitating stiffness and dull throbbing at any age (and for many different reasons). While the wear and tear from everyday life can increase your chances of experiencing chronic pain, you don’t have to accept it as part of aging.

There are ways to prevent and treat hip problems so you can get moving again and enjoy a better quality of life.

In this guide to hip pain relief, you’ll learn more about:

• What are possible causes of your hip soreness
• How doctors diagnose different hip conditions
• What are non-invasive ways to make your hips feel better
• How to know if you need hip replacement surgery
• Why you should choose Logansport Memorial Hospital for helping you find hip pain relief that lasts

Remember, you have a voice when it comes to getting hip pain relief, and we hope this guide helps you on that journey. Feel free to download and print the additional resources at the end of this guide to answer any other questions you may have.

Topics

What makes hips hurt

Different types of pain and what they might mean

Not all pain in your hips is created equal. Depending on the frequency, severity, and type of symptoms you’re experiencing, the causes and appropriate treatments can vary. To find hip pain relief, it’s essential to understand the differences and know when it’s time to get checked out.

Frequently asked questions about hip pain

What’s the difference between acute and chronic hip pain?
Acute pain is the pain you might experience temporarily after a traumatic hip injury like a car accident or fall. Chronic or persistent pain is more long-term and can indicate an underlying condition, such as runner’s hip or arthritis.

What does serious pain in your hips feel like?
Like any bodily pain, hip discomfort can range in severity, from a dull ache to a stabbing sensation. It typically originates in the groin area, where your leg meets your body. With some conditions, you might even feel a clicking or popping in that area.

When should I see a doctor about pain in my hip?
Consult a doctor about options for hip pain relief if you experience any of the following:

• You have difficulty reaching your feet to put on socks or shoes
• You cannot move or put weight on your hip
• Pain in your hips that prevents or hinders your daily activities
• You experience intense pain in your groin or buttocks
• You notice a sudden change of appearance in your hip (e.g., swelling, redness, deformity)
• Home remedies like ice compresses, heating pads, or over-the-counter medications have not provided hip pain relief within a week

Common causes of pain in your hips

Understanding what is causing your pain is the first step in finding the correct treatment or course of action so you can find hip pain relief. Not all discomfort is caused by an underlying hip condition or disease.

Sometimes other factors are to blame, like:

• Wear and tear over time (this is the most common)
• Falling
• Old injuries
• Lack of exercise
• Doing exercises that put too much pressure on the hips
• Carrying excess weight

Hip arthritis

Hip arthritis is one of a few age-related or “wear and tear” hip conditions. It causes pain and stiffness in the hip and may make it difficult to bend over or rise from sitting. There’s no cure for this condition yet, but you can get hip pain relief and maintain an active life with early treatment.

Hip arthritis occurs when the protective cartilage between your pelvic bones wears away. When you move, these bones begin to rub against each other, causing pain.

Risk factors for hip arthritis include (but are not limited to):

• Advanced age
• Previous hip injury
• Family history of hip arthritis
• Obesity

In some cases, hip arthritis develops due to an improper formation of the hip at birth or developmental dysplasia of the hip. This arthritis pain can start either sharp or dull and usually worsens over time. Though you can make some lifestyle changes to find hip pain relief on your own, seeing a doctor is your best bet for making an accurate diagnosis and finding a solution that will address or relieve your pain.

With this condition, you might have:

• Difficulty reaching your feet to put on socks or shoes
• Pain that radiates to your buttocks or knee
• Stiffness that makes it hard to walk or bend
• Increased joint pain when it rains
• A grinding sound during movement of your hip

Hip bursitis

Bursae are small, jelly-like sacs that are located throughout the body, including in the hip. They contain a small amount of fluid and act as cushions to help reduce friction between bones and soft tissues. Bursitis is inflammation of these fluid-filled sacs. Trochanteric bursitis is the most common form of this condition, where the pain and tenderness you feel is around the bony point of your hip bone.

With trochanteric bursitis, you might also feel pain radiating out from your hip bone to your thigh or buttocks. It can start by feeling sharp and intense but gradually become more of an ache over time.

Soreness with trochanteric bursitis is usually worse when first getting up from a sitting position, walking up stairs, lying down on the affected side of the hip, or when you’ve completed a vigorous activity, like walking for a half hour or more.

