Alternative Options To Treat Hip Pain
Certain aspects of the treatment process are universal pain management and physical therapy are good examples of things that are recommended to almost everyone with hip pain. Though these treatments may be effective for managing symptoms, it is fair to ask whether or not they are addressing and attempting to treat the underlying cause.
Regenerative therapies such as autologous stem cell therapy are an option for sufferers of hip pain, before or after surgery. Stem cells occur naturally throughout the body, but they are special because of their ability to differentiate, or become other cells in the body. Specifically, for procedures performed on the hip, both stem cell-rich bone marrow, and stem cell-rich adipose tissue are used for this procedure.
They are also capable of signaling to other healing cells in the body to call them to an injury. Stem cell therapy is a breakthrough option to treat an injury if nothing else has worked to the patients satisfaction. This outpatient procedure typically takes about 1-2 hours to complete on the same day
Another treatment that falls into the Regenerative Medicine category is Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy, or PRP, which uses concentrated platelets to help an injury heal and produce a potent anti-inflammatory effect. This is done via injection performed under fluoroscopy, or live X-ray. Platelets are a component of blood that contain growth factors and anti-inflammatory granules that the body uses in its natural healing process.
Keeping Your Hips In Good Shape
As we have seen in the examples above, many hip complaints can arise from improper mechanics such as a lack of mobility or a lack of strength. The hip, pelvis and low back are very closely linked in terms of how they share the load of movement, a change or restriction in one area can have profound impact on the others . In many instances hip complaints can be addressed by restoring normal movement to the low back, pelvis and hip musculature either through manual treatment from an osteopath or through prescriptive exercise .
Do you want to know what is causing your pain and if we can help? Why not take advantage of our new patient assessment introductory offer to get you started towards a tailor made recovery plan for only £19.
Are you in a lot of pain and want to get better as soon as possible? If so then why not book in for a new patient consultation, with treatment on the day, for £68.
We are also there to help you from home. Take a look at our suite of exercise resources and advice sheets which you can easily download and use from home.
References
1 Levangie, P. and Norkin, C. Joint Structure and Function: A Comprehensive Analysis . F. A. Davis, Philadelphia.
2 Souza, T. . Differential Diagnosis and Management for the Chiropractor. 4th ed, Jones and Bartlett, Sudbury.
3 Magee, D. Zachazewski, J. and Quillen, W., 2009. Pathology and Intervention in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, Missouri, Elselvier.
Stop Sitting With Your Legs Crossed
Avoiding crossing your legs when you sit can be a game-changer for anyone with hip pain. When we sit with our legs crossed, we put extra strain on the tendons on the side of the hip, and pinch the front of the hip joint. Every time you catch yourself in this position change. You may be surprised how much difference it makes.
You May Like: Hip Pain When I Sit Down
How Does Sitting With Legs Crossed Impact Our Body
Is crossing your legs bad for you? Discover what it does to your knees, back & more
Are you sitting cross-legged right now as you read this? Were you aware how your sitting position can negatively impact your body, especially if you sit with your legs crossed at the knee?
On the whole, humans lead a largely sedentary lifestyle. Adults spend an average of 7.7 hours a day sitting, according to a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A sedentary lifestyle can increase the risk of several diseases ranging from diabetes to cardiovascular disease, and even certain cancers.
Lets take a look at how this sitting position, also known as European-style sitting, can wreak havoc on your back, your knees and more. Whether you cross your left leg over your right or vice versa, you may want to uncross your legs to avoid further damage to your body before you continue reading this article.
What Can I Do About My Hip Pain
The good news is that you dont have to put up with it! If you are experiencing hip pain, there are a few options for you to start fixing your problem straight away. Watch our video series on gluteal tendinopathy it includes more information as well as key exercises to try at home. Exercise and strength work have been proven to improving function and decreasing pain, so keep moving where possible .If you are not finding improvement on your own, it is best to speak to a health professional you trust and get it checked out. Remember, the problem may not be coming from the place you are experiencing the pain! If you would like more personalised advice, our physios are available to answer your questions so feel free to call our clinic on 9370 5654.
References
Read Also: Treatment For Hairline Fracture Of Hip
If You Feel Thigh And Hip Pain When Crossing Your Legs It Could Be A Sign Of Something Worse
Do you have hip pain or outer and inner thigh pain when crossing your legs? If crossing your legs causes you to feel the most discomfort in your hip and thigh region, this position may be making an existing problem worse.
Video of the Day
But whether an overreliance on the crossed-leg posture is causing strain on your muscles or joints or an underlying condition makes itself most known in this position, your doctor can help you pinpoint exactly why your flare-ups are happening. Most important, you can begin to treat it.
