Hip Pain

What causes hip pain?

Your hip supports the weight of your upper body, maintains balance as you walk and run, and also bears an incredible amount of repetitive movement. These physical demands make your hip susceptible to injuries and age-related tissue degeneration.

Northeast Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine often treats hip pain caused by: 

• Arthritis
• Dislocations
• Fractures
• Overuse injuries
• Hip impingement
• Bursitis
• Tendonitis
• Synovitis
• Labral tears
• Infections
• Hip dysplasia
• Congenital deformities

An uncommon problem called avascular necrosis causes hip pain when the thigh bone in the joint loses its blood supply.

What symptoms accompany hip pain?

The conditions responsible for hip pain usually cause other symptoms, including:

• Swelling
• Joint stiffness
• Limited movement
• Muscle weakness
• Limping (putting weight on the joint causes pain)
• Grinding or clicking sensations in your hip

Many people find that their hip pain gets worse when they're active or when lying on the affected side. 

How is hip pain treated?

Hip injuries like a fracture need prompt surgery. For most hip conditions, your treatment begins with conservative therapies, and surgery is the last option.

Nonsurgical treatments for hip pain include:

• Avoiding activities that cause pain
• Using an assistive device (cane or walker)
• Taking anti-inflammatory medications
• Participating in physical therapy
• Getting a joint injection

If your pain doesn't improve or worsens, you may need to consider surgery. 

What happens if I need surgery for hip pain?

The fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons at Northeast Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine have years of experience performing hip surgeries such as:

Arthroscopic surgery

Minimally invasive arthroscopy allows your provider to make a small incision and use specialized instruments to examine the tissues inside the joint and repair problems like bursitis, joint instability, or a labral tear. 

Hip preservation

If you have a degenerative condition like arthritis, your provider may recommend proactive surgery to improve your hip health and delay needing a joint replacement. Hip preservation involves removing damaged tissues, reconstructing ligaments, repairing cartilage, and reshaping the joint. 

Hip replacement surgery

When arthritis reaches an advanced stage and causes extensive joint damage, you need a joint replacement to ease your pain and restore movement.

You can get relief from hip pain with help from the team at Northeast Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. Call the nearest office, or book an appointment online today.