How Do I Know If My Hip Pain Is Serious
Hip pain can be uncomfortable, but how do you know whether its a weekend warrior injury that will subside in a few days or something more serious? One of the first signs that your hip problem might require medical attention is how long it lasts. If its longer than a few days without signs of improvement, it may be wise to see a doctor.
Signs that you should seek immediate medical help for a hip injury include:
- An area thats warm to the touch
- A popping sound
- Inability to bear weight
Its also important to seek help right away if you experience swelling, redness, warmth, tenderness, or soreness in the area of your hip joint because these could be signs of more serious conditions. Septic arthritis, for example, is a joint infection that can lead to deformities or osteoarthritis if not treated.
The Spaniard Was A Set And Break Down During His Second
Rafael Nadal may spend 6-8 weeks out of competitive action again, after suffering a Grade 2 tear in the iliopsoas muscle in his left leg.
Confirming the injury, Nadal took to Twitter on Thursday and wrote, Good afternoon. I have carried out medical tests after the defeat yesterday. The MRI shows a grade 2 lesion in the Iliacus Psoas of his left leg. Now its sports rest and anti-inflammatory physiotherapy. Normal recovery time 6 to 8 weeks.
The Spaniard was a set and break down during his second-round defeat to Mackenzie McDonald at the 2023 Australian Open when he crouched down in pain clutching his hip. A lengthy match timeout for treatment, and a laboured performance to get past the finish line, were both indicative that the injury he suffered was serious. In his post-match press conference he confirmed the pain was in his hip, but he was unsure of the extent of the injury.
Buenas tardes. He realizado pruebas médicas tras la derrota en el día de ayer. La resonancia magnética muestra una lesión grado 2 en el Psoas Iliaco de su pierna izquierda. Ahora toca reposo deportivo y fisioterapia anti inflamatoria. Tiempo normal de recuperación 6 a 8 semanas.
Why Does My Hip Hurt 12 Common Causes Of Hip Pain
If your hips are healthy, you probably don’t think about them very often. If you’re having hip pain, though, it may be the only thing on your mind. The hip is a large joint that helps support your body and all of its supporting structures, so this means there are plenty of causes of hip pain. Heres what you need to know, and whether you should consider seeking treatment.
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What Tests Are There
X-rays
X-rays are often the best way of finding out whats wrong with your hip as they show the condition of the bones. They may also show problems in your pelvis which could explain your pain. Theyre not as useful for looking at the soft tissues around the joint.
CT scans
A CT scan can often be very helpful to work out if the hip joint has an unusual shape. CT scans use x-rays to show sections or slices of the hip, which a computer then puts together to form a 3D image of the hip.
There are conditions where the socket of the hip can be very shallow, and a CT scan can show this.
MRI scans
MRI scans use radio waves to build a picture to show whats happening to the soft tissue, such as the muscles and tendons, inside your hip. Theyre particularly helpful for diagnosing the painful condition avascular necrosis, which reduces the flow of blood to the ends of bone, causing them to collapse .
Blood tests
If your doctor thinks your pain is caused by an infection or rheumatoid arthritis, blood tests can often help.
When Should You See A Doctor For Hip Bursitis
If pain from bursitis lasts longer than one to two weeks, its a good idea to see a doctor.
While it isnt common for the inflamed bursa in your hip to become infected, when it does happen, its called septic bursitis and it can be dangerous. See a doctor right away if you have pain and redness at the hip along with fever, chills or nausea. Septic bursitis requires treatment with antibiotics so the infection does not spread.
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Move Of The Month: Seated Pretzel
Stretches the buttocks, hips, and outer thighs.
Reps: 24
Hold: 1030 seconds
Starting position: Sit up straight in a chair and rest your left ankle on your right thigh above your knee. Place your hands on your thighs.
Movement: Keeping your spine neutral, slowly hinge forward from your hips until you feel a stretch in your left hip and buttock. Hold. Slowly return to the starting position. Repeat with your right ankle on your left knee. This is one rep.
Tips and techniques: Keep your spine neutral, not rounded, and your chest lifted as you lean forward. Keep your shoulders down and back, away from your ears, as you stretch. For a deeper stretch, gently press down with the hand on your bent leg.
Treating With Ice Or Heat
Heat or ice can be beneficial in the management of musculoskeletal pain.
Ice is most beneficial if your hip problem is related to an injury. You can try heat to help your pain levels if there’s no swelling and your symptoms are not related to a recent injury.
Never place ice or heat directly on your skin. Use a barrier, like a towel, to protect your skin from a burn.
How long you use ice as a treatment can vary. However, you should generally apply heat or ice for up to 15 minutes. You should also leave a few hours between treatments.
You should stop treating the area with ice or heat and seek advice from a medical professional if you notice an increase in redness, discolouration or blistering of the skin.
