Causes of Hip Pain

Especially in older adults, hip pain is often the result of arthritis, a very common illness among adults in the U.S., and one of the leading causes of disability. The effects of chronic hip pain can be debilitating and can limit a person in their everyday life.

What Causes Hip Pain?

Your doctor will be able to diagnose your hip problem by performing a physical exam, learning your medical history, and asking you about your symptoms. The most common causes of hip pain are:

• Hip Arthritis: Osteoarthritis is the most common form of hip arthritis, but there are many other types of arthritis that could be causing your hip pain. It’s common to experience pain in the groin or buttocks, and loss of range of motion is common.
• Hip Tendinitis: Tendinitis is one cause of hip pain, resulting from the inflammation of the band of tissue that connects the muscle and bones in your hip joint. You’ll likely feel a dull, deep ache in your groin if you have tendinitis in your hip.
• Hip Bursitis: This is the inflammation of the bursae sacs that cushion the tendons in your hip and can cause a burning sensation on the side of your hip.

What is Hip Osteoarthritis? 

One in five people over the age of 18 have been diagnosed with arthritis. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis and it affects about 31 million Americans. Osteoarthritis is the deterioration of the cartilage that cushions the joints.

When osteoarthritis is present in the hip joint, the cartilage that lines the acetabulum and femoral head break down. The bones rub against each other and can result in pain, stiffness, loss of movement, and bone spurs.

Getting Relief from Hip Pain in Huntsville

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your doctor may recommend a few conservative treatments before deciding to have a hip replacement. Medication, injections, and cold and heat therapy can help with pain and stiffness. A cane may help reduce the weight that’s placed on your hip to help relieve pain.

If other treatments are unsuccessful or you are very limited in performing everyday activities, a hip replacement may be recommended. A total hip replacement is a procedure to remove the damaged parts of the hip joint and replace them with metal or plastic components. This procedure is very effective in relieving pain caused by arthritis in your hip.

If you’ve suffered from hip pain and stiffness, find out if you’re a candidate for a hip replacement today.