About Hip Pain
Torso of the human body is joined with the legs by a joint called the hip joint. Any pain within the joint or around it is referred to as hip pain. This is a common problem and sometimes it does not call for a person to seek medication. However, this pain may be as a result of one or more complications within the human body which may require doctor’s attention. The head of the femur (thigh bone) fits into a socket forming the hip joint. This socket is referred to as acetabulum and is made up of pelvic bones. Many hip pain causes arise from the hip joint itself but the other structures surrounding the joint may also be the source of the pain. Intense muscular use especially in sports or heavy activity can result to the pain which explains why the major cause of such pain in most young adults is mainly muscular in nature. On the contrary, older adults will experience hip pain that is related to a medical condition. Conditions like arthritis and the inflammation of the bursa referred to as bursitis are the most common hip pain causes in older people.
Main Hip Pain Causes
As prior stated, hip pain causes might not be as direct as it may seem. Sometimes it requires a medical expert to find out whether there might be an underlying cause. One of the main hip pain causes and mostly in old people is arthritis. There are two kinds of arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Another hip pain cause is injury of the tendons within the hip joint. These tendons are part of the muscles that make it possible for movement within the hip allowing motion in different directions. Thus, when these structures suffer an injury, hip pain is bound to be experienced. Large sacs called bursas surround the hip and allow muscles and tendons to move with ease over the pelvic bones and once they are inflamed (this inflammation is called bursitis), they become one of hip pain causes.Another cause of pain is fractures. These fractures may result from a fall. Once the hip bones are fractured, there bound to be hip discomfort experience. Elderly persons with a condition called osteoporosis are the most likely to have hip fractures. Spinal pain too is another factor. Most spinal problems cause pain to radiate within the hip area.
Management
Hip distress might be confusing because as we have seen, it has several causes. Thus, it is important to make an accurate diagnosis of the cause of the symptoms prevailing so that appropriate treatment can be directed at the pain cause. One of the most commonly used treatment is ice and heat application. Ice helps in case of acute injuries to reduce swelling while heat is applied in case of a chronic situation since it assists in loosening the muscles and tendons around the hip which facilitates flow of blood within the area.Patients with medical conditions such as arthritis, bursitis and tendonitis can be put under medication where non steroidal anti-inflammatory medications are prescribed. Again, enough rest is another hip pain treatment. Rest eases pressure within the hip joint which in turn reduces the pain. Exercise which is called physical therapy is also another treatment measure. Gentle stretching of the hip, in regard to the hip pain cause, is essential and helps to reduce the hip pain.
Featured Image: depositphoto/AndreyPopov