Hip pain can take many different forms. Medical treatment that is helpful to the individual is based on the cause of the pain.
What is hip pain?
The hip joint can also be affected by hip pain – formed from both sides of the acetabulum and the respective head of the thigh bones. From an anatomical point of view, the human hip region includes the area around the hip joint. Among other things, the hip consists of the ilium (a paired bone of the pelvic ring) and the bilateral acetabulum. If hip pain occurs, it can affect different areas of the hip. The hip joint can also be affected by hip pain – formed by bilateral acetabulum and the respective head of the thigh bones. Depending on the cause of hip pain, it may also radiate to the legs and/or feet. The pain quality of hip pain can also differ depending on the cause of the pain:
For example, the pain may be evident only with physical activity or may persist even with physical rest. Often, hip pain is accompanied by feelings of stiffness or instability and limited range of motion.
Causes
Possible causes of hip pain are many and varied. Among the most common causes are signs of wear and tear (wear and tear) of the hip joint. Here, the joint cartilage degrades (especially with increasing age), so that in severe cases the bones of the acetabulum and thigh collide. This wear and tear, which can be accompanied by very severe hip pain, is also known in medicine as hip joint arthrosis (coxarthrosis). In addition to osteoarthritis of the hip joint, common causes of hip pain emanate, for example, from associated muscles, bursae, nerves or tendons. Occasionally, hip pain can also be caused by conditions that are external to the musculoskeletal system. Bursitis, which can lead to hip pain, is caused by physical overuse or bacterial infections, among other things. Impairment of nerves in the hip area that cause hip pain is often caused by mechanical pressure on the nerves; for example, by heavy weight training, being very overweight, or wearing seat belts and skin-tight clothing.
Diseases with this symptom
- Hip joint osteoarthritis
- Hip dislocation
- Coxitis fugax
- Coxa saltans
- Obesity
- Femoral neck fracture
- Epiphysis capitis femoris
- Osteonecrosis of the femoral head
- Bursitis
- Meralgia paraesthetica
- Leg length discrepancy
- Impingement syndrome
Diagnosis and course
In order to diagnose the cause of hip pain in an individual case, a detailed patient interview is usually conducted first. Clarified here any injuries, diseases or surgeries in the past of a patient or existing congenital malformations of the bones. In the case of hip pain, the doctor also often asks whether the pain is unilateral or bilateral and when it is particularly severe (e.g. during movement, at night, etc.). In the course of a physical examination for hip pain, for example, muscle reflexes or palpitating areas are then checked. Depending on the individual case, blood tests or X-ray or ultrasound procedures can also contribute to the diagnosis of the cause of hip pain. The course of hip pain depends above all on the cause of the pain. If the hip pain is based on a cause that can be remedied or that heals on its own, this can also conquer the pain in many cases.
Complications
Whether hip pain is at risk of complications depends primarily on the underlying cause. If, for example, it is acute hip pain as a result of overloading the corresponding muscles through sports, complications are rather rare. The muscle soreness radiating into the hip subsides after a few days, so that the pain disappears. In the case of bursitis, on the other hand, there is a risk of more serious complications if the patient does not see a doctor. The inflammation sometimes does not heal on its own and instead continues to spread. As a result, long-term damage to tissue structures is possible. In addition, hip pain sometimes results from serious diseases such as osteonecrosis, bone cancer or metastases.Failure to treat the disease often leads to unhindered progression of the malignant disease, which is fatal for some patients. However, complications also sometimes develop as a result of treatment for hip pain, again depending on the underlying disease. Surgical procedures to relieve hip pain, such as the insertion of an artificial hip joint, limit mobility in some people even if the surgery is successful. In addition, patients sometimes suffer walking difficulties and persistent pain as a result of the therapy. Treatment of osteoporosis slows the progressive loss of bone substance, but does not stop the disease. Thus, patients are at risk of both bone fractures and mobility limitations.
When should you see a doctor?
