Myth: Young people don't have hip pain Patients, between the ages of 30 and 50 often experience wear and tear at the hip joint. Patients ages 50 and older commonly deal with “bad hips” and have pain in the worn joints.
stiffness in the hip, often in the morning or after resting. locking, sticking or grinding of the hip. weakness in the buttock muscles. difficulty in daily activities such as walking, going up/down stairs, getting up from a chair or out of a car.
Back pain can often times be mistaken for hip pain since the hip joint is so close to the spine. Generally, hip and back pain can range from a dull ache to sharp pain. This can affect your mobility and everyday activities.
If pain is in the front of the hip/groin region and radiates down the thigh to the knee, it is most likely a hip issue. If pain is in the back of the hip/buttocks region and radiates down the hamstring to the calf, it is most likely a spine issue.
Walking is one of the best ways to relieve hip pain. But, if you find that despite a daily walk you are still experiencing it, there are other options available to you as well. If you've had a hip injury, ongoing physical therapy can help you immensely.
“Pain coming from the hip joint is most often due to hip arthritis (osteoarthritis). If the pain seems to be in the front of the thigh, including deep in the groin area, then this is an indication of hip joint pain and probably hip arthritis.” The pain may become worse with activity or with sudden pivoting movements.
Other red flags of concern with respect to the patient presenting with hip and/or groin pain include a history of trauma, fever, unexplained weight loss, burning with urination, night pain, and prolonged corticosteroid use.
Diagnosis of hip pain
Diagnosis may also be based on imaging scans such as x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, which provide an accurate picture of the bones and soft tissues such as ligaments and bursae surrounding your hip joint. Blood tests or joint aspiration may be needed for a correct diagnosis as well.
Symptoms of hip arthritis may include pain in or near the hip joint, stiffness, audible clicking sounds when moving the hip, and weakness. While hip arthritis is usually a chronic condition, there are treatments to help ease the symptoms and reduce further damage.
The average patient age for a hip or knee replacement surgery is between 66 and 68, which means that it is reasonable to expect a joint replacement to last for the remainder of life in 80 to 90 percent of patients.
A positive Hip Quadrant test is an indication that there might be arthritis, an osteochondral defect, avascular necrosis, joint capsule tightness and/or an acetabular labrum defect. This test also detects if the patients hip can move through the full range of motion.
Symptoms of bursitis of the hip
Symptoms include joint pain and tenderness. You may also see swelling and feel warmth around the affected area. The pain is often sharp in the first few days. It may be dull and achy later.
The key difference between arthritis and bursitis is the anatomical structures that they affect. Arthritis is a chronic condition that irreparably damages bone, cartilage, and joints, whereas bursitis is a temporary condition that involves the painful swelling of bursae for a time. Pain is worst in the morning.
Sleeping on your back evenly distributes your weight and prevents any one joint from getting strained. That means it's beneficial for your hips. If you're not normally a back sleeper, it can be tricky to get used to this position. Try adding a pillow or bolster under your knees.
Resting, applying ice or heat to the affected area, stretching and strengthening exercises, using over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, and wearing supportive shoes are all effective methods for relieving hip pain.
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common sources of hip pain, particularly in older adults. Arthritis can lead to inflammation of the hip joint and erosion of the cartilage that cushions your hip bones. In addition to the pain, arthritis can reduce range of motion and cause your hips to feel stiff.
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.
True Hip Pain. True hip pain is most commonly felt in the groin, because that is where the hip joint is. Sometimes it is felt also in the thigh or knee because of what is called referred pain, which is pain felt in a place other than at the source of the pain.
There are a few basic ways to know if you have hip bursitis or arthritis. If the pain you feel is sharp and severe before spreading out into an ache in the affected area, you may have hip bursitis. On the other hand, if your pain develops slower and is more painful in the morning, it may be hip arthritis.