HIP PAIN – AN OVERVIEW

The hip joint is one of the most important joints of the human body. This is the joint that enables us to walk and do other activities.The hip joint is the one that bears our weight and withstands the force of the muscles of the hip and leg.In spite of this, it is a very flexible joint and allows a great range of motion.

Although the hip joint is designed to endure repeated motion and a reasonable amount of wear and tear, after a point, the cartilage can wear down or get damaged due to aging or other factors. Also the tendons and muscles supporting the hip can get overused leading to pain in the hip. The exact location of the hip pain can help in the determination of the underlying cause.

Causes Of Hip Pain:

• Arthritis: Various types of arthritis can result in pain in the hips such as rheumatoid arthritis (autoimmune arthritis resulting in chronic inflammation of the joints), psoriatic arthritis (another autoimmune arthritis), septic arthritis (inflammation of the joint due to infection), osteoarthritis (joint pain due to wear and tear), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (autoimmune arthritis in younger children)or even inflammation of the sarco-iliac joints (Sacro-ilitis).
• Injury: Injury to the hips can result in pain such as fracture of the hip, dislocation, tendinitis (inflammation of the tendon – athick cord-like structure that attaches a bone to the muscle), bursitis (inflammation of the fluid-filled sac called bursa that acts as a cushion between tendons and bones), etc.
• Pinched nerves: Sciatica (nerve pain due to irritation of the sciatic nerve) can cause pain in the hip.
• Cancer: Hip pain can also be caused by cancer like bone cancer, leukemia, or advanced cancer where there is spread of cancer to the bones (metastasis).
• Other conditions: Conditions such as osteomyelitis (infection and inflammation of the bone and bone marrow), osteoporosis (bone fragility with increased risk of fracture), avascular necrosis (death of bone tissue due to lack of blood supply), synovitis (inflammation of the synovial membrane) can also cause hip pain.

When To Consult The Doctor?

It is very essential to seek immediate medical attention in case,

• The hip pain is caused by an injury.
• If there is any deformity in the joint.
• If there is difficulty in moving the leg or hip.
• If there is difficulty with weightbearing on the affected leg.
• If there is intense pain.
• If there is any sudden swelling.
• If there is any sign of infection such as chills, fever, or redness.

Treatment Of Hip Pain in AVN AROGYA:

Most of the hip pain may only be minor and can be relieved with self-care. The following self-care tips will certainly help in relieving the pain.

• Rest: Resting the hip by not bending too much and avoiding direct pressure on the joint will definitely help in relief of hip pain. Also, avoiding sleeping on the affected side and prolonged sitting can help alleviate the pain.
• Medications: Various over-the-counter and prescription medications are available that can help in relieving the hip pain.
• Cold and heat packs: Ice packs or even a packet of frozen peas wrapped in a towel applied to the affected area for about 15-20 minutes a few times a day can help relieve hip pain. Also warm showers can help in relief of the pain.
• Exercise: If the hip pain is due to arthritis, then exercising the hip joint with low-impact stretches can definitely help with the pain and also improve joint mobility.