Common Causes Of Hip And Groin Pain
Hip muscle strains and sprains: Sprains and strains are often the simplest explanation for your hip pain. Hip strains and sprains can happen if you overdo it while exercising. This can injure the soft tissues, such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments, if they are stretched beyond their limits. A hip strain or sprain can cause pain during everyday tasks as well as during sporting activities.
Besides pain, you may experience swelling, limitation of movement, and muscle weakness.3 A home exercise program can relieve your pain and restore range of motion. Specific exercises to strengthen the muscles that support the hip will improve your endurance and flexibility and prevent such injuries in the future.
Tendinitis: Tendons are thick cord-like structures that connect muscles to bones. When tendons become inflamed and irritated, the condition is called tendonitis. Hip pain due to hip tendinitis is typically present on the outer part or front of the hip.4 You may also experience symptoms like mild swelling and limited mobility.
Hip tendonitis is common in people who take part in running, swimming, cycling, and other high-intensity sports.5 Treatment for hip tendonitis consists of a short period of rest, followed by physical therapy. It is important to stretch and strengthen the hip area with rehab exercises to prevent the problem from recurring.
Summary Of Hip Arthritis
- Osteoarthritis of the hip is common and can result in severe hip joint pain and disability. as a result of this condition, several hundred thousand people each year in the U.S. undergo total hip replacement.
- Most people with osteoarthritis of the hip can be managed without surgery.
- The cause of osteoarthritis of the hip is not known but some risk factors include obesity, severe hip trauma, and acquired conditions in adulthood, such as osteonecrosis and genetics.
- There are many other kinds of arthritis that can affect the hip. It is important to make sure that the correct diagnosis is made as some of these other conditions are treated very differently.
- The diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the hip is usually very straightforward and is made in almost all cases by a physician taking a thorough history, performing a physical examination, and getting x-rays with the patient standing up.
- Patients usually seek care for the typical symptoms of hip arthritis, including pain located in the groin thigh or buttock. The pain associated with osteoarthritis of the hip is generally worse with weight bearing or twisting. Stiffness and leg-length inequality are other symptoms.
Create A Treatment Plan
After I identify the structure possibly contributing to the symptoms, I would develop a treatment plan to strengthen the tissue, facilitate normal tissue healing, ensure proper range of motion and mobility within the structure and minimize the negative effect in the surrounding tissues.
It can also help to try different assistive devices. If you want to know more about switching from a cane to a walker .
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Is It Hip Groin Or Lower Back Pain
Have you ever been in so much pain that it is difficult to describe? Some patients can describe their symptoms perfectly, but other times, the overall pain can be overwhelming. This is a common case for the center portion of the body. Hip, groin and lower back pain often seem the same. So, before diagnosing yourself with hip failure, a groin injury or lower back pain, recognize which part of your body is causing the pain. The waist area contains the hips, groin and lower back close together so this is a common problem for many people. The pain may grow into each of these parts although it usually starts in a single point of the body. Learn more about your hip, groin and lower back pain.
What Are The Treatment Options For Groin Pain
Treatment options for groin pain are dependent on the cause. Keyhole, arthroscopic surgery may be indicated if impingement is found to be the underlying cause. This allows repair of damaged structures in the hip to treat deep seated catching discomfort. Groin surgery may be required if a hernia is found to be present, often carried out using keyhole techniques.
When should I see my doctor?
You should consider having a consultation with your GP when your groin pain disturbs your usual activities. In some cases, physiotherapy review may be worthwhile. Depending on the cause of your pain, physiotherapists can sometimes give you advice and a home exercise programme to try and manage your discomfort.
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Keep Your Hips Healthy And Happy: Overcome Hip And Groin Pain With Twin Boro
As you can see, being highly active can increase your chances of experiencing hip and groin pain. Add aging, obesity or a traumatic injury to the mix and the pain can make it hard to do normal daily tasks.
If you are experiencing hip and groin pain, you may be wondering if physical therapy may help. At Twin Boro Physical Therapy, our goal is to help patients restore function and range of motion in the joint, provide relief for the hip and groin pain and prevent further injury. From Sports Rehab to Geriatric Rehabilitation, we have you covered.
Give us a call at1-732-444-3578 to find out how physical therapy may be a good course of action for you and schedule your no-obligation appointment at one of our 23 convenient New Jersey clinics.
Alternative Remedies And Treatments
Nutritional supplementation is helpful to some patients though the science on this is not entirely supportive of their effectiveness.
There are some studies to suggest that acupuncture can decrease the pain associated with osteoarthritis of the hip.
Although there is little hard science on this point, most hip surgeons and rheumatologists believe that patients with osteoarthritis of the hip should consider avoiding impact sports such as running in order to avoid increasing the rate at which the disease progresses.
