The hip is a ball and socket joint covered with cartilage or labrum that allows for fluid motion of the hip and cusioning. When the bone, cartilage, muscles or tendons are disrupted, the result is pain. Conditions that commonly affect the hip incude artritis, bursitis, tendoints, muscle strains,labral tears,fractures and avascular necrosis.
Arthritis: this is the breakdown of cartilage within the hip joint and the formation of bone spurs. Symptoms progress gradually and presents as pain in the groin and decreased range of motion in the joint. People with arthritis often have difficulty putting on shoes and socks. Arthritis is treated in the beginning with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen, low impact activity (swimming) and eventually a total hip replacement.
Bursitis: is the inflammation of fluid filled sacs causing pain on the outside of the hip. People with bursitis have difficulty laying on the effected side and that side is painful to touch. This is often treated with cortisone injections, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories and physical therapy.
Tendonitis and muscle strains: Repetitive activity or participation in a new activity can cause irritation of the tendons and muscles that surround the hip. The pain and inflammation is treated with rest, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories and physical therapy. A common tendon affected is the iliotibial band that runs along the outside of the hip down to the knee.
Labral tear: This is the breakdown or tearing of the cartilage in the hip. This is common in athletes and can also occur as arthritis begins. People with labral tears often have pain with movement of the hip in the groin. Labral tears can be treated with a hip arthroscopy, which Hamilton Orthopaedics began offering in September of 2013.
Fracture: People with a hip fracture usually have a recent history of a fall or trauma. Elderly people and especially females are more prone to hip fractures as the bones become weaker with age. Fractures are usually treated surgically.
Avascular necrosis: This can be caused by fracture, high dose steroid use and legg-calve-perthes disease. This occurs when there is lack of blood flowing to the hip bone. This often leads to early arthritis and can usually be treated with a total hip replacement.
Lumbar pain: Pain radiating from the back is often described as hip pain or buttock pain. Physical exam and x-rays of the hip are often normal which leads practitioners to look for other causes of pain. The usual source is the low back for example herniated discs.
Hip Procedures:
- Total Hip Replacements using latest technology & procedures
- Hip fracture fixation/Conversion to Total Hip
- Hip arthroscopy/Labral Repair
- Ultrasound Guided Hip Injections
Hip pain can present in several different ways including:
- Thigh pain
- Groin pain
- Pain on the side of hip
- Pain in the buttocks
Hip pain has a variety of causes but a good history and physical exam can lead to an accurate diagnosis and successful treatment.
Call your doctor if you develop sudden hip pain, if a fall or trauma started the pain, there is deformity of the joint, you can not put weight on the hip, if the pain occurs at night, there is swelling, warmth or redness of the hip or if a popping or intense pain is felt.
Learn about common Hip/Thigh Condition
The hip joint is one of the largest weight-bearing joints in the body. This ball-and-socket joint allows the leg to move and rotate while keeping the body stable and balanced. Let's take a closer look at the main parts of the hip joint's anatomy.
This is an irritation or swelling of the trochanteric bursa. This small, fluid-filled sac is found on the outer side of the femur. It acts as a cushion for the iliotibial band, a thick tendon in your leg.
This condition is a wearing away of cartilage in the hip joint caused by arthritis, which can develop because of trauma, infection, age or autoimmune disorders.
The thigh bone, also called the "femur", is the largest and strongest bone in your body. A femur fracture is a crack or a break of this bone.
The hamstrings are three powerful muscles that travel along the back of your thigh. They are the semitendinosus, the semimembranosus and the biceps femoris muscles. They help bend your knee and extend your leg behind your body. Because these muscles handle high loads of stress, they are susceptible to stretching and tearing. This is called a muscle "strain." Hamstring strains are common among runners, dancers, and athletes who play sports that require sudden starts and stops.
With this injury, the head of your femur (which is shaped like a ball) slips out of your hip socket. It may slip forward or backward out of position. This can damage structures around the joint.
This is a break of the upper part of your femur. The femur is the long bone in your upper leg. At the top of the femur is the "head." This is the ball that fits into your hip socket. A hip fracture may happen at the "neck" of the femur (the thin portion of bone under the head). Fractures may also happen below the neck.
A broken hip is serious and disabling. With a broken hip, you may not be able to care for yourself. Sometimes, complications from a hip fracture can lead to death. Avoid a broken hip with these basic safety measures.
This condition is an irritation of the hip joint that can cause inflammation, pain, and limited mobility. Unlike osteoarthritis, which occurs from a wearing away of cartilage on the ends of connecting bones, inflammatory arthritis is a disease of the immune system that can affect multiple joints.
This condition is a tearing of the labrum - a thick cuff of fibrous tissue that lines the hip socket. The labrum cushions the joint and provides a smooth surface for the head of the femur to glide within the socket. A torn labrum can interfere with the normal motion of the hip joint.
This injury is a stretching or tearing of fibers in one of the muscles at the hip joint. Hip strains may be mild, moderate or severe.
Your thigh has groups of powerful muscles. The quadriceps, the adductors and the hamstring muscles handle high loads of stress. They may suffer from overstretching and tearing. This is called a muscle "strain." It is a common injury among athletes who play sports that require sudden starts and stops.
Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative arthritis, is a gradual breakdown of cartilage in the joints. Cartilage is a tough, flexible connective tissue that protects the ends of bones in the joints. Osteoarthritis is common in the hip because the hip bears the weight of the body. Osteoarthritis of the hip can severely impact a person's lifestyle.
This disorder, which affects children between 10-15 years old, occurs when the head of the femur slips off the femoral neck. This misaligns the femur with the socket. In most cases, SCFE is a gradual process that occurs while the bones are still growing, but it can also occur suddenly. SCFE may develop in one or both hips.
This is a strain or a tear of soft tissue. It often involves the muscles and tendons that travel from your lower abdomen to your pubic bone. A sports hernia does not create a hole in your abdominal wall. This injury can be difficult to diagnose, because it does not cause a bulge in your skin.
