While hip pain is common and has many causes, waking up with aching hips points to a few specific conditions that may be to blame. When morning hip pain becomes regular, these may be the first culprits to examine.
The Bahri Orthopedics & Sports Medicine team can help with any hip pain that doesn’t respond to self care. We provide full diagnostic examinations designed to build an effective treatment plan to help you sleep restfully while waking pain-free.
Over-exertion or injury of the hips might explain the occasional achy mornings. Some injuries could be the source of more chronic morning pain, though it’s usually easy to make the connection between injury and pain.
When you have no idea why your hips ache upon waking, there are some common conditions to consider that might be potential contributors to these sensations. Let’s look at the most likely reasons for hip pain.
As you age, your body inevitably changes. One change is a reduction in the production of synovial fluid, a lubricating substance that encases certain joints, including the hips.
Tissue in your body tends to dry out as you age. Between this drying factor and the reduced production of synovial fluid, your hips might suffer from a condition sometimes called morning gel.
When you’re immobile for long periods (such as sleeping through the night), synovial fluid stiffens enough to increase resistance to movement. While this stiffness often releases as you start to move, it could indicate changes coming to your hip joints.
Cartilage covers the ends of your hip bones where the joints come together. Morning gel might not cause pain, but as cartilage tissue starts to break down, common with aging, your hips become painful.
That’s the start of osteoarthritis, a progressive degenerative disorder of your joints. It’s the most common form of arthritis, but it’s not the only one that affects your hips.
Aching hips may also be an early symptom of other types of the disease, including ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis.
In addition to cartilage and synovial fluid, your hips feature bursae, small sacs filled with fluid that cushion and reduce friction in the joints. When these sacs become inflamed, you have bursitis, and morning pain and stiffness are common symptoms in the hips.
If your hip pain vanishes when you spend a night away from home, it may be a sign your current mattress is due for replacement or a bad match for your body. Side sleepers may reduce morning hip pain using a body pillow or other support between their knees.
Adding or removing mattress toppers may help relieve pressure on the hips, easing your morning aches. Experiment with a few options to see if simple changes to your bed and sleep habits provide relief.
When morning hip pain becomes chronic and interferes with your everyday life, it’s time to visit Bahri Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. Reach out by phone or online to book a session at our nearest Jacksonville office today.