It is important that patients with osteoarthritis of the hip avoid decreasing their activity level and it is important that they remain fit. However this often does require some modification of exercise programs running and walking programs are usually poorly tolerated by patients with osteoarthritis of the hip. Stationary bike, swimming and water aerobics usually are well-tolerated and they are recommended.
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Acute Causes Of Hip Or Groin Pain
Certain conditions may cause sudden onset of pain, sometimes debilitating, in the hip or groin. Below are some of those acute causes, most commonly associated with injury.
It should be noted that for kids, there are a number of causes of hip, thigh, and groin pain not included below . All kids complaining of hip, groin, or thigh pain, should be evaluated by a physical therapist or other specialized and qualified healthcare provider.
Hip or Pelvis Fracture
A hip fracture is a break in the upper part of the thighbone or pelvis . It can happen after a fall or other type of accident. Hip fractures are most common in older adults with osteoporosis, but they can occur at any age. Unfortunately, hip fractures, particularly in adults over 65, are associated with an increased risk of overall mortality and put a significant financial burden on the medical system.2 With 1 in 3 women experiencing hip fractures in their lifetime, this is a serious cause of pain that needs to be prevented and managed effectively.
Direct Impact
With a fall, impact, or accident, even if there is no fracture present, there will likely be bruising and swelling in the area that elicits hip or groin pain.
Muscle Strain
Post-Surgical Pain
After hip replacement surgery or laparoscopic surgery, it is common to experience hip and groin pain. This is usually due to the incision site, local swelling, and surrounding muscles and tissues that were affected during the surgery.
Labral Tear
Hip Dislocation
Piriformis Syndrome And Ischiofemoral Impingement
Piriformis syndrome causes buttock pain that is aggravated by sitting or walking, with or without ipsilateral radiation down the posterior thigh from sciatic nerve compression.34,35 Pain with the log roll test is the most sensitive test, but tenderness with palpation of the sciatic notch can help with the diagnosis.35
Ischiofemoral impingement is a less well-understood condition that can lead to nonspecific buttock pain with radiation to the posterior thigh.36,37 This condition is thought to be a result of impingement of the quadratus femoris muscle between the lesser trochanter and the ischium.
Unlike sciatica from disc herniation, piriformis syndrome and ischiofemoral impingement are exacerbated by active external hip rotation. MRI is useful for diagnosing these conditions.38
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Pain In The Hip Groin Back Or Thigh
Hip arthritis is most commonly felt as an aching pain in the front of the groin, and this pain may travel into the thigh. Sometimes pain can be felt at the side of the hip , buttocks, or back of the thigh .
Hip pain may be aggravated by:
- Rising from a seated position
- Weight bearing activities, such as standing, walking, and jogging
- Certain movements, such as bending to put on shoes and getting in and out of a car
- Vigorous activity, such as outdoor gardening and participating in sports
Mild hip arthritis may only cause pain occasionally. As hip osteoarthritis worsens over time, pain may become more frequent. Pain may become more constant with activity and be associated with increasing stiffness or discomfort at night.
Less Common Causes Of Hip Pain
Hip fracture: A hip fracture is a break in one of the bones of the hip joint. It is a serious injury that almost always requires surgical repair, followed by physical therapy rehab.
If you suspect you may have fractured your hip, you should seek immediate medical attention. Hip fracture symptoms include severe pain in the hip or groin, swelling, bruising, inability to put weight on the leg, and inability to walk or get up after a fall. You can reduce your risk of hip fracture by doing exercises to strengthen your hip bones and improve balance.
Inguinal hernia: An inguinal hernia is a protrusion of soft tissues, such as the intestines, through a weak spot in the abdominal wall.
Symptoms of an inguinal hernia include a bulge in the groin on the side of the pubic bone, which becomes more obvious with coughing, straining, bending, or lifting heavy objects.
People with inguinal hernias often report groin pain and discomfort. The groin pain is described as a burning and aching sensation.10 You can reduce your risk of developing an inguinal hernia by maintaining healthy body weight and doing specific exercises to strengthen the abdominal muscles.
Sciatica: The sciatic nerve is a large nerve of the lower limb. The term sciatica refers to pain in the path of the sciatic nerve as it makes its way from the lower back, through the hip to the leg, all the way down to the foot.11
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Severe Pain In Crotch Groin And Sciatica Pain
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For Your Convenience Weve Divided These Causes Into Five Categories As Follows
- Low risk: This can be easily managed with over-the-counter medications or by avoiding the movement/stressor causing your pain.
- Low-medium risk: Usually managed as an outpatient by your doctor with prescription medication.
- Medium risk: May require a visit to your doctor or hospitalization. Prescription medication may be necessary.
- Medium-high risk: Hospitalization or urgent intervention. Although not life-threatening get help immediately of some kind.
