6 Common Causes of Hip Pain in Charlotte Residents
The hip is one of the strongest weight-bearing joints in the body. However, under extreme pressure from daily wear and tear, it can begin to lose strength and deteriorate, which makes it prone to further injury.
Over time, the hyaline cartilage coating starts diminishing, and bone starts rubbing against bone which results in more pain. Traditionally, hip pain management involves approaches that treat the symptoms of the pain using conventional medications. In some cases, patients had to endure risky surgical procedures such as hip replacement surgery to manage their condition.
Fortunately, there are newer methods that work quite well without side effects or the risk of complications. Approaches such as regenerative medicine are non-surgical, non-opiate pain management methods for the diagnosis or treatment of hip problems. Keep reading as we discuss how hip pain can be diagnosed, the causes, and advanced approaches for treating hip conditions.
How Is Hip Pain Diagnosed?
Have you been having hip pain that refuses to go away after a brief period of rest or use of over-the-counter medications? Then you may need to seek help from a pain specialist to assess and diagnose your condition for proper treatment. Let’s look at how hip pain can be diagnosed.
Because of the complexity of the pelvis, diagnosis of hip pain usually involves evaluation of personal history, physical evaluation, and imaging tests as the case may require. Physical examination involves knowing the location and type of pain while checking for swelling and tenderness around the area that may result from the pain.
There are occasions where more intricate areas of the hip joint may require imaging techniques such as X-ray to assess the nature of the pain and stiffness in order to effectively treat the pain.
Causes of Hip Pain
There are many reasons patients may experience hip pain. Fortunately, advances in regenerative medicine can safely help you treat hip pain. Check out the following common causes of hip pain:
Arthritis
This is one of the leading causes of long-term hip pain. This usually occurs as a result of long-term wear and tear of the muscles, tendons, and cartilages around the hip joint. This causes swelling, stiffness, and pain in that area.
Arthritis may be difficult to treat with traditional therapies that only manage the symptoms. However, regenerative medicine involving stem cell therapy and PRP therapy, and many other advanced alternative therapies such as corticosteroid injections, bursa injections, and nerve block treatments can effectively treat hip arthritis.
Hip Fractures
This is particularly common among older adults. Sometimes, it can occur as a result of untreated osteoarthritis, which causes the bones to weaken due to repeated strenuous daily activities, or as a consequence of aging. Sometimes hip fractures can occur suddenly, which is often experienced during sporting activities, accidents, or falls
Back & Gynecological Issues In Women
Sometimes, the pain you’re experiencing in your hip is actually radiating from somewhere else close to your pelvis region. For females, pelvic or hip pain could be related to gynecological issues.
Presence of Existing Medical Condition
Hip pain may also be due to one or more existing medical conditions. For instance, females who suspect the pain to be localized to the groin could have endometriosis.
Some existing medical issues, such as prostate cancer and gastroenteritis, can cause pain around the hip, which could be mistaken for a hip injury. Hence, it is recommended to consult a pain specialist if you’re feeling pain around your hip.
Hip Impingement
This usually occurs from extreme physical activities that overwork the hip joint. Technically, it occurs when the ball of the hip pinches against the cup of the hip. This usually results in a labral tear and then causes damage to the labrum, the cartilage that surrounds the cup of the hip.
This results in stiffness and pain. Effective treatment of hip impingement requires the intervention of a pain specialist using non-surgical and non-opioid treatment strategies such as regenerative medicine.
Bursitis
Do you feel pain that hurts you outside your hips? Then, it’s likely bursitis. The hip joint is surrounded by fluid-filled sacs called bursa that act as a cushion as the ball of the hip rubs against its socket.
Over time, repeated rubbing of tendons, and muscles against the bone can lead to inflammation of these small sacs which causes pain. If left untreated, the pain gets worse. Effective treatment requires precise targeting by injection of pain-relieving corticosteroids directly into the region.
Tendonitis
Have you ever felt tenderness on your hip flexor or groin when you touch them or move them when you’re active? You may have tendonitis. Tendonitis is basically inflammation of the tendons around the muscles of the hip joint, and that is responsible for this type of pain.
Get Hip Pain Treatment in Charlotte and Fort Mill
Have you been feeling hip pain that refuses to go away? Have you tried over-the-counter medications to relieve your discomfort and still have pain? Then you may need a pain specialist in Charlotte and Fort Mill to help you assess your condition and help you relieve your discomfort. Feel free to schedule an appointment for hip pain treatment in Charlotte and Fort Mill.