Read more:14 Exercises to Offset Sitting All Day
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of A Hip Flexor Strain
Hip flexor tear or strain symptoms Sharp pain in the hip or pelvis after trauma. Sudden hip pain. Upper leg feeling tender and sore. Muscle spasms. Swelling and bruising on the thighs or hip. Tightness and stiffness after long periods of rest. Cramping in the upper leg. Pain when lifting your leg to the chest.
Also Check: Hip Flexor Exercises For Runners
Pain In The Neck And Back
One of the possible negative side effects of sitting crossed legged might surprise many. Surprisingly or not, pain in the neck and back is a real danger for those who love this sitting posture.
The reason is that when we cross our legs, there’s pressure and compression on our knee, leg joints and nerves.
Sitting with one leg over the other for a long time means your hips are uneven, and your pelvic bone rotates and creates an imbalance in the pelvis and pressure on the spine. When that happens, pressure on the lower, middle parts of the back and the neck might occur.
Naturally, if this is your beloved posture, what starts as a short-term pain can develop into a long term problem, the longer you wait to change your habits.
What Is Hip Pain
Hip pain can present itself in a myriad of ways. It can feel like pinching at the front of your joint, a deep, dull ache in the buttock, or burning pain on the side of the leg. It can even be felt as referred pain in the groin and knee region or present with associated stiffness and tightness across your whole leg. Lateral hip pain is a particularly common problem prevalent in women between 40-60 years old and in 25% of the general population .
If you have a hip problem, it can affect many of your day-to-day functions negatively, for example:
- Putting weight on the leg
- Walking, or taking large steps
- Getting in and out of a car
- Sitting or driving for long periods
- Sporting activities like running, change of direction, kicking a ball, etc.
Recommended Reading: Hip Gives Out Suddenly With Sharp Pain
What Causes Hip Pain When Sleeping
A variety of conditions can cause hip pain when sleeping. The most common causes are bursitis, osteoarthritis, sciatic-piriformis syndrome and tendonitis. Other causes include injury to your muscles or soft tissues, pregnancy, the position you sleep in and your bed or pillows. Sometimes hip pain is caused by pain from elsewhere, such as your lower back, radiating down to your hips this is called referred pain.
Hip pain can feel different depending on the underlying cause. If hip pain is caused by an injury that is largely healed, you may have lingering pain that feels like pins and needles. Severe arthritis can cause hip pain that feels as if someone is grabbing your hips. Hip pain can also feel achy or like burning.
Loose Or Damaged Hip Joint
Femoroacetabular impingement happens when the long leg bone doesnt fit right in the hip joint. This might happen when the cartilage between these bones wears away or is damaged.
FAI can lead to a sharp or dull hip pain when sitting. You might also feel your hip joints pop or stiffen a bit when you sit down or get up.
Recommended Reading: What To Do For Dogs With Hip Dysplasia
Lets Get Specific: Gluteal Tendinopathy
The gluteal tendon connects your gluteal muscles to the side of your femur. When this tendon degenerates, this is called gluteal tendinopathy and can often present as pain and tenderness on the outside of the hip, as well as any number of symptoms mentioned earlier. You might also notice pain and stiffness upon waking up in the morning that improves with activity and then becomes painful again as you cool down.
This degeneration can result from repetitive movements of the hip that cause compressive force over the tendon typically when the leg crosses the midline of the body . This compressive force, if persistent and beyond the tolerance of the tendon, will cause microtrauma and degeneration to occur.
Fortunately, gluteal tendinopathy can be fixed! Read on for info about how.
Why Does Hip Pain Occur
Hip pain can be due to a combination of factors such as:
- An increase in physical activity eg you have increased your walking from 30 minutes to 1 hour, or have begun some uphill walking.
- A direct fall onto the side of your hip.
- Being female this is more common in females as they have a wider pelvis, which can increase compression through the tissues around the greater trochanter.
- Being overweight.
- Being in repeated positions that increase compression around the greater trochanter such as lying on your painful hip side or sitting with legs crossed.
Recommended Reading: Total Hip Arthroplasty Cpt Code
How Is Hip Pain When Sitting Treated
Treatment for hip pain when sitting depends on the cause. Sometimes correcting your posture or changing your chair can help solve the hip pain. You may not need treatment at all.
In some cases a chiropractor and physical therapist can help you realign your hips. Hip and back adjustments can help keep the hip joints balanced.
Physiotherapy exercises help to strengthen the lower back and hip muscles. Improving the core muscles in your back and abdomen also release pressure from incorrect sitting and walking.