Other things that can lead to trochanteric bursitis:

• Lack of exercising, especially stretching
• When one leg is significantly shorter than the other, affecting the way you walk
• Repetitive overuse or stress on the hip
• Diseases of the spine
• Calcium deposits or bone spurs
• Hip injury
• Rheumatoid arthritis

How pain in your hips is diagnosed

Doctors use a variety of methods to determine the origins of your pain. This gives them better insight into the causes and extent of your pain so that you can work together on an appropriate treatment plan for hip pain relief.

Physical exams

The physical exam will narrow down possibilities for the cause of your discomfort. During the exam, your doctor will ask about your personal and family health history. This helps them determine if you or someone in your family has a health condition associated with pain in the hips that could potentially put you at higher risk.

While examining you to develop a personalized, hip pain relief treatment plan, your doctor will also ask where the pain is located, how severe it is, and when it occurs. They may also touch your hip and ask you to move it in different ways.

Medical imaging tests

Your doctor may be able to diagnose your hip soreness from the physical exam alone. However, medical imaging tests, like X-rays or MRI scans, may sometimes be needed to get a better look.

An X-ray can show the growth of bone spurs or the loss of joint space. An MRI scan can reveal problems with tendons, bones, muscles, or the bursae. Your doctor may order one or both of these tests to reach a solid conclusion about what’s making you hurt so that they can recommend solutions that will help you find hip pain relief.

Lab tests and Injections

Your doctor may also perform a joint aspiration test, in which they take a sample of fluid from the hip joint to determine the best treatments to bring you hip pain relief. That’s because they use these tests to “see” what’s happening in your hip. Specifically, they’ll check if there is any infection in the fluid, and drawing the fluid sample may even alleviate swelling in the joint.

Injection of a corticosteroid along with a local anesthetic may also be helpful in relieving symptoms of hip pain. There are two kinds of injections—one is put straight into the hip joint, and the other is put into the hip bursae or jelly-filled sacs. To inject into the hip joint, a radiologist performs a short, image-guided procedure. An injection into the hip bursae is performed in the office. Your orthopedic surgeon can determine which type of injection may give you the best chance for pain relief.

An injection may provide temporary (months) or permanent relief. If your pain and inflammation return, additional injections may be needed. Any additional injections have to be given at least a few months apart, determined by your surgeon about what will be best for you. It is important to limit the number of injections you receive, as prolonged corticosteroid injections may damage the surrounding tissues.

How Do You Know When It’s Time for a Hip Replacement

Common Types and Symptoms of Arthritis

Hip treatment options

Lifestyle changes and home remedies that aid in hip pain relief

With proper rest, a healthy diet, regular exercise, and by maintaining a healthy body weight, you can age-proof your hips and improve your overall joint health.

In some cases, your doctor may conclude that hip pain relief is possible with treatment at home. If recommended, those home remedies can include:

Rest

If you’ve been pushing your body too hard and that’s the reason your hip is hurting, finding hip pain relief might be as easy as keeping pressure off your hip for a while and minimizing any vigorous activities.

Therapeutic heat and icing

Gently applying a heat pad or an icepack can help alleviate your discomfort and help you get hip pain relief. You should only use an ice pack for twenty minutes or less, but you can apply a heat pad for as long as needed.

Gentle exercise or stretching

If your pain keeps you from moving as well as you once did, gentle exercises and stretching can help keep you active and obtain hip pain relief. Plan to exercise when your aches and stiffness are at a minimum. Stretching after a warm shower or bath is an excellent option as muscles are usually relaxed.

Medications to treat inflammation

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers might do the trick and provide hip pain relief if you’re hurting because of inflammation. Common examples include ibuprofen and naproxen, found in medications like Advil or Aleve.

Weight loss

If you’re carrying some excess weight but also need to take pressure off your hips, weight loss might help. Just losing a few pounds can be beneficial to hip pain relief.

When to consider hip surgery

Types of hip replacement procedures and what to expect

When non-surgical treatment options have been exhausted, and you’re still struggling with pain, your doctor might recommend hip surgery. Your hip surgeon can do several different types of hip replacement procedures to provide hip pain relief.

The following are two of the most common operations your doctor may recommend when conservative treatments aren’t enough to give you back your mobility and stop your hip from hurting.

Hip replacement (total hip arthroplasty)

During a total hip arthroplasty procedure, a hip surgeon replaces a worn-out or damaged hip joint with an artificial ball-and-socket joint to make a new hip so that you can get hip pain relief.

