Hip pain can be much more than a simple nuisance since so much of your mobility depends on your hips. The size and mobility of the hip are second only to the knee and shoulder, and like the knees, the hips bear the load of your abdomen and upper body.
For patients over 60, chronic hip pain affects as much as 15% of the population. The doctors at Bahri Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Clinic know that adults who participate in sports have a much higher rate of chronic hip pain, up to 40%. Sometimes you can play through the pain, but it’s not always safe, given the complexity of the joint.
Understanding hip pain, why and how it happens, can help you stay on top of the condition, getting treatment early to help avoid developing chronic issues.
When pain in your hip begins, the location of the pain can sometimes be significant when trying to determine the origin of the problem. Only some issues that are typically described as hip pain originate with the hip joint itself. When these occur, you’re most likely to feel pain within the joint or in the groin area.
When you feel pain on the outside of your hips, in the buttocks, or the upper thighs, it’s more likely that the pain stems from a soft tissue source, such as muscles, tendons, or ligaments surrounding the joint.
This pain may also be referred from other places in your body. For example, sciatica issues can create pain signals that seem to originate anywhere along the sciatic nerve, from the lower back to your feet. The source of the problem is often root nerve irritation occurring at the spine.
When you’ve ruled out overexertion as a temporary cause of hip pain, some of the more common causes for it can include:
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are perhaps the most common reasons for chronic hip pain. Any arthritic condition can affect the hips, breaking down cartilage tissue and creating inflammation that limits mobility and causes discomfort and pain.
Liquid-filled sacs tasked with cushioning and friction reduction, the bursae of the hips can become inflamed, often because of repetitive motion. This inflammation can be painful, and it can put pressure on other soft tissue within the joint.
Usually, due to traumatic injury in younger people, those with some level of osteoporosis could be more vulnerable to fractures as the bones of the hips become more porous. In extreme cases, hip bones may collapse due to porosity and excessive force placed on the joint.
The cartilage cover of the hip socket can be prone to damage, particularly for those who have high repetitions of twisting movements frequently found in sports activities. This damage can cause pain and affect mobility.
Repetitive movement is also a common cause of tendinitis, the inflammation of the tough tissue that connects bones and muscles.
With many less common conditions contributing to hip pain, contact Bahri Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Clinic to pinpoint the reason for your problem and to start a treatment plan. You can request an appointment online or by calling the nearest office directly. Don’t wait for the pain to get worse. Book today.
