HIP PAIN

Hip pain is a term used to refer to discomfort around the hip joint. In some cases the pain may be felt in the groin or thigh, with the intensity ranging from mild to severe. Although it is a stable and strong joint, it can suffer the effects of wear and tear over time. Wear and tear is one of the reasons why hip distress is more common as your age advances. This can also be caused by inflammation of the muscles around the area, fracture or bone deformities caused by injury, arthritis, a deformity, hernia, infection, or cancer in the bone.

Help With Hip Pain and Injuries

It is important to know when to see a doctor for hip injury issues. If the joint appears deformed or swollen, or if the discomfort lasts longer than a few days, you may want to visit a primary care physician.

Self-Care Strategies

Generally, self-care will help to manage the discomfort, provided that the injury is not the result of a fracture or serious condition. Some of the steps you can try include resting and keeping weight off the joint, taking over-the-counter pain relievers, applying cold packs to the affected area, gentle exercises, taking a warm bath to help your muscles stretch and losing some weight. However, you should consult your doctor before trying self-care treatments.

Diagnosis

If none of the self-care treatments work, you should consider seeking medical attention. When you visit a doctor, the medical expert will ask a range of questions about your level of discomfort. They will also examine your thigh to see how well it moves and recommend tests to diagnose certain conditions. Depending on the nature and extent of the injury, some of the tests that may be required are X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, ultrasound, and blood tests.

Based on the examination and tests done, the doctor may suggest a number of treatment options to help with distress and injuries.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a great way to relieve discomfort and help patients gain strength, functionality, and range of motion. A physical therapist will use techniques such as ultrasound, massage, heat, ice, and exercises to soothe inflammation within your joint. They will also offer guidance on effective at-home exercises as well as when it is safe to resume normal daily activities. Whenever necessary, the expert will recommend complementary therapies to help manage symptoms.

Medications

In case of severe discomfort from a hip fracture or an infected joint, over-the-counter drugs may not be effective in easing the pain. The doctor may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to ease the ache while taking precautions to minimize the risk of side effects. Stronger medications such as opioids may also be prescribed for acute discomfort. Depending on the diagnosis, other medications like disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs will be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, while intravenous antibiotics will help with an infected joint.

Injections

Injections are also used to help relieve this distress and to diagnose the direct cause of the pain. Depending on the purpose of administering the injection, different types of injections may be prescribed. These include intra-articular injections, which are made directly into the joint. Psoas injections are performed under ultrasound to help make a diagnosis, while Trochanteric Bursa Injection is for patients with bursitis who do not get relief from physical therapy and anti-inflammatory regimens.

Hip Surgery

Hip surgery is commonly used to resolve chronic discomfort. An orthopedic specialist may recommend minimally invasive surgery to repair problems in the joint, such as resurfacing surgery. Some patients require revision surgery for joint damage or replacement surgery to address disabling joint distress.

At the North Texas Medical Center Orthopedic Clinic, we specialize in pain management and treatment for patients of all ages. Get in touch with us today, and let’s talk about a management solution for you.