Hip pain resulting from short-term overuse may resolve without medical treatment through rest and exercise therapy. If these measures do not lead to relief of the symptoms, the pain should be clarified by a doctor. A doctor should also always be consulted if the hip pain worsens even with rest, persists for longer than two weeks, radiates to the foot and severely restricts movement. Here, early treatment prevents pathological changes in ligaments, tendons, muscles and joints. If additional symptoms such as swelling and/or tenderness occur, a doctor should be consulted in any case. People with recent trauma from an accident, hip osteoarthritis or suspected other pre-existing conditions should also have their pain evaluated by a physician. Hip pain that occurs in children as part of a flu-like infection, tonsillitis or middle ear infection (so-called hip pain) is usually harmless and will disappear within two weeks if the child takes it easy. If the child repeatedly and persistently complains of pain in the hip joint or cannot walk properly (“it limps”), a pediatrician should be consulted. The same applies to persistent fever after the infection has subsided and swelling appears.
Treatment and therapy
Medical treatment of hip pain is primarily directed at the causes of pain. An important therapeutic component for the treatment of hip pain is often the use of pain-relieving or anti-inflammatory medications. For example, if a patient has acute hip pain caused by inflammatory processes in the hip area, cold packs and physical rest of the hip can also have a positive effect on the symptoms in the first few days. In the presence of chronic hip pain (according to medical definition, this is the case if the pain has been present for more than 3 months), which is not caused by inflammation, physiotherapy (physical therapy) and heat packs can bring about relief in parallel with possible drug therapy. Alternative medical approaches offer a range of other therapeutic methods. If hip pain is caused by degenerative processes such as osteoarthritis of the hip joint, there is the possibility of surgical measures, depending on the individual case: One possibility is the insertion of an artificial hip joint. In this way, both hip pain and restricted movement can usually be combated.
Outlook and prognosis
For hip pain, many different treatments can be used to limit and manage the pain. Treatment with pain medications can be short-term, but should not be long-term, as these medications also put stress on the body. The discomfort can increase if the patient continues to be exposed to heavy physical exertion or engage in stressful sports. Often, surgical procedures are also necessary, in which an artificial hip joint is inserted to reduce the hip pain and allow the patient to move freely. Hip pain severely limits the movement and mobility of the affected person. If there is inflammation or infection, cold treatment is given, which can relieve the symptoms. Physical therapy is also helpful in most cases and can restore the patient’s movement. For short-lasting hip pain, many self-help remedies can be used to combat it. These include, for example, quark compresses or stretching exercises.
Prevention
Hip pain that is caused by factors such as injury or acute inflammatory processes, for example, can only be prevented to a limited extent. If, on the other hand, hip pain originates from longer-term processes such as hip wear and tear, symptom worsening can be counteracted by seeing a doctor early; with the help of appropriate measures, the progression of causative processes and associated hip pain can often be reduced.
What you can do yourself
If bursitis is the cause of hip pain, plenty of rest usually helps. Poultices or quark compresses can also provide relief. If acute injury or swelling is the cause of hip pain, the use of ice packs is recommended. They should be applied within 48 hours of the injury to relieve swelling and reduce pain. Ice packs can also help with chronic hip pain. Heat is good for many patients with hip pain. Infrared, red light, or a lava pillow are useful warmers. Essential oils can also relieve hip pain. The affected hip joint can be rubbed with chamomile oil or tea tree oil. In addition, arnica flowers, devil’s claw or hay flower baths can relieve pain in the hip. Joint compresses made of healing clay are also useful. The healing clay paste is applied finger-thick to the painful body parts and covered with a damp cloth. Then let the healing clay dry and remove it after about two hours. For hip pain, a lot of movement and training of the joints helps. However, care should be taken with all exercises and movements so that the hip joint does not hurt. Sports that are easy on the joints, such as swimming or cycling, are recommended. Stretching exercises are also useful. Overweight patients with hip pain should reduce their weight. With lower body weight, there is less wear and tear on the hip joint and mobility is improved. It also makes fitness activities easier.