Anterior hip replacement

An anterior hip replacement is a way of doing the procedure that approaches the hip joint from the front. Performing the procedure this way does less damage to muscles and other soft tissues, patients can typically experience less pain after surgery, and there is a reduced frequency of hip dislocation. Recovery is typically faster and easier, and you have to take fewer post-surgical precautions.

What to expect after having hip surgery

How quickly you recover after joint replacement surgery and find hip pain relief will depend on several factors, including which tissues were cut during surgery, your level of support at home, and what type of prosthetic hip you have.

Your doctor will typically prescribe pain medication to help during your recovery. As time goes on, you may need the medication less frequently and in smaller doses. After roughly 2-6 weeks, you may only need over-the-counter pain medications.

It’s important to follow your doctor’s orders to ensure you find hip pain relief and use medications safely when managing pain after surgery.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy is minimal after hip replacement surgery. It is typically done in the hospital before you leave to go home, to show you how to sit, stand, walk, climb stairs, and safely move in other ways with your new hip joint. Repetitive physical therapy sessions are not typically recommended to help recover from a hip replacement.

Returning to your day-to-day routine

For the first two weeks or so after surgery, you may need some help with simple chores around the house. Before surgery, be sure to get a helper lined up, like a friend, spouse, family member, or someone you hire to lend a hand as you recover.

As you feel more hip pain relief post-surgery, you’ll gradually be able to move around and perform tasks around the house more easily, but remember that the timeline for performing certain activities will depend on your doctor or physical therapist’s advice. It takes an average of 6 weeks to recover enough to resume driving.

Returning to work

If you have a sedentary job, where you sit often or have limited amounts of physical activity, your surgeon may recommend going back to work after 6 weeks. If you have a job that is physically active and more labor-intensive, your surgeon may recommend waiting 3 months or more to go back to work safely.

Safe Activities Before and After Hip Surgery »

Frequently Asked Questions About the Anterior Approach to Hip Replacement

Joint Replacement Beyond Hips and Knees: What You Need to Know

Personalized care for hip pain

Where to go when you’re ready to get help

You don’t have to live with hip pain—relief is possible. With the proper treatment, you can get back to doing the things you enjoy with the people you love.

Get hip pain relief at Logansport Memorial Hospital

We’re passionate about providing patients with high-quality, personalized care—right here at home. Our experienced joint doctors will be with you every step of the way on your journey to hip pain relief.

Our orthopedic specialists can answer any questions you may have about treatment options for hip pain relief. Logansport Memorial Hospital also has experienced financial counselors available who can answer questions about insurance and costs.

Don’t let hip pain keep you from living your life to the fullest. We can help. Consult with one of our hip specialists to explore your options and pick a hip pain relief treatment plan that’s just right for you.

Meet our team »

Call 574.722.2663 to make an appointment or request an appointment online »

Be sure to download the additional resources within and print a copy of this guide to help you answer questions about hip pain and treatment options.

Download

Resource Links

• Hip Pain Assessment Guide
• Meet Our Orthopedic Team
• Online Appointment Request

Related Blog Posts

• Is Surgery Your Best Option for Hip Pain?
• Anterior Approach Hip Replacement: What to Expect
• How Do You Know When It’s Time for a Hip Replacement
• Common Types and Symptoms of Arthritis
• Safe Activities Before and After Hip Surgery
• Taking Care of Your New Hip: Restrictions After Hip Replacement

Hip Pain Treatment Options | HSS Hip Preservation Service

Minimally invasive surgery techniques including arthroscopy have revolutionized treatment.

Non-surgical treatment should always be considered first when treating hip pain. With some conditions, it is possible to resolve the pain with rest, modifying one’s behavior, and a physical therapy and/or anti-inflammatory regimen. Such conservative treatments have been successful in reducing pain and swelling.

• How to manage hip pain
• Anti-inflammatories
• Physical therapy
• Injections
• Hip arthroscopy
• Hip arthroscopy procedures
• Hip arthroscopy and anesthesia
• Post-operative equipment

How to manage hip pain

If you find yourself with hip pain, it’s important to consult a physician. An examination will help to determine what’s causing the soreness, since hip pain can actually come from locations other than the hip, such as the spine, pelvis or leg. While waiting to see a physician, there are some modifications and exercises that may provide some relief.