Treatment for hip pain when sitting includes:
- over-the-counter pain medication
- prescription pain medication
There are several things you can do at home to help relieve your hip pain.
Tests For Groin And Hip Pain
At the appointment with your doctor, they will probably:
- feel your abdomen, leg, or hip to determine the exact location of your pain
- move your leg or hip in various positions
- test your strength by having you resist as they try to move your leg
Your doctor may order imaging tests to get further information. These might include:
- X-ray. Fractures or worn-down cartilage can be seen with X-rays.
- MRI.Magnetic resonance imaging shows soft tissue injuries, such as ligament, muscle, or tendon tears.
- Ultrasound.Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of your bodys organs, such as your ovaries. There is also a therapeutic form of ultrasound that is used to increase blood flow, relax muscles, and speed healing.
Read Also: Lower Back Pain Causing Hip Pain
Is Crossing Your Legs Bad For You
Crossing your legs seems like a natural sitting position but can it actually be bad for you?
Aside from claims that it raises your blood pressure or that it can cause varicose veins, regularly sitting with your legs crossed may result in a stooped posture, lower back pain, neck pain, and/or hip discomfort. This seemingly harmless sitting position could be contributing to aches and pains and actually increasing your chance of further injury.
When you cross one leg over the other, muscle imbalances are created in the lower back and the hips which can contribute to pelvic and sacral dysfunction as your body naturally shifts to one side. The pelvic imbalance eventually makes the hip flexor and inner thigh muscles shorter and the outer thigh muscle longer, putting your joints at risk for stiffness and dysfunction. Your pelvis also rolls backward and unstacks the spine, putting pressure on the lower back and forcing you into a leaning position favoring the side that the leg is crossed over. You end up with tight muscles on one side and on the other side, muscles that are weakened and overstretched. No good!
How Do I Know If I Have Gluteal Tendinopathy
The most common symptom is pain on the outside of your hip. The pain can become quite acute and it can refer down the outside of your leg to above or occasionally below the knee.
The pain of gluteal tendinopathy tends to be worse:
- Lying on the affected side
- Sitting with crossed legs
- Going up or down the stairs
- Walking â you may develop a limp with longer walking distances
If you are having lateral hip pain you will benefit from a physiotherapy assessment to determine your specific situation and an individualized treatment program. Special testing, such as x-rays and ultrasound imaging is not usually necessary, but if the physiotherapist has any concerns they will communicate with your doctor.
Read Also: Leg Pain From Hip To Ankle
Where Is Your Hip Pain
Your hip pain can mean different things depending on where the pain is in your hip.
Hip pain on the outer part of your hip, upper thigh, or outer buttock while youre sitting is usually caused by the muscles, ligaments, or tendons in the hip.
If you have pain or discomfort on the inside of your hip or groin area when youre sitting, it might be due to a health issue in the hip bones and joint.
Sometimes pain in your lower back might be transferred to your hip when youre sitting. This is called referred pain.
There are many things that may be contributing to or causing your hip pain. Read on to discover what these causes mean and what you can do about it.
Sitting On An Uneven Surface
If your seat cushion, car seat, or sofa is too soft, it might make you sit unevenly. This means that your body might tilt to one side.
Sitting on an uneven or too soft surface can put more weight and pressure on one of your hips leading to pain. This commonly happens when you sit in bed to work or watch something on your laptop. It can also happen if you sit on a pillow on the floor or on a soft, sandy beach.
Read Also: Exercises For Hip And Knee Pain
What Causes Hip Pain
The hip joint is a complex network of bone and soft tissue. It is prone to injury because of the frequency of use, which can wear down these structures. Many activities, from running to walking to standing up or sitting down, can place stress on the hip joint. The hip can also become injured from a sudden impact such as a fall.
Ball-and-socket joints like the hip and shoulder function in the way that their name suggests: the end of a bone forms a round head, the ball, which fits into the cavity of another bone, the socket.
This type of joint allows for a wider range of motion than any other type of joint in the body. Consider how we can move our arms up and down, and forwards. The same applies to the hip joint think about someone doing the splits the range of motion from the ball-and-socket of the hip joint is what allows them to do this.
The ball and socket are covered in a layer of cartilage that allows the joint to glide smoothly during motion. The cartilage also acts as a barrier between two bones that prevent bone-on-bone contact. This soft tissue can become damaged with excessive use or from natural degeneration. When this occurs it can cause pain and discomfort.
Pain in the hip can be short and sharp, or it can be more of a dull, constant ache or anywhere in between. Other symptoms associated with hip pain include:
- Difficulty sitting or standing
- Pain when lying on the affected side