- High risk: Serious and potentially lethal complications possible emergent intervention needed Intensive Care Unit care often needed.
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What Is Considered A Normal Amount Of Pain After A Hip Replacement Surgery
Some swelling and initial pain at the joint are normal after hip replacement. To help reduce pain:
- Take time to rest between therapy sessions.
- Ice the leg and the incision site.
- Take anti-inflammatory medications, after consulting with your doctor, to help with these symptoms.
Keeping the leg elevated above the heart when you lay down can also help the swelling to recede, advises Thakkar.
Its important to pay attention to your pain levels. If you feel like you are consistently at a 6 or more on a 110 pain scale, mention it to your doctor, because it could be a sign of infection or another complication. As you continue physical therapy, your pain levels should slowly decrease to about 1 or 2 in 12 weeks after the hip replacement.
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Pagets Disease Of Bone
Pagets disease affects the way bone develops and renews itself, causing it to become weaker. It usually affects the pelvis, causing it to grow out of shape. This can often lead to hip pain, but it is treatable with a group of drugs called bisphosphonates.
Bisphosphonates are drugs used to prevent the loss of bone mass and treat bone disorders such as osteoporosis and Pagets disease.
For more information see our sections on Pagets disease and bisphosphonates.
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Treatment For Muscle Strain
Ice: 15 20 minutes at a time. Allow at least 20-30 minutes between icing sessions and never ice directly on bare skin.
Protection: Avoid and alter activities that cause pain.
Elevate: Elevate the area to decrease swelling.
Avoid Stretching: Muscular strains should not be treated with active or passive stretching, stretching may worsen the injury and delay healing time.
Common treatments for Hip Flexor Strains
Pain Focused On One Side
Pain focused on only one side could be sciatica, or it could indicate a problem with the hip joint, called the sacroiliac joint.
This joint connects the hip bone to the sacrum, supporting the spine. This is NOT the ball-and-socket hip jointthe sacroiliac joint is deeper inside the pelvis.
You should make an appointment with your doctor to try and find the root cause of the pain. Only then will you be able to decide on an appropriate course of treatment.
You can try heat or cold therapy, a support brace, or chiropractic therapy to ease the pain.
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When To See Your Doctor
If your pain lasts for more than a week or if you think it is caused by an injury, see your physician. He or she will likely have you lie down and will put your hip through a series of motions. If performing these motions replicates the groin pain, then what you are feeling most likely originates in the hip. A physician will also diagnose the exact cause of the pain, which can include a fracture, labral tear, strain, arthritis-bursitis or hip impingement syndrome.
For most of these conditions, we can design a physical therapy regimen to strengthen the muscles around your hip so that they can better support your hip and keep it stable. In addition, strengthening these muscles can relieve pain and prevent future injury. We will also prescribe stretching exercises, especially as adjuncts to the strengthening exercises that will improve your flexibility and range of motion, and prevent soreness.
Make an appointment with your physician to properly diagnose and treat your condition. As your treatment progresses, see us for an individualized program of physical therapy to help you resume your daily activities with minimal pain.
How Your Hip Joint Works
Your hips consist of large ball and socket joints. The acetabulum is the socket and part of our pelvic bone. The femoral head is the ball component of the joint, and is attached to your thighbone, or femur.
Your hip joint performs important work. It stabilizes your body, carries your weight, and allows your lower extremities to move in many ways. Your hip joints enable walking, stair climbing, and squatting. They also make it possible for you to turn your legs and feet inward, and outward.
You can move your hip easily and fluidly thanks to articular cartilage, the issue that covers the outer areas of your hip ball and socket
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How To Prevent Hip And Groin Pain
While hip and groin pain can’t always be prevented, there are steps you can take to prevent unnecessary pain. These include:
- Wearing proper footwear: Choose shoes that support the foot and lower body to promote ideal gait mechanics. Shoes chosen for aesthetics or price can put a strain on the lower body and hips due to altered mechanics.9
- Warming up before physical activity: Before starting a workout, warm up your muscles and joints with active movement.
- Sleep with pillows: Pillows can be used to align your hips at night.
- Stay active: This will help you with ideal weight management, provide circulatory benefits, and keep the hip and core muscles strong.
- Reduce joint impact: With proper mechanics and strength, particularly if you participate in activities like running or jumping, you can protect your joints and reduce injury.
- Make healthy lifestyle choices to boost your body’s healing potential: Eat a nutrient-dense diet, get enough sleep, and practice good stress management.
How To Diagnose Hip Dysfunction
If you are experiencing hip and/or groin pain, the first step is to see your doctor or a physical therapist. They will ask about your symptoms, medical history, and activity level. They will also perform a physical examination. This may include tests such as range of motion, muscle strength, and reflexes.
Remember: You do not need a referral to see a physical therapist! In fact, you can book now to get answers to your hip pain as soon as possible.
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