Anti-inflammatories

Anti-inflammatories, commonly known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (usually abbreviated as NSAIDs or NAIDs) are used primarily to treat mild to moderate pain associated with inflammation. This inflammation may be the result of muscular tears, bursitis, tendonitis, arthritis, labral tears, or synovitis. Anti-inflammatories are also used as a first line treatment in conjunction with a strengthening program. Post-operatively, they are prescribed as well.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy is an integral component to the multi-faceted team approach of examining and treating hip pain. The importance of physical therapy is to assist in gaining an understanding of the underlying causes of hip pain and then to collaborate with a team of physicians in order to design a comprehensive treatment approach. Rehabilitation is useful in many ways. It may be used as a non-invasive approach to treatment, whereby surgery for the patient is not or no longer indicated.

The hip joint is a very deep joint surrounded by almost 30 muscles. Physical therapy aims to strengthen these muscles, increase flexibility, maintain range of motion of the joint, and decrease the associated inflammation. In the case of a labral tear, physical therapy will not heal the tear. With the appropriate muscular training and activity modification, however, the condition may become asymptomatic and therefore require no surgery.

If operative treatment is inevitable, a pre-operative physical therapy program will provide the ability to address nearly all underlying joint problems or muscle imbalance, which ultimately leads to a better outcome. Additionally, in the event of surgery, post-operative therapy is essential in educating the patient regarding daily activities and in providing an appropriate recovery course. Physical therapy is an integral component in the management of hip pain.

Injections

Injections are commonly prescribed to help relieve a patient’s pain as well as to diagnose the direct cause of the pain.

Diagnostic

Following an injection of a numbing drug into the joint, immediate relief from pain will help confirm that the joint is the source of pain. If complete pain relief is achieved while the hip joint is numb, the joint is likely to be the source of pain. If not, further consideration of a possible cause is needed.

Pain Relief

• Intra-articular Injections is an ultrasound-guided cortisone injection made directly into the hip joint that can provide relief. Ultrasound-guided cortisone injections using dedicated high-resolution ultrasound equipment are very precise and allow a radiologist to target the injections directly into an area, maximizing therapeutic outcomes. Following the injection, pain relief varies from patient to patient. Some may feel relief from pain within two to five days. If a patient feels no relief within ten days following the injection, the patient is unlikely to gain any additional improvement and further diagnostic testing may be needed to identify other options for relief.
• Psoas Injection, which are performed under ultrasound, are often prescribed when the diagnosis is thought to be a symptomatic psoas tendon, which runs outside of the hip joint. In some cases, this diagnosis is difficult to make, as a painful psoas tendon often results in compression and tears of the labrum. As a result, pain relief following a psoas injection will only occur outside of the hip joint. If there is involvement of the labrum, which is inside the joint, additional evaluation is recommended.
• Trochanteric Bursa Injection injections is prescribed for patients who present clinically with bursitis on the outside of their hip, and for whom physical therapy and an anti-inflammatory regimen has not provided relief.

Hip arthroscopy

What is hip arthroscopy?

Recent advances in the development of surgical equipment have allowed orthopedic surgeons to treat conditions that were traditionally either ignored or treated with an open procedure. Now, with just a small incision, a surgeon can insert a pencil-sized optical device into the hip joint, which relays an image to a large video monitor in the operating room, allowing a surgeon to see into the joint and correct problems.

What happens during a hip arthroscopy?

Hip arthroscopy, or a “hip scope,” is a minimally-invasive procedure. The use of an arthroscope means that the procedure is done using 2-3 small incisions rather than a more invasive “open” surgery that would require a much larger incision. These small incisions, or “portals,” are used to insert the surgical instruments into the joint. Occasionally, a third or fourth incision may be required depending upon the procedure. Excellent visualization of the entire joint is possible.

The patients are placed supine (on the back) and traction is applied under the guidance of fluoroscopy to allow for the placement of instruments. The amount of force needed to distract the hip varies from patient to patient, with every effort made to minimize the amount of traction. This practice decreases the amount of neuropraxia that develops post-operatively.

Through the second opening, surgical instruments are inserted to shave tissue, cauterize structures, or remove pieces. On occasion, holes may be drilled into patches of bare bone where the cartilage has been lost. This technique, called “microfracture” or “picking,” provokes localized bleeding and encourages the formation of fibrocartilage (repair cartilage). Saline is pumped through the joint during the procedure to improve visualization and flush out debrided tissue. For more information, see Arthroscopy of the Hip.

Hip arthroscopy procedures

Synovectomy

When the inflamed synovial lining of the hip joint causes disabling pain, it may have to be removed via a synovectomy. By inserting heat-generating radio frequency probes inside the joint capsule, the inflamed tissue is then removed.

