The appearance of pain in the hip joint should certainly warn, because it is the largest bony connection without which the process of walking is impossible. Maintains balance, redistributes body weight between the spine and lower limbs. When the function of the hip joint is disturbed, the quality of life of the patient immediately decreases, and physical activity decreases.
If you feel pain in the hip joint, it is necessary to determine the cause. The treatment of pain depends on the pathology of which it is a symptom. Complex measures and strict adherence to the recommendations will help get rid of the disease and maintain the motor activity of the joint.
Disorder of the hip joint prevents active movement. Reduced functionality limits the patient in terms of independent movement and performance.
So what are the causes of such uncomfortable hip discomfort and how can it be treated at home? Let's try to figure it out.
Causes
Pain in the hip joint can occur for various reasons: due to damage to the joint itself, both right and left, as well as bones, cartilage or ligaments that are located next to it. Numbness and restriction of movement throughout the hip often occur with a painful symptom.
Diseases of the hip joint can occur at any age, but most often affect the elderly. If pain occurs, it is advisable to consult a general practitioner, he will prescribe an initial examination and recommend which doctor you should see.
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;
- period of pregnancy.
The prevalence of pain syndrome in this localization increases with age. If among young people younger than 18, the pain in the hip joint is in 8-10%, then for middle-aged people that number is 20-30%. At the age of 50-59, 40% already suffer from this, and among the elderly - from 50 to 60%. Women are more likely to suffer from this localization pain syndrome than men.
According to age
Pathological conditions typical of different age groups that cause hip pain:
- Adults and Seniors. Osteoarthritis (coxarthrosis), joint injuries and deformities, acetabulum compression.
- Children and adolescents. Perthes' disease, transient synovitis, acquired varus deformity, tuberculous lesions, injuries and joint deformities.
- Newborns and infants under 1 year of age. Congenital hip dislocation, consequences of generic pineal gland, 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 and burning pain, especially when lying on his side at night, which extends over the entire surface of the thigh.
If an infection enters, purulent bursitis may occur which is characterized by acute pain in the hip joint. A characteristic symptom of this type of bursitis is the inability to fully extend the leg. When pressed, a firmness is felt that can spread over a large area of the thigh. Maybe back pain.
Osteoarthritis (coxarthrosis)
Coxarthrosis is based on degenerative (destructive) 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 develop with secondary joint damage (bone tumor). In old age, coxarthrosis develops again after a hip fracture.
Depending on the severity of the changes that have occurred in the joint, there are 3 stages of coxarthrosis.
- In the 3rd phase, the pain in the hip joint torments the patients even at rest, at night. Pronounced lameness, forcing the use of a stick.
- In stage 2 coxarthrosis, the pain begins to radiate to the groin, inner and front thighs, and often falls to the knees. They appear after the usual daily load, but they do not bother at rest.
- Stage 1 is characterized by pain in the hip joint that occurs with excessive exertion: walking up stairs with a load in hand, walking longer than 2-3 kilometers, running. Feelings of pain subside after a short rest.
The choice of methods for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip joint depends on the severity of the changes that have occurred in the joint. Grade 1 and 2 diseases can be treated, as a rule, conservatively. Anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors, drugs that improve blood circulation in the joint, physiotherapy, therapeutic exercises are prescribed. The last stage is treated only with the help of surgery.
Hip fracture
Very common injuries, especially in the elderly with weak bones. This condition is characterized by severe pain, inability to initiate any movements in the joint.
In this case, hospitalization is required for proper treatment, because a hip fracture is often complicated by an infectious process, for example, bacterial arthritis, etc. The addition of inflammation significantly complicates the healing of fractures and contributes to improper bone fusion.
Hip joint dislocation
It is most often the result of traffic accidents, and it also occurs during falls and various injuries at work.
Clinical manifestations of dislocation: unbearable acute pain, almost absolute difficulties in moving the lower extremities, with damage to nerve endings, loss of sensitivity of the feet and ankles. In bilateral joint dislocation, the symptoms are expressed in the form of intermittent claudication, ie the so-called"duck walk".
It is worth noting a concept such as congenital hip dislocation, diagnosed in newborns. This disease is a consequence of the underdevelopment of the acetabulum, due to which the head of the femur falls out of its limits, creating a dislocation.
Subluxation
This is an incomplete loss of contact between the femoral head and the acetabulum. The person does not feel sharp pain, motor activity is a bit limited, but unpleasant sensations are constantly present.