If you have any issues with circulation or sensation, you shouldn’t use ice or heat as a treatment for hip pain.
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Injections Arent For Everyone
Injections can bring long-lasting and sometimes permanent relief, says Dr. Burg. But they wont be effective if you keep doing the work or activity that caused your bursitis in the first place. You have to eliminate the source of the problem.
In the rare cases where trochanteric bursitis persists after 12 months of medical therapy, surgery can be considered.
But chances are, with proper care, your bursa will stop complaining long before that.
Getting A Proper Diagnosis
Other common sources of hip pain include stress fractures, muscle strains and hip dislocations.
Arthritis is difficult to self-diagnose. Talk with your primary care doctor as soon as possible about your symptoms. You may be referred to a rheumatologist or orthopedist to get an accurate diagnosis so you can get the appropriate medical care you need. Left undiagnosed and untreated, your condition may worsen and cause disability.
Around the clock and all year long, weve got you covered with unique pain management tools and resources you wont find anywhere else.
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When To See A Doctor
Leg pain encompasses a wide range of symptoms and can result from many different causes. In some cases, leg pain is minor, temporary, and easily treated at home. However, persistent or severe leg pain may be an indication of a more serious condition related to the bones, nerves, muscles, joints, or blood vessels in your legs. Sometimes this type of leg pain needs medical attention.
When assessing whether you should seek medical care for your leg pain there are several factors to consider such as the intensity and duration of the pain as well as what caused it. It is important to see a doctor immediately for any sudden onset of intense or severe pain that is accompanied by numbness or tingling in your lower extremities or genitals.
When these symptoms present themselves it can be an indicator that you need immediate emergency care due to a possible spinal cord injury or vascular issue in your legs or pelvis.
In other cases where the pain signals an underlying condition but is not deemed an immediate emergency any leg soreness that lasts more than a few days calls for a visit to your physician as it could be indicating something more serious like rheumatoid arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome which can cause long-term damage if left untreated.
What Raises Your Risk For Hip Bursitis
Hip bursitis is most common in women and people who are middle-aged or older although it can affect anyone.
Some factors increase the likelihood of bursitis, including:
- Overuse/repeated pressure on the hip: Hip bursitis usually occurs after long periods of repeated activity like standing, walking, stair climbing, gardening, running or painting. If you have a bone spur , you are more likely to develop bursitis as well.
- Hip injuries: Falling onto the side of your hip, striking your hip on a hard surface or lying on one side for a long time can irritate the bursa and cause bursitis.
- Other lower-body conditions: Issues that affect the spine, hips, knees and legs can cause instability that can lead to bursitis of the hip. Conditions like knee osteoarthritis, scoliosis and pinched nerves can also raise your risk.
- Uneven leg lengths: Your hip bursa can become irritated if you have one leg that is an inch or longer than the other. Custom foot orthotics or shoe inserts can ease that discomfort.
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Accurate Diagnosis Is Key
If your physician examines your hip joint and notes no hip pain, and then examines your back and notes leg pain, the spine is usually the source of the problem. Some people may have localized hip pain without leg pain, but are found to have a normal hip and an abnormal spine. Others may have only leg pain, but are found to have an abnormal hip and a normal spine. Therefore, in addition to a good physical examination, imaging is important. Plain X-rays may be helpful, but sometimes an MRI is needed as well. If imaging does not determine the source of the pain, the next step would typically be to perform an injection of pain-relieving medication directly into the area suspected of causing pain. Whether you get pain relief from the injection can help your physician better understand where the pain is coming from.
Other Causes Of Groin Pain
Groin pain is very commonly caused by problems with the hip. However, it can also be a symptom of other conditions, such as:
- a hernia a painful lump, often in the groin, which may need surgery
- lymph nodes in the groin these usually occur if theres infection in the lower leg
- gynaecological problems, which can occasionally be felt as hip pain.
We’re currently funding research into developing new techniques to measure hip shape and abnormalities in babies and children.
Children with hip problems are more likely to develop osteoarthritis and to need hip replacement surgeries as young adults. This study will develop a tool to identify children who would most benefit from treatment as early as possible, reducing long-term pain and disability.
Researchers at our Centre for Sport, Exercise and Osteoarthritis are also studying the reasons why hip pain is commonly seen in young footballers.
We’re also funding research looking into whether it is possible to predict the success of joint replacement surgery by looking at genetic risk factors.
This study will help doctors understand which patients are most likely to have good outcomes from joint replacement. It aims to improve patients experiences of surgery and make their new joints last longer.
Our researchers are also developing a tool to help patients make informed decisions about their treatment according to their lifestyle and needs.
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Treating Unexplained Hip Pain
Any type of unexplained hip pain is an indication that somethings not right, either with the joint itself or with the surrounding structures and tissues. At OrthoIllinois, Dr. Van Thiel offers an array of state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options based on each patients unique needs.