Treatment of labral tears

The location, chronicity, and vascularity of the injured fibrocartilage determine the way that labral tears are treated, with the goal of preserving as much healthy labral tissue as possible.

• Labral Debridement: If the quality of the labral tissue is poor, a debridement of the labrum is performed. This is done with the use of a rotating shaver in the joint that “trims” away involved tissue.
• Labral Refixation: If the quality of the labral tissue is adequate, an anchor is placed into the bone (acetabular rim). The suture attached to the anchor is then fed around the labral tissue and tied down to the acetabulum. This refixation procedure should make it possible for scar tissue to grow down the acetabulum and remain there once the suture dissolves.
• Partial Psoas Release: From inside the hip joint, the psoas tendon is brought into view by making a small window in the hip capsule. The lengthening of the tight tendon begins first, followed by a cut to release it, which allows the tendon to fill in with scar tissue, ultimately resulting in its lengthening.

Impingement procedures

• Acetabuloplasty (Rim Trimming/Decompression): Anterior over-coverage secondary to a pincer lesion can be treated arthroscopically. This lesion is usually associated with a flattened, degenerative or cystic labrum. Pincer lesions require bony resection, which can be performed using a motorized burr. Resection of the rim lesion oftentimes leads to destabilization or requires detachment of the labrum in order to fully visualize the extra bone. Following the rim resection, unstable, but healthy, residual labral tissue is refixed to the acetabular rim using arthroscopic suture anchoring techniques.
• Osteochondroplasty (CAM decompression): With visualization of the Cam lesion, a motorized burr is introduced and the removal of the Cam lesion is performed to recreate a spherical femoral head. A resection of less than 30% of the head neck junction is recommended to preserve the load bearing capacity of the femoral neck, and therefore decrease the risk of a stress fracture. Fluoroscopy is often used to assist in determining the amount of bone in need of resection.

Hip dysplasia procedures

• Osteotomy: The femur is surgically reshaped and repositioned to restore a more normal anatomy. This allows for normal hip motion and alleviates the impingement. Some osteotomies can be performed via minimally invasive procedures that use small incisions. An osteotomy that involves cutting the bone (and usually an open procedure, not an arthroscopic one) is a technique where the anatomy of the femur or socket is altered to relieve pain and prolong survival of the joint by reducing the abnormal loads on the cartilage. See animation below explaining periacetabular osteotomy (PAO):
• Arthrotomy: This is a procedure where the joint is opened to clean out bone spurs, loose bodies, tumors, or to repair fractures.
• Iliotibial Band (ITB) Release: An ITB release is performed in patients with symptomatic (painful) snaps. This is performed by accessing the lateral space in the hip. Once the ITB is visualized, a cut is made to lengthen the tissue.
• Trochanteric Bursectomy: A trochanteric bursectomy is a simple procedure in which a motorized shaver is placed in the peritrochanteric space (outside of the hip) to debride the inflamed bursal tissue.
• Gluteus Medius Repair: In the majority of cases, the procedure is completed arthroscopically; however, the size and/or location of the tear may warrant an open procedure. The tendons are visualized and an anchor(s) is placed into the greater trochanter of the femur while a suture is passed around the tendon. The tendon is then pulled down to its normal anatomic position and tied over the bone. The procedure is very similar to that of a rotator cuff in the shoulder.
• Removal of Loose Bodies/Tumors, (PVNS/Synovial Chondromatosis), Chondral Repair/Debridement, Chondroplasty: Performing a chondroplasty consists of removing loose fragments of cartilage, often associated with arthritis. The cartilage is taken out of the joint by a motorized shaver or a grasper depending upon the size of the fragments.

Hip arthroscopy and anesthesia

There are two options for anesthesia with arthroscopy: general or regional. Regional is the preferred option, as it allows for pain control immediately following surgery, and tends to minimize anesthetic side effects including, but not limited to, nausea, vomiting, pain at the site of insertion, spinal headache, and so on. Some patients that have spine pathology or bleeding disorders may not be candidates for a regional block. In this case, general anesthesia is recommended.

We are the premier department in the world for the practice of regional anesthesia for orthopedics.

In the majority of hip arthroscopy cases, when a regional anesthesia is used, a spinal block is used rather than an epidural. A spinal block and epidural differ both in where the medication is administered into the spine as well as in the duration of its effect. For long cases, which will require an anesthesiologist to continually dose a patient over time, an epidural is warranted. For cases when a procedure should not exceed three hours, a spinal block is typically adequate. An anesthesiologist speaks with each patient prior to a procedure in order to make sure the patient is adequately informed. To learn more, read about Anesthesiology Frequently Asked Questions.

