The ability to move your hips with ease is vital for your daily activities. You need to mobilize your hips for sitting, standing, walking, running, and just about every other motion involving your legs. Therefore, when your hips hurt, it can be a serious interruption to your life. Hip pain is very common among adults. It can be the result of a wide range of issues such as injuries in the hip as well as conditions affecting the whole body.
Self-Care Treatments For Hip Pain
There are home remedies if pain in your hip is minor. Here are some common ones:
- Avoid adding pressure on your hips or twisting them. Sleep in a position that does not affect the side that hurts. Also, avoid sitting for an extended period as this can put pressure on your hip.
- Pain relievers. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium are some over-the-counter pain relievers you can use to temporarily reduce hip pain.
- Apply ice or heat to the hip. A warm bath or shower can relax your muscles and help ease some pain. You can also apply an ice pack to your hip to help with pain or swelling.
Consult a doctor if your pain persists and home treatments do not help.
When To Consult A Doctor
If your condition hasn’t improved after two weeks and you’re still experiencing pain, it’s time to see a doctor. The following are situations where professional treatment may be needed:
- The appearance of a deformed joint
- You can’t move your leg or your hip without pain
- You have difficulty doing simple actions, such as walking, going up and down stairs, or leaning forward when sitting
- You have a fever, chills, or are feeling unwell
- You can’t bear weight on the injured leg
- You’re feeling extreme pain
- There’s sudden inflammation in your hip area
- You acquired the hip pain after an accident, such as a fall
There are many ways to treat hip pain. Some examples include:
Physical and Occupational Therapy
A physical therapist can teach you exercises and activities fit for your condition to reduce hip pain and improve your hip function. They can provide advice on improving your posture and teach you exercises for strength, easing stiffness, and increasing your range of motion.
Injections
Corticosteroid Injections
Corticosteroids are medications injected into the affected area. It alleviates pain and reduces inflammation. Doctors may inject an anesthetic alongside the corticosteroids for immediate pain relief. Results can last for months, depending on the severity of your condition.
PRP Therapy
PRP or platelet-rich plasma therapy uses the platelets in your blood, which are processed in a centrifuge. Doctors inject the resulting substance into your hip joint with the help of ultrasound imaging. The platelets boost healing in the area, so you experience less pain. PRP therapy is especially useful in the recovery of hip injuries as well as joint damage caused by arthritis.
Surgery
One of the most common hip injuries is a hip fracture. It almost always requires surgery to correct. There are different types of hip surgeries that are performed. Examples include:
- Hip replacement surgery. In this procedure, a surgeon extracts the damaged section of your hip joint and replaces them with parts typically composed of metal, ceramic, and sturdy plastic. Hip replacement surgery can also be performed through minimally invasive techniques. This type procedure is called minimally invasive hip arthroplasty.
- Revision surgery. This surgery is necessary when your hip replacement becomes disconnected or infected. Surgeons take every step possible to avoid having to do a revision surgery, but in rare cases, it can become necessary.
- Hip arthroscopy. This is a minimally invasive procedure that can both diagnose and treat hip pain. The surgeon uses an arthroscope, an instrument with a tiny camera and a lighting system, allowing your surgeon to assess the damage that needs to be addressed.
Hip Pain Treatments in Austin
All-Star Orthopedics of Austin provides quality orthopedic services to treat hip and other musculoskeletal pain. We use a variety of conservative and surgical treatments to address a variety of orthopedic injuries and conditions.
To make an appointment, call (512) 346-4933. You can also schedule an appointment online.
