Hip pain is a common condition that affects many patients with or without back pain ranging from slightly irritating to completely crippling. Whatever the degree of pain you are experiencing at the very least you would probably rather live without it.

Fortunately, you can take measures to prevent or relieve most episodes. If prevention fails, safe and effective treatment along with guidance will allow your hip to heal within a few weeks. In most cases early treatment intervention often leads to the best outcomes. Surgery is often not needed to treat hip pain.

If you suffer from mild to severe hip pain in Collingwood, then seeking treatment earlier than later is always a good move. The information below is meant to help inform you, but we highly recommend that you seek a professional opinion to properly diagnose these issues.

Causes

Hip pain can be caused by one or several conditions involving an injury to the hip joint or surrounding muscles. It can be isolated to the hip joint or part of a larger condition such as back pain or sciatica where the pain starts in the hip but travels down the leg. The hip is a ball and socket joint that connects the leg to the pelvis. Many muscles, nerves and ligaments cross the joint and all have the potential of becoming painful if injured.

Problems within the hip joint itself tend to result in pain on the inside of your hip or your groin. Hip pain on the outside of your hip, upper thigh or outer buttock is usually caused by problems with muscles, ligaments, tendons and other soft tissues that surround your hip joint. The following explains some of the most common conditions that cause hip pain.

Hip muscle or tendon strain

Sharp and sudden hip pain can result from heavy lifting or sprinting. Strains are injuries to the muscles and tendons and can be extremely painful accompanied by swelling, bruising and spasm. Tendinitis involves the tendon and can also cause a sharp pain, usually on the outside of the hip or inner groin area during or after repetitive activities such as running, cycling or skating. A snapping sensation around the hip with certain movements in a common early symptom reported by many patients.

Holding certain postures such as sitting and driving can overload the hip creating painful points in the muscles. These can be quite uncomfortable and even refer pain down the thigh or into the lower back, but improve when you get up and start moving. Without proper treatment any of these conditions can eventually stop you from performing activity, however they all respond extremely well to treatment.

Joint and ligament sprain

Deep seated hip pain, severe muscle spasms, a recent loss of hip range, and a catching or locking in the hip can all be signs of hip joint injury or sprain. A sudden blow or traumatic over-stretch to the hip can cause a new injury whereas repetitive activities can damage the joint over time via small injuries that accumulate into significant pain. The hip joint which looks like a ball in a socket is cushioned by cartilage between these surfaces while the ligaments hold the bones together and deepen the socket. These injuries often cause pain during movements of the hip even when the muscles are not contracting. The severity of injury affects how these injuries respond to treatment so a prompt and accurate diagnosis is essential to a positive outcome, but they can respond well to treatment.

Hip Arthritis

Morning stiffness and pain is a hallmark sign of arthritis caused by wear and tear over time or a previous injury to the joint. A progressive loss of range of motion is also characteristic of this disease. The cartilage of the joints wear thin while the joints thicken and may develop bone spurs which can create a pinching pain in certain positions. Symptoms are often managed well with treatment, but severe degenerative changes may require surgery so early intervention and prevention is best.

Fractures and dislocations

Sudden and sharp pain in the hip after a traumatic fall or blow can cause the hip bone or pelvis to fracture or the ball to tear out of the socket. These are serious medical conditions that require immediate medical care.

Stress fractures are caused by repetitive overuse such as long distance running. The pain from a stress fracture is often felt in the groin and worsens with activity, however it can mimic other overuse conditions such as tendinitis. Symptoms often resolve gradually over a few weeks, but early diagnosis, activity restriction and intervention is necessary for proper recovery.

Osteoporosis

Weakening of the bones in the hip can lead to sometimes painful fractures that happen suddenly with a fall or seemingly little force in the later decades of life. Prevention starting from young adulthood is key to minimizing bone loss.

Chronic or acute medical conditions

Conditions such as inflammatory arthritis, septic arthritis, hernia, infection or growth plate injuries in children can all be causes of hip pain. These all need to be identified and treated at the cause to reduce pain and avoid long-term health issues. Even when these sources are treated medically the associated symptoms involving pain in the muscles and joints of the hip respond well to co-management.

Risk factors

Anyone can develop hip pain, even children and teens, but these factors put you at greater risk:

• Age. Different conditions affect different age groups. Children are more prone to growth plate injuries while elderly are prone to arthritis.
• Lack of exercise. Weak, unused muscles in your hips.
• Repetitive activities. Overuse of the muscles and joints of the hip can cause many of the causes of hip pain.
• Poor sleeping position. Side sleeping can strain the hip muscle and ligaments.
• Smoking. Smoking decreases blood flow to the joints.
• Occupation. Sitting or driving all day significantly strains the hips as can prolonged standing or walking.
• History of hip injury. History of a traumatic fall or sports injury can lead to early degenerative changes.