Postoperative equipment

• Crutches: Crutch time varies, but is usually anywhere from 2-4 weeks. Gluteus medius repairs require 6 weeks on crutches, as does a microfracture procedure. Learn more about hip rehabilitation.
• Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) Machine: The CPM machine is a postoperative treatment method that is designed to aid recovery following joint surgery. For most recovering patients, attempts at independent joint motion causes pain and therefore the patient avoids moving the joint, which can lead to tissue stiffness around the joint and the formation of scar tissue. Ultimately, this may limit a patient’s range of motion and require physical therapy to restore the lost motion. The CPM machine moves the joint without the use of a patient’s muscles. The CPM machine is typically used for 4 hours/day for 4 weeks. A machine can be ordered through the Hip Preservation Service and can be delivered to the hospital on the day of surgery.
• Brace: A brace is worn for 2 weeks following surgery to prevent extreme flexion and extension of the hip, and is only worn during weight bearing activities using crutches. Due to the configuration of the brace, it must be worn over clothes. The brace, which is purchased through insurance, can be ordered by the Hip Preservation Service and delivered to the hospital on the day of surgery.
• Ice machine: The ice machine is a rented ice cooling system that is ordered by the Hip Preservation Service and delivered to the hospital on the day of surgery. It is to be used 4-6 times a day for 20-30 minutes at a time.

Back to Hip Preservation Service

How to relieve pain in the hip joint, radiating to the groin, causes and treatment

THERE ARE CONTRAINDICATIONS. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS. SPECIALIST CONSULTATION IS NECESSARYBack painJoint painJoint and muscle painPain creams and gelsPain relief plastersPain relief tabletsPain injectionsPain relief patchesPain relief syrupsRemedies for leg painPills for pain

Article author

90 002 Frolov Dmitry Yaroslavovich,

Orthopedist

All authors

Contents of the article

• Pain in the hip joint
• Possible causes of pain in the hip joint
• How is the diagnosis of diseases of the hip joint
• How to relieve pain in the hip joint?
• Hip Pain and Treatment
• Sources

Hip Pain

The hip joint is the largest joint in the human body. Every day he experiences a huge load, making movements and maintaining the weight of the whole body. Therefore, with age, the cartilage tissue in it becomes thinner and the volume of intraarticular fluid decreases. These disorders lead to the development of pain syndrome.

However, pain in the hip joint does not appear only as a result of age-related changes. At a younger age, it occurs with various pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.

Therefore, you should consult your doctor at the first sign of discomfort. Timely appeal for help will help to avoid further spread of the process and critical complications.

Possible causes of hip pain

Pain can be caused by:

1. Osteoarthritis of the hip joint – the disease affects one or both joints at once. The main complaint that patients come with is painful manifestations on the thigh from the side and in front, lumbar pain, pain in the hip joint radiating to the groin. At the initial stage, pain sensations appear only during exertion, but over time they begin to occur at rest.
2. Aseptic necrosis – the disease develops as a result of circulatory disorders in the joint. Already on the first day, patients begin to complain of burning pain that appears at night. Men under the age of 45 are more susceptible to the disease.
3. Trochanteritis – occurs as a result of inflammation of the tendons of the thigh. It can be unilateral, then, depending on the location of the process, there is a sharp pain in the hip joint on the right or left. Or double sided. Pain becomes more pronounced during movement or sleeping on your side.
4. Arthritis – manifested by pain in the hip joint, radiating to the leg, groin. Often, the pain radiates to the hip and knee, and is aggravated by movement.
5. Infectious arthritis – caused by various pathogens. The disease is characterized by a rapid onset. Swelling and redness appear very quickly in the affected area. The pain is felt even with a light touch.

Pain can also be caused by other diseases – bursitis, rheumatic pathologies, tuberculosis, hip fracture.

How to diagnose diseases of the hip joint

If you experience discomfort in the hip joint, you should contact a traumatologist or orthopedist. After the examination, in order to clarify the diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe laboratory tests that will help identify inflammatory changes.

An x-ray or ultrasound scan is performed to assess the condition of the joint and periarticular space. These methods allow you to identify the consequences of injuries, fractures, ruptures of muscles or ligaments. If more complex pathologies have become the cause of painful manifestations, CT (computed tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) are used to detect them.

How to relieve pain in the hip joint?

