The appearance of pain in the hip joint should definitely alert, because this is the largest bone connection without which the process of walking is impossible. It maintains balance, redistributes body weight between the spine and the lower limbs. When the function of the hip joint is impaired, the patient's quality of life immediately decreases and their physical activity decreases.
If you experience pain in the hip joint, you need to establish the cause. The treatment of pain depends on the pathology of which it is the symptom. Complex measures and strict adherence to the recommendations will help get rid of the disease and maintain the motor activity of the joint.
The disruption of the hip joint makes active movement impossible. Reduced functionality limits the patient in terms of independent movement and performance.
So what are the causes of such unpleasant discomfort in the hip joint and how can it be treated at home? Let's try to figure it out.
Causes
Pain in the hip joint can appear for various reasons: due to damage to the joint itself, on the right and left, as well as to the bones, cartilage or ligaments located next to it. Numbness and restriction of movement all over the hip often appears with a painful symptom.
Diseases of the hip joint can appear at any age, but most often affect older people. In the event of pain, it is advisable to consult a general practitioner, he will prescribe a first examination and will recommend which doctor you should refer to.
The most common causes of hip pain are:
- dislocations;
- fractures;
- infectious inflammation or arthritis;
- degenerative changes or osteoarthritis (coxarthrosis);
- aseptic necrosis of the femoral head;
- inflammation of the periarticular sac (bursitis);
- non-infectious inflammation in autoimmune connective tissue diseases;
- pregnancy period.
The prevalence of pain syndrome in this location increases with age. If in young people under the age of 18, pain in the hip joint is observed in 8-10%, then for people of middle age this figure is 20-30%. At 50-59 years, 40% already suffer from it, and among the elderly - from 50 to 60%. Women are more likely to suffer from this pain localization syndrome than men.
According to age
Typical pathological conditions for different age groups causing pain in the hip joint:
- Adults and seniors. Osteoarthritis (coxarthrosis), injuries and deformities of the joint, compression of the acetabulum.
- Children and adolescents. Perthes disease, transient synovitis, acquired varus deformity, tuberculous lesions, lesions and deformities of the joint.
- Newborns and infants under 1 year old. Congenital dislocation of the hip, consequences of generic epiphyses, acute purulent osteoarthritis, congenital varus deformities.
Bursitis
The main signs of bursitis:
- with the development of the disease, the appearance of back pain;
- increased discomfort when moving the leg;
- increased pain after prolonged sitting, back pain;
- sharp, burning pain, especially when lying on your side at night, spreading over the entire surface of the thigh.
If an infection does introduce itself, purulent bursitis may appear, characterized by sharp pain in the hip joint. For this type of bursitis, a characteristic symptom is the inability to fully extend the leg. Under pressure, a firmness is felt, which can extend over the large surface of the thigh. Perhaps the onset of back pain.
Osteoarthritis (coxarthrosis)
Coxarthrosis is based on degenerative (destruction) and dystrophic (malnutrition) processes in the hip joint. As a result, the joint ceases to perform its functions - the movements of the legs are disturbed. It can be an independent disease or it can develop with secondary damage to the joint (tumor in the bone). In old age, coxarthrosis develops again after a hip fracture.
Depending on the severity of the changes in the joint, there are 3 stages of hip osteoarthritis.
- In stage 3, pain in the hip joint makes patients uncomfortable even when resting at night. Marked lameness, which requires the use of a cane.
- In stage 2 of coxarthrosis, the pain begins to radiate to the groin, the inside and the front of the thigh, often falling to the knee. They appear after the usual daily load, but at rest they do not bother.
- Stage 1 is characterized by pain in the hip joint that occurs with excessive exertion: climbing stairs with a load in the hands, walking more than 2-3 kilometers, running. Pain sensations disappear after a short rest.
The choice of treatment methods for osteoarthritis of the hip joint depends on the severity of the changes that have occurred in the joint. 1 and 2 degrees of the disease can be treated, as a rule, conservatively. Anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors, drugs that improve blood circulation in the joint, physiotherapy and therapeutic exercises are prescribed. The last step is processed only with the help of operations.
Hip fracture
A very common injury, especially in older people with weak bones. This condition is characterized by severe pain, the inability to make movements in the joint.
In this case, hospitalization is required for proper treatment, since a fracture of the hip is often complicated by an infectious process, for example, bacterial arthritis, etc. The addition of inflammation dramatically impairs fracture healing and contributes to improper bone fusion.
Hip joint dislocation
Most often this is a consequence of road accidents, and also occurs during falls and various accidents at work.
Clinical manifestations in dislocation: acute unbearable pain, almost absolute difficulty in movement of the lower limbs, with damage to nerve endings, loss of sensitivity of the foot and ankle joint. With bilateral joint dislocation, symptoms are expressed as intermittent claudication, or what is called "duck gait".