Rheumatism
Systemic connective tissue disease, accompanied by damage to the joints and valvular apparatus of the heart. It is more common in girls and young women after streptococcal sore throat.
Approximately two weeks after the disease, severe pain appears in the large joints, which gradually decreases and disappears. Rheumatism does not cause permanent damage to the joints, its main danger is the development of acquired heart defects.
Arthritis
Arthritis is especially common in the elderly. The older a person gets, the more processes can take place within his joints. Discomfort occurs in the legs and groin, cramps can be felt in the front of the thighs and even up to the knees. Symptoms are worse when walking and resting on your feet. It becomes difficult to get up from a sitting position, which causes severe pain in the hip joint.
Most often, fatigue increases in the morning, but decreases with physical activity. But with excessive loads, uncomfortable feelings increase and stiffness in movements appears. Treatment depends on the diagnosis, anti-inflammatory drugs, exercise therapy and hormonal drugs are usually prescribed.
Infections
Infectious arthritis can be caused by viruses such as influenza, staphylococcus, streptococcus and others. . . In such cases, the disease develops rapidly. Fever begins, swelling is observed in the area of the affected joint. Acute pain in the hip joint is observed when moving and even touching the affected area.
Slightly different symptoms were observed in tuberculous arthritis, which most often affects the hip joint. In this case, the disease is felt gradually. Initially, a person begins to suffer from mild pain when walking, which radiates to the leg - the middle part of the thigh or knee. As the disease progresses, the hip is restricted in movement in all directions, the affected area swells.
Tendinitis
Tendonitis or tendonitis usually affects people who are exposed to high levels of regular physical activity. Most often, they are athletes. It should be noted that this disease sometimes goes unnoticed, especially if the patient reduces the load on the hip joint. Conversely, with too active movements and heavy loads, the pain becomes very strong.
Treatment of tendonitis is carried out with anti-inflammatory drugs - nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed.
Which doctor is treating?
The help of these doctors may be needed if you have hip pain:
- Rheumatologist;
- Traumatologist or orthopedist;
- physiotherapist;
- Neurologist.
The specialist will conduct a survey and examination of the patient, prescribe a comprehensive examination.
Diagnosis
Laboratory and instrumental research methods:
- X-ray examination and ultrasound. They are the gold standard for almost all hip diseases.
- General blood test. This will give an opportunity to assess the general condition of the body.
- Biochemical blood test and specific markers of rheumatic diseases.
- Urine examination. The color, quantity, clarity and density of urine are determined. In addition, protein, glucose and bilirubin are important indicators.
- Morphological examination of biopsy specimens. It is used to study the structure of the material taken, especially often in cases of suspected skeletal oncological diseases.
- CT scanner. It allows visualization of the joint, bone tissue in several projections, in order to determine its density.
- M. R. I. It renders in thin layers of body tissue in any plane.
- Osteoscintigraphy. The introduction of osteotropic radiopharmaceuticals visualizes the state of blood flow in bone tissue and the intensity of metabolic processes.
Pay attention to the reduction of joint mobility. Remember whether the disease was accompanied by fever, headache, local hyperemia, edema and other local manifestations. Do not be afraid to draw the attention of experts to the possible causes of the disease. Describe in detail everything that bothers you.
How is hip pain treated?
What to do if painful symptoms are found in the hip joint area? After all, the pelvis is an important link in the musculoskeletal system. And if serious pain occurs, consult a specialist immediately. It will help diagnose and identify the cause of the problem. The sooner a 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, you can take the following measures:
- avoid stress on a sore joint, keep it calm;
- take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug;
- during sleep it is recommended to lie on the healthy side.
Drug treatment consists of complex medication in different directions:
- Hondoprotectors, mineral and vitamin complexes.
- Muscle relaxants that reduce cramps that occur with pain.
- NSAIDs and steroids. Steroid medications are prescribed only for severe symptoms.
- Means to improve microcirculation. They alleviate 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 hip diseases. They are performed after the removal of acute inflammation and severe pain. Electrophoresis has been shown to work well, with the help of which a high concentration of drugs can be created directly in the affected area.
Laser therapy, which produces analgesic, resorption and anti-inflammatory effects, is considered a progressive method. Magnetotherapy, diode dynamotherapy and drug phonophoresis have also been used successfully.