Fact Checked
Hip pain is a common problem that can be caused by a wide variety of problems. The location of the hip pain provides clues regarding the underlying cause. Hip pain felt on the exterior of the hip, upper thigh or the outer buttock is typically triggered by issues with the ligaments, muscles, tendons and neighboring soft tissues which surround the joint of the hip.
Hip pain is oftentimes caused by diseases in other parts of the body such as the lower back or the knees and this type of pain is called referred pain.
Causes
- Hip pain can be caused by arthritis and injuries
- Injuries such as dislocation, fracture of the hip, tendinitis, inguinal hernia and bursitis
- Issues with pinched nerves such as sacroilitis, neuralgia paresthetica, herniated disc, spinal stenosis and sciatica
- Other conditions such as Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, osteoporosis, rickets, osteomyelitis and synovitis
Symptoms
- Reduced range of motion
- Pain that becomes worse when performing activities
- Pain can be felt inside and outside of the hip joint, upper thigh, buttocks and the groin
- Limp
- Inflammation
Treatment
- Take plenty of rest at least 24-48 hours and avoid performing activities that can result to pain such as running. If possible, avoid running for a week.
- Apply an ice pack on the affected area of the hip to lessen the inflammation. If pain is severe, apply the ice pack on the area for at least 4-5 times every day for 10-15 minutes at a time. Avoid applying the ice directly on the affected area to prevent making the condition worse. Other alternatives include a frozen vegetable such as peas that is wrapped using a towel before applied on the affected area.
- Take warm baths or showers to help prepare the muscles when performing stretching exercises that are required to minimize the hip pain.
- Use compression bandage which is wrapped around the pelvis and the hip.
- Elevate the affected joint to help lessen the swelling and pain. Recline the body and elevate the feet to help relax the hip.
- Take the prescribed over-the-counter pain medication such as paracetamol, naproxen and ibuprofen to lessen the pain and inflammation.
- Try to lose some weight especially if the affected person is overweight
- If pain is persistent and lasts for several weeks without improvement, seek medical help immediately.
- Perform some exercises that helps increase the range of motion of the joint and strengthen the muscles around the hip when experiencing hip pain. These exercises help protect the joint of the hip such as walking in a shallow pool or walking on a flat surface such as using a treadmill.