Hip Pain Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
Not everyone who suffers from hip pain has the same underlying cause. The reasons for having pain in the hip can be quite varied and symptoms also vary from mild to severe. It might be connected with muscle problems, or inflammation in the body’s circulatory system, or restricted to the joints or all of these at once.
The most common cause of hip pain
The most common cause of pain in the hip is arthritis and this can be either degenerative osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Since the protective joint cartilage can have a tendency to wear out over time as we age and through a lot of activity the first of these is often called a ‘wera and tear’ problem. This may be a gradual progression with age and being overweight can make it worse. Also the symptoms can come and go with the sufferer having bad days or months and good days by turn. Often peole who are sporty and use the joints excessively, for example a lot of running or jumping, can add to the general wear and tear and lead to earlier development of this condition. Muscles, ligaments and tendons that keep the joints flexible and responsive may become inflamed if over-exerted due to the extra stress in this area.
Chronic hip pain may also come about because of an accident that leads to damage in the hip area such as a fracture in or around the joint. The pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis is most often experienced when rising from a rest position, turning in bed and walking more than a few steps. It can also become quite difficult to walk more than for very short distances as the pain gets too much and often results in limping.
Surgery may be advised for more severe conditions, but the usual course of treatment would ordinarily include treatment for inflammation, taking a glucosamine supplement and maybe some exercise to support the muscles which in turn support the joints. For end stages of degenerative osteoarthritis, hip replacement is often recommended and it generally has a high success rate.
The inflammatory condition, rheumatoid arthritis affects the whole system and can affect areas such as the lungs as well as the joints and joint membranes. It may be linked with being unable to sleep or feeling fatigued and also with sweating and is often felt as a stiffness or swelling in the joints. The sufferer can experience ‘flare ups’ at odd intervals in between mild or no pain episodes. In time as the condition worsens, deformities can result. Recommended treatments include prescribed medication, periods of rest and some gentle exercise.
Other common causes of hip pain:
* inflammation of the fluid filled protective sacs around the joints, or bursae, otherwise known as bursitis
* whatever causes an inflammatory response in the body such as certain virus strains
* a side effect of taking corticosteroid medications
* fibromyalgia, sleep disorders and fatigue
* pain that is referred from another injury or area such as from a herniated disc, which travels down the nerve paths to the hip area
* referred pain from sciatica, or irritation of the sciatic nerve
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