It is worth highlighting such a concept as congenital dislocation of the hip, diagnosed in newborns. This disease is a consequence of the underdevelopment of the acetabulum, due to which the head of the femur sticks out of its limits, thereby forming a dislocation.
Subluxation
It is an incomplete loss of contact between the femoral head and the acetabulum. The person does not feel sharp pain, motor activity is slightly limited, but unpleasant sensations are constantly present.
Rheumatism
A systemic disease of the connective tissue, accompanied by damage to the joints and valve system of the heart. It develops more often in girls and young women after a strep throat.
About two weeks after the illness, severe pain appears in the large joints, which gradually diminish and disappear. Rheumatism does not cause permanent damage to the joints, its main danger is the development of acquired heart defects.
Arthritis
Arthritis is particularly common in the elderly. The older a person, the more processes can occur inside their joints. Discomfort appears in the legs and groin, cramps can be felt in the front of the thigh and even reach the knee. Symptoms are worse when walking and resting on the leg. It becomes difficult to get up from a sitting position, which causes severe pain in the hip joint.
Most often, discomfort increases in the morning, but with physical activity it decreases. But with excessive loads, unpleasant sensations increase, and stiffness in movements appears. Treatment depends on the diagnosis, usually anti-inflammatory drugs, exercise therapy, and hormonal drugs are prescribed.
Infections
Infectious arthritis can be caused by influenza viruses, staphylococci, streptococci and others. . . In such cases, the disease develops rapidly. The fever begins, swelling is observed in the area of the affected joint. Sharp pain in the hip joint is observed with movement and even when touching the affected area.
A slightly different symptomatology is observed in tuberculous arthritis, which most often affects the hip joint. In this case, the disease makes itself felt gradually. At first, a person begins to be embarrassed by a slight pain when walking, radiating to the leg - the middle part of the thigh or knee. As the disease progresses, the hip is restricted in its movement in all directions, the affected area swells.
Tendinitis
Inflammation of the tendons, or tendonitis, usually affects people who are exposed to high levels of regular physical activity. Most often these are athletes. It should be noted that sometimes this disease progresses imperceptibly, especially if the patient reduces the load on the hip joint. And, conversely, with overly active movements and heavy loads, the pain becomes very strong.
Treatment of tendinitis is carried out with anti-inflammatory drugs - nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be prescribed.
Which doctor treats?
Help from these doctors may be needed if you have pain in the hip joint:
- rheumatologist;
- Traumatologist or orthopedist;
- Physiotherapist;
- Neurologist.
The specialist will conduct a survey and examination of the patient, prescribe a comprehensive examination.
Diagnostic
Laboratory and instrumental research methods:
- X-ray examination and ultrasound. They are the gold standard for almost all diseases of the hip joint.
- General blood test. It will give the opportunity to assess the general condition of the body.
- Biochemical blood test and specific markers of rheumatological diseases.
- Urinalysis. The color, quantity, clarity and density of urine are determined. In addition, protein, glucose and bilirubin are important indicators.
- Morphological examination of biopsy samples. It is used to study the structure of the removed material, especially often when there is a suspicion of oncological diseases of the skeleton.
- computed tomography. Allows to visualize the joint, the bone tissue in several projections, to determine its density.
- Magnetic resonance imaging. Restores thin layers of body tissue in any plane.
- Osteoscintigraphy. With the introduction of osteotropic radiopharmaceuticals, the state of blood flow in bone tissue and the intensity of metabolic processes are visualized.
Note the decrease in joint mobility. Remember if the disease was accompanied by fever, headache, local hyperemia, edema and other local manifestations. Do not be afraid to draw the attention of a specialist to the possible causes of the disease. Describe in detail anything that bothers you.
How is hip pain treated?
What to do if you have painful symptoms in the hip joint? After all, the pelvis is an important link in the musculoskeletal system. And if there is severe pain, you should immediately contact a specialist. It will help you diagnose and identify the cause of the problem. The earlier the diagnosis is made, the more effective the treatment will be.
If you suspect that mild pain is associated with a minor injury or joint overload, the following actions may be taken:
- avoid stress on the painful joint, keep it calm;
- take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug;
- during sleep, it is advisable to lie on the healthy side.
Drug treatment consists of a complex intake of drugs in various directions:
- Hondoprotectors, mineral and vitamin complexes.
- Muscle relaxants that reduce the spasms that occur with pain.
- NSAIDs and steroids. Steroids are only prescribed for severe symptoms.
- Means for improving microcirculation. They relieve edema and hypoxic manifestations in the affected area.
- Diuretics to reduce swelling in the inflamed area.
Physiotherapeutic measures are also of great importance in the treatment of diseases of the hip joints. They are carried out after the elimination of acute inflammation and severe pain. Electrophoresis has been proven successful, with the help of which a high concentration of drugs can be created directly in the affected area.
A progressive method is considered laser therapy, which produces analgesic, resorption and anti-inflammatory effects. Magnetotherapy, diode dynamotherapy and drug phonophoresis are also used successfully.