If pain occurs, movement should be reduced. It is also necessary to reduce the load on the affected joint. You should not delay in contacting a doctor. The sooner treatment is prescribed, the more likely it is to preserve the function of the joint and avoid complications.

A specialist decides how and with what to relieve pain in the hip joint. Usually, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to reduce painful manifestations. They are prescribed in tablet and ointment forms. Intra-articular injections with painkillers relieve pain well.

Also applicable:

• muscle relaxants – relieve muscle spasm;
• diuretics – to remove swelling in the tissues;
• chondroprotectors – to strengthen cartilage tissue;
• glucocorticosteroids – have an anti-inflammatory effect, prevent joint destruction;
• pentoxifylline – to improve blood circulation in the lower limb;
• antibiotics – in the presence of a purulent process.

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Pain in the hip joint and its treatment

Physiotherapeutic methods are prescribed:

• massage – treatment course is 10 sessions;
• laser therapy – relieves pain, inflammation, has a resolving effect;
• UHF (ultra high frequency therapy) – stimulates the restoration of damaged tissues, relieves vascular spasms, reduces pain;
• exercise therapy (physiotherapy exercises) – the first sessions are carried out under the supervision of an instructor. The best result is achieved when the exercises are performed in a pool of warm water.

These methods are used during remission.

Diet is recommended for overweight patients, as weight loss reduces stress on the joint.

If pus or blood is found in the joint cavity, drain with lavage with antibacterial solutions. In case of serious violations, hip arthroplasty is indicated, in which the destroyed joint is replaced with an artificial one.

Even slight discomfort in the hip area should be a reason to visit a doctor. Ignoring the problem can lead to a decrease in motor activity and loss of limb mobility.

Sources

1. Hip pain in adults, NHS
2. Hip pain, Versus Arthritis, a UK charity that supports people with arthritis
3. Hip pain in young adults Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (AFP)

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Treatment of coxarthrosis (arthrosis of the hip joint)

Coxarthrosis, or arthrosis of the hip joint is a degenerative-dystrophic disease, often starting with cartilage damage and accompanied by the development of an inflammatory process , over time leading to varying degrees of joint deformity, which is why it is also called deforming arthrosis.

Coxarthrosis can occur at any age, but is more common in the elderly. Perhaps significant damage to one or both hip joints, which often leads to disability and / or surgical treatment. The disease is more common in women than men.

Causes of frequent hip joint injury

This is due to some features of its structure and function:

• As you know, the entire weight of a person’s body is transferred directly through the hip joints to the lower limbs, while in old age it is often excessive.
• Throughout life, this body periodically experiences severe overloads – this is lifting weights, playing sports, running and multiple microtraumas with small jumps, bruises, falls and after car accidents.
• The deep position of the articular head in the articular cavity and the fact that most of it is covered with hyaline cartilage affects its blood supply – it is often insufficient. This leads to a violation of its “nutrition”, premature “wear” of the articular parts, the development of degenerative-dystrophic changes with compensatory involvement in the process of periarticular (paraarticular) soft tissues.
• Heredity and congenital anomaly of the femoral head
• The joint is also subject to the development of osteoporosis, and this leads to a decrease in its strength, frequent trauma; and a sedentary lifestyle exacerbates this process.
• Often there are developmental disorders (dysplasia) and congenital deformities of one or two hip joints, pelvic bones, which the patient first learns about only after undergoing an X-ray examination, examination by an orthopedist and often already as an adult.

The mechanism of formation of coxarthrosis of the joints

The process, as a rule, begins with the articular cartilage: it becomes dehydrated, becomes less elastic, gradually thins and loses its strength and cushioning properties. Therefore, the bone tissue adjacent to it becomes denser – osteosclerosis develops in it, and the articular surface gradually flattens, and small outgrowths – osteophytes – form along its edges.

At the same time, single small cysts appear in the bone tissue of the articular cavity, and osteoporosis develops. All this is often accompanied by inflammation in the synovium. Gradually, the range of motion in the joint decreases, the adjacent tendons and muscles are involved in the process, they are often tense, spasmodic and painful.

As the process progresses, the articular cartilages are gradually destroyed, the bone tissue of the articular head and the articular cavity is “exposed”, their surfaces come together and gradually grow together, a bone block is formed – bone ankylosis. At the same time, the limb is shortened, the pelvis is warped, and the load on the other joint increases significantly, which will accelerate the development of similar changes in it.

