Hip Pain

Painful hips affect almost everything you do, from walking and driving to sleeping comfortably at night. If you’re frustrated by hip pain that won’t go away, visit the Spine & Pain Center of San Antonio’s office in San Antonio or Live Oak, Texas. The pain management specialists provide comprehensive treatment that reduces pain and improves mobility. Call your nearest office today or use the online booking form to schedule a hip pain consultation.

What causes hip pain?

Hips are the body’s largest joints. They consist of a ball-shaped bone at the top of your femur (thigh bone) called the femoral head and a socket (acetabulum) in your pelvis. A ring of cartilage, the labrum, secures the ball in the socket, and the bones and muscles attach to each other with tendons and ligaments.

Any of these structures could suffer an acute injury or deteriorate from wear and tear. Acute injuries can occur in auto accidents or when playing sports, but many — especially in older people — result from falls.

The most common hip pain causes include:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Bursitis (joint bursae inflammation)
• Dislocations
• Fractures
• Labral tears
• Tendonitis
• Sciatica (sciatic nerve pain)
• Avascular necrosis (bone death)
• Osteoporosis (weakened bones)
• Synovitis (joint lining inflammation)

If your pain is deep in your hip joint or groin, problems with the ball and/or socket are likely to blame. Soft tissue conditions typically cause pain on your outer hip, buttock, or outer thigh.

What can I do for hip pain?

If you’re in pain, rest your hips as much as possible. That can be challenging because the hip joints are under pressure in most positions. Lie on your back in preference to your side, and don’t stay with your hips bent for long periods.

Avoid activities that require bending from your hip to allow damaged soft tissues to heal. But don’t exchange hip pain for back pain by not bending from your hips when lifting. If possible, avoid activities like these that stress the joints altogether.

Over-the-counter pain medication, heat, and ice packs can all reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation. However, if these self-care tips don’t produce significant improvement within a few days or you have difficulty walking because of hip pain, visit the Spine & Pain Center of San Antonio for expert care.

How is hip pain treated?

If you have a hip fracture, you might need prompt surgery to repair the broken bones. For other hip pain causes, you might benefit from the following:

• Activity modification
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Stretching exercises
• Physical therapy
• Hyaluronic acid injections
• Steroid injections
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Platelet-rich plasma or stem cell injections
• Ketamine for pain management
• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic care
• Spinal decompression

Radiofrequency ablation uses radio wave energy to heat and destroy the nerves sending hip pain messages to your brain.

If your hip problem is severe or fails to improve, call the Spine & Pain Center of San Antonio today or book an appointment online to restore function and relieve pain.