Causes of Hip Pain

Hip pain is a symptom, and it can result from many conditions, such as arthritis, injuries, and bursitis. It can affect anyone but is more common in older adults. You can experience pain in or around your hip joint, groin, buttocks, or thighs. Sometimes Chevy Chase hip pain worsens with activity or can affect your range of motion. Dancers and gymnasts are more likely to experience hip pain because these athletics mainly involve hip movement. Hip pain ranges from mild to severe, and most cases can be treated through medications and physical therapies. Your doctor can recommend hip replacement if you have severe damage.

Arthritis

Some types of arthritis, like osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and rheumatoid, can affect your hips. They cause joint pain and swelling. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid are the common causes of hip pain. In most patients, long-term hip pain results from arthritis. Arthritis can cause joint tenderness and stiffness, pain, and walking difficulties.

Bursitis

Bursae are liquid sacs between tissues like bones, muscles, and tendons. They reduce friction when these tissues rub against each other. Inflammation of bursae near the hip joint causes hip pain. Bursitis mainly affects women. Repetitive exercises that overwork or irritate your hip joint can result in burse inflammation. Hip injuries and poor posture can also cause bursitis.

Tendinitis

Tendons are thick tissue bands that attach bones to muscles. Tendinitis occurs when tendons are inflamed or irritated. It is the leading cause of acute hip pain. Tendinitis can be very painful, but it heals within a few days in most patients. Repetitive stress due to overuse leads to tendinitis.

Hip fractures

Hip fractures mainly affect older people and patients with osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones due to age. Hip fractures can present as pain when you straighten, lift or stand on your leg. The toes on your injured side can also appear to turn out. Complications like a blood clot in your leg can arise due to a hip fracture. Hip fractures cause sudden and severe pain and require immediate medical care.

Muscle or tendon strain

Repeated actions can strain your muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support your hips, leading to pain. Overuse, such as cycling, can lead to inflammation of these tissues, causing hip pain. Your muscles may also weaken and prevent you from functioning normally. Muscle or tendon strain mainly affects athletics.

Osteonecrosis

Osteonecrosis, also called avascular necrosis, develops when blood permanently or temporarily does not flow to your hip bones, causing bone tissue death. This condition can affect many bones, but it mostly happens in the hips. Fractures or dislocation of hips or using steroids for prolonged periods can result in osteonecrosis.

Bone cancer

Bone cancer is rare, but it can cause hip pain. This type of cancer can begin from the hip bone or spread from another body part. As the tumor grows, your hip pain becomes consistent. Fatigue, hip swelling, and weight loss are common bone cancer symptoms. Your bones may weaken gradually, leading to a hip fracture.

Hip pain is any discomfort you feel in or outside your hip joint. It can result from medical conditions, injuries, overuse, or strains. Schedule an appointment at Gautam Siram MD for hip pain treatment to relieve your discomfort.