The most common symptoms of coxarthrosis

First, patients begin to experience stiffness during movements in the joint, then a slight pain when walking, over time it intensifies, becomes longer and more intense, and then permanent, this leads to “sparing” of the diseased limb, the desire to reduce the load on it and the appearance of lameness, and over time, hypotrophy of the muscles of the diseased limb.

At the same time, pains begin to bother more at night, when the weather changes (meteosensitivity appears). Often, pain is given to the knee, buttock and along the outer surface of the thigh – trochanteritis and bursitis (inflammation of the periarticular bags) develop there, very often patients are worried about severe pain in the inguinal region.

In addition, an asymmetric load on the legs, the pelvis leads to a redistribution of the load on the entire musculoskeletal system and is often accompanied by pain in the back, lower back radiating along the back of the thigh (along the sciatic nerve). Patients tend to move less, complain of increased fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbance, decreased mood.

What should be done if these signs appear?

First of all, you need to see a doctor (preferably an orthopedic traumatologist or rheumatologist) and undergo the examination prescribed by him. Usually these are:

• radiography, computed tomography of the hips and pelvic bones, or magnetic resonance imaging,
• Ultrasound of the hip region and vessels of the lower extremities,
• ultrasonic or radiographic densitometry to determine bone density and determine the severity of osteoporosis,
• clinical blood test,
• biochemical blood test (creatinine, urea, total and direct bilirubin, ALAT, ASAT, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor, antistreptolysin-O, uric acid, total calcium, phosphorus, calcitonin, parathyroid hormone and others) ,
• consultations of related specialists (neurologist, endocrinologist and others),
• electroneuromyography and other studies.

You should consult a doctor when the first symptoms appear, while the joint is still preserved and you can stop the development of inflammation, prevent complications, without bringing the process to surgical treatment and replacing it with an artificial implant (arthroplasty).

Attempting to treat the pathology on your own leads to an increased risk of disability. When self-medicating, patients only lose time, since taking dietary supplements, rubbing with ointments, compresses, therapy with various home physiotherapy devices, etc. cannot stop this process, but only muffles the pain and other symptoms.

Treatment of coxarthrosis of the hip joint

Treatment of pathology depends on the stage of development of the pathological process, among which there are coxarthrosis of the hip joint of 1, 2 and 3 degrees. First of all, therapy is aimed at reducing pain, relieving muscle spasm, improving tissue trophism and blood circulation in the organ, improving nutrition and restoring the structure of damaged cartilage tissue, increasing joint mobility and strengthening limb muscles.

Conservative therapy includes a combination of medical and physiotherapeutic methods. Different groups of drugs are prescribed:

• analgesics,
• NSAIDs (Voltaren, Arcoxia, Movalis, Xefocam, etc.),
• muscle relaxants (mydocalm, sirdalud) – to relieve muscle spasm and improve blood circulation,
• chondroprotectors (glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, alflutop, rumalon, structum, etc.) – to restore the structure of damaged cartilage tissue,
• vascular preparations to improve blood supply in the joint area, which restores metabolism and oxygen delivery to tissues.

In particularly difficult cases, intra-articular injections are performed:

• anti-inflammatory drugs are used in the acute stage of the disease to reduce inflammation in the joints, manifested by edema and swelling, in such cases, intra-articular injection is quite effective and alleviates the patient’s suffering. In one joint, more than three injections are not carried out, and the interval between injections should be 5-7 days;
• drugs of the chondroprotector group, these drugs are used not only at an early stage of the disease, which occurs without swelling and edema. They contribute to the partial restoration of articular cartilage tissue, contribute to the production of joint fluid and improve its properties. This is a fairly effective group of drugs, since they directly affect the cause of the disease and stop the process of destruction of articular cartilage;
• hyaluronic acid preparations – to reduce friction of damaged articular surfaces, which improves joint mobility and protects cartilage surfaces from further destruction;
• intra-articular injections of autologous platelet-rich plasma isolated from the patient’s blood – PRP therapy. Platelets contain growth factors that stimulate regeneration processes.

Along with drug therapy, the attending physician prescribes a course of physiotherapy (SWT, laser therapy, ultrasound), therapeutic massage, kinesio taping, manual and other types of therapy methods. They are necessary not only to reduce tension and spasm of the muscles, ligamentous apparatus, but also to improve blood supply, innervation, they also contribute to the activation of metabolic processes, the reduction of edema and inflammation, and further help in restoring the range of motion in the joint and preventing the development of contractures.