Your age and weight may cause your hip pain, but those are not the only reasons. Whether you are a fitness trainer, athlete, or roughhousing teenager, you can suffer from hip pain. It’s the one common thing between you and Julie Kent, a renowned Maryland ballet dancer. Among the other best things about Maryland pain management centers offering professional pain treatment tops the list for the physically active and elderly population. If your hip starts aching severely, it is time to relieve that discomfort by seeking professional help. Besides, you can also do a few things to find relief from hip pain. Here, we will see the reasons for hip pain.
Table of Contents
Reasons for Hip Pain
The hip joint, the largest ball-and-socket type in your body, offers fluid movement when in good condition. With time and repeated and vigorous motion, it withstands acute wear and tears. But the hip joint is not indestructible.
The cushioning cartilage that prevents friction can wear down, or perhaps you have overused your muscles. Sometimes, it can be a “referred pain” – the pain that radiates from other parts of the body. Knowing the pain’s origin can help you identify the exact cause.
Usually, groin or inner hip pain is because of an issue in the hip joint. Outer buttocks, hip, or upper thigh pain may result from a muscle or soft tissue problem.
Some potential reasons for your hip pain are:
- Arthritis
- Joint inflammation
- Hernia
- Pinched nerves
- Hip fracture
- Sprain
- Bone infection
- Osteoporosis
- Tendinitis
When Is Hip Pain a Serious Complication?
In some instances, severe hip pain may indicate cancer, but it is often a short-term annoyance. Consider the recent news of suburban Maryland resident Lynda Holland. She had suffered from hip pain for six years, and doctors could not come to an agreement.
First, they thought it was osteoarthritis or a cancer recurrence following her lumpectomy. But when the pain disappeared after she tripped in the living room, more tests were in order. It turned out she had an uncommon condition called primary synovial chondromatosis, a benign tumor.
Whatever the cause may be, visiting a clinic in time can prevent further issues. However, you can try some at-home remedies for mild to moderate pain.
The RICE Method for Hip Pain Relief
The RICE method is one of the most used pain management practices to treat dance-related swelling and pain.
Everyone can benefit from these steps:
- Rest: Avoid pain-inducing activities, such as running or lifting weights for at least 48 hours.
- Ice: Apply ice packs or a bag of frozen peas on the inflamed area, i.e., your hip joint. Wrap a towel on the bag to avoid skin irritation and hold for around 15 minutes.
- Use a thick elasticated bandage around the pelvis to prevent further swelling or ache.
- Raise your ankle or knee above your hip to relieve pain. You can also use a recliner to put your feet up.
Shed Some Weight with Simple Exercises
Nearly 30% of adults under the age of 44 in the state of Maryland are obese. When you are in pain, you may not even like to move, let alone exercise. But if you are carrying a little extra flab, some form of physical activity can help.
Losing weight will ease the burden on the hips, but make sure to perform only low-impact exercises. Otherwise, your knees may also start aching.
Stretching, walking, swimming, yoga, etc., are a few excellent examples of low-intensity workouts. Also, do some squats, hip rotations, and knee lifts. Combine your new habit with well-balanced meals.
Visit a Doctor
Perhaps you have already tried all of the above, and there is no significant pain reduction. It would then be best if you consulted the medical professionals at Maryland’s pain management clinics.
During your consultation, be sure to describe your pain clearly – where it begins and how much it hurts. Women may have different contributing factors for hip pain than men.
The doctor may order a few tests to determine if there are any underlying genetic or gynecological issues. During pregnancy, puberty, or menopause, some women suffer from joint pains. Doctors evaluate your condition accurately and identify whether it is a hip fracture or a sprain. If the hip pain is shooting down your leg, it may indicate a ruptured or herniated disk.
Your doctor may suggest the following treatment options to resolve the pain:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relieving patches
- Physical therapy
- Hip resurfacing surgery
- Intra-articular injections
- Minimally invasive arthroscopic hip surgery
- Hip replacement surgery, etc.
Seek Medical Care Now
Some other symptoms of hip pain can be stiffness, tenderness, limping, and swelling. If your range of motion gets severely limited, do not delay the treatment. Please, consult an orthopedic specialist today.