Hip pain treatment begins with a careful evaluation of your hip and your symptoms, often accompanied by diagnostic imaging to see inside your hip joint. Then, Dr. Van Thiel will work with you to determine the most appropriate treatment option based on your medical condition, your medical history, your lifestyle, and other factors. Hip arthroscopy may be an excellent option to treat the hip pain.
Both sudden, unexplained hip pain and hip pain that develops slowly over time can wind up becoming much worse without prompt medical attention.
What Causes Hip Thigh And Groin Pain
A recent study of professional soccer players found 20% of all their injuries involved the areas near the thigh or groin. This finding proved the theory that athletes in sports requiring quick footwork, such as soccer or lacrosse, tend to suffer from injury to the hips and groin. This injury often happens because of overuse. The pain associated with hip and groin injuries can be quite severe, so it is important to diagnose the problem to obtain the correct treatment. There are many possible causes of hip and groin pain.
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Leg Pain From Hip Disorders
When the hip is affected, you may have groin pain on the affected side, reduced range of motion of the hip, thigh pain, knee pain, or buttocks pain. The pain usually does not go down below the knee, and there is no associated numbness or tingling. You may feel more pain when walking or standing, and the pain improves with rest. You may sense a limited range of motion when trying to get out of the car, chair or bed. Occasionally, pain in the hip could be secondary to inflammation of a hip bursa. This can happen if you have tight hip abductor muscles, difference in leg length or hip arthritis. Hip pain can also be caused by something more serious but less common, like fractures, tumors, infection or avascular necrosis.
Can Hip Pain Cause Problems Anywhere Else
You may feel some pain in the buttock, groin, back, thigh or knee.
If you experience these for longer than 6 weeks, you may need to speak to a healthcare professional.
Occasionally, problems felt in your hip can be due to a back problem – even though you don’t feel pain in your back. People with this sort of problem often describe the pain as pins and needles, sharp, hot or burning pain, usually in the leg.
If you have any of these symptoms it would be helpful to read about back problems.
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What Are The Causes Of Hip Pain
The condition of hip pain is common. It is observed more in women. One of the common causes of pain in the hips is inflammation of the tendons. It happens due to excessive exercise. Usually, this condition is healed within a few days of occurrence but can be very painful in some cases. Some of the common causes of hip pain that radiates down the leg are:-
Gynecological And Back Issues For Women
Especially for women, what feels like hip pain might actually stem from a problem with the pelvis. Gynecological issues, such as fibroids or endometriosis, can cause significant pain in the groin area during either ovulation or menstruation. Likewise, issues with the urinary or digestive systems prostate cancer or gastroenteritis, for example might also feel like an issue with the hip.
Finally, women might also feel issues stemming from the back or spine down around the hip and buttocks area. Sciatica is one common issue that usually causes pain on one side of the body, including the back side of the hip and even down the leg.
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Psoriatic Arthritis Of The Hip
Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that can develop in people with psoriasis, an autoimmune skin condition that can also cause inflammation in the joints, including the hip. Over time, untreated inflammation can lead to joint damage. Psoriatic arthritis of the hip is a chronic condition. It can develop before or after the telltale skin symptoms of psoriasis develop.
Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome can cause pain in the outside of your upper thighs. Its typically caused by injury, pressure, or repetitive movements, and its common in runners and in women.
Symptoms may include:
- pain worsening when lying on the affected side
- pain that worsens over time
- pain following weight-bearing activities, such as walking or running
- hip muscle weakness
Treatment may include lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, treatment with ice, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and steroid injections.
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Hip Bursitis Symptoms & Treatment
Hip bursitis is inflammation in the hips bursa, a cushion that protects the tendon and muscles from rubbing against bone. Because an adult’s body contains 160 bursae , you can also have bursitis in other parts of your body, such as the shoulders, knees or elbows.
Hip bursitis can occur in bursa on the outside or inside of your hip. The type of hip bursitis you have depends on where the affected bursa is and if its infected. The major types of hip bursitis are:
- Trochanteric bursitis: The trochanter is the bony knob at the top of the thighbone on the outside of your hip. You may have pain on the outside of the hip and the outer thigh.
- Iliopsoas bursitis or ischial bursitis: Sometimes, a bursa on the inside of the hip becomes inflamed, causing pain in the groin or upper buttock.
- If your bursa becomes infected, it is septic hip bursitis. Septic hip bursitis can be serious and causes additional symptoms, like feeling feverish, tired and sick.
The hip inflammation of bursitis can be caused by injuries like a damaged tendon or by chronic rubbing or pressure within the hip.
Hip bursitis is the most common cause of hip pain.
Whether you know you have hip bursitis or arent sure whats causing your hip pain, we can help. Our orthopedic team can identify the source of your pain and offer personalized treatments that will help you find relief.