Hip Pain Treatment

Causes of Hip Pain

Hip pain can stem from underlying conditions, from acute injuries to chronic degenerative diseases. Some common causes of hip pain include:

Osteoarthritis

A degenerative joint disease that causes the cartilage in your hip joint to break down, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion.

Rheumatoid arthritis

An autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation in the hip joint, resulting in pain, swelling, and stiffness.

Bursitis

Inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs (bursae) that cushion your hip joint is often caused by repetitive motions or prolonged pressure.

Tendinitis

Inflammation of the tendons that attach your muscles to your hip bone, often due to overuse or injury.

Labral tears

Damage to the ring of cartilage (labrum) surrounding the hip socket can cause pain, clicking, or locking sensations in the hip.

Hip fractures

A break in the upper portion of your thigh bone (femur), which is more common in older adults with osteoporosis.

When should I seek emergency care for hip pain?

If you have hip discomfort that persists for more than a few days, you can come to see us and we can devise a strategy to treat your pain.

This hip discomfort can include one or more of the following:

• swelling
• tenderness
• soreness
• warmth
• redness

If you experience any of the following, you may have a more serious issue:

• symptoms that persist longer than a few days or get worse instead of better
• deformity or severe bruising
• severe pain and swelling
• symptoms in other parts of the body
• other health conditions that could complicate healing
• signs of infection, such as a fever

Septic arthritis, an infection of the joints, is a possible cause of these symptoms. If not managed, septic arthritis can lead to malformed joints and osteoarthritis.

If you feel you might have septic arthritis or are experiencing severe symptoms, please get in touch with your primary care physician or visit the emergency room.

Diagnosing and Treating Hip Pain

Our pain specialists and physical medicine doctors start with a comprehensive evaluation, conducting a physical examination and reviewing your medical history. 

We may also use X-rays, MRI, or CT scans to see your hip joint and identify any underlying issues.

Based on this evaluation, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan to meet your unique needs and treatment goals.

Relieving Hip Pain with Regenerative Medicine

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and stem cell therapy are two innovative regenerative medicine procedures we employ to address hip pain and restore joint function.

PRP Injections for Hip Osteoarthritis

Platelet rich plasma therapy delivers concentrated growth factors directly to the hip joint, targeting osteoarthritis symptoms. This procedure can stimulate cartilage repair, reduce inflammation in the synovial fluid, and improve hip mobility.

PRP’s natural healing properties make it an effective option for managing hip osteoarthritis pain without surgery.

Stem Cell Therapy for Labral Tears

Stem cell therapy offers a promising solution for hip labral tears. By injecting stem cells into the damaged labrum, we can promote tissue regeneration and improve healing. These cells quickly change into other types of cells, rapidly accelerating the body’s natural regeneration process.

This approach will help repair labral tissue, reduce pain, and avoid the need for more invasive surgical interventions.

Chiropractic Treatments for Hip Pain

Manual adjustments are a cornerstone chiropractic technique to address hip pain and improve pelvic function and motion.

Manual Adjustments for Hip Misalignment

Manual chiropractic adjustments focus on realigning the hip joint and surrounding structures. By applying controlled force to the hip and pelvis, we can correct misalignments that may be causing pain or restricting movement.

This technique can help restore proper joint function, reduce pressure on irritated nerves, and improve the balance of muscles around the hip. 

Patients often experience immediate relief and improved range of motion following these adjustments, particularly those suffering from hip impingement or sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

Physical Therapy Procedures to Treat Hip Pain

Shockwave therapy and kinesio taping are two advanced physical therapy techniques we employ to alleviate hip pain and improve joint function.

Shockwave Therapy for Hip Bursitis

Shockwave therapy offers a non-invasive solution for hip bursitis. We can reduce inflammation in the bursa sacs surrounding the hip joint by delivering high-energy acoustic waves to the affected area.

This treatment stimulates blood flow, promotes tissue healing, and can break down calcifications often associated with chronic bursitis.

After a series of shockwave therapy sessions, patients typically experience decreased pain and improved hip mobility.

Kinesio Taping for Hip Flexor Strain

Kinesio taping provides targeted support for strained hip flexor muscles.

By applying elastic therapeutic tape in specific patterns, we can reduce stress on overworked hip flexors and improve muscle activation patterns. This technique helps decrease pain during movement, supports proper hip alignment, and facilitates healing.

Kinesio taping is particularly beneficial for athletes and individuals with repetitive strain injuries in the hip area.

Joint Stabilization and Mobilization for Hip Osteoarthritis

Joint stabilization and mobilization techniques focus on improving hip joint mechanics in patients with osteoarthritis.

We can increase joint space, enhance synovial fluid circulation, and reduce stiffness through gentle, controlled movements. These hands-on techniques help to maintain cartilage health, improve range of motion, and decrease pain associated with hip osteoarthritis, allowing for better daily function and mobility.

Interventional Pain Management for Hip Pain

Trigger point injections and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are two advanced interventional techniques to manage hip pain and improve patient mobility.

Trigger Point Injections for Piriformis Syndrome

Trigger point injections offer targeted relief for piriformis syndrome, a common cause of hip and buttock pain.

By injecting a local anesthetic or anti-inflammatory medication directly into the piriformis muscle, we can quickly reduce muscle spasms and alleviate compression on the sciatic nerve.

This procedure often relieves immediate pain and helps restore normal muscle function, allowing patients to engage more effectively in rehabilitative exercises.

Radiofrequency Ablation for Chronic Hip Joint Pain

Radiofrequency ablation is an innovative approach for treating chronic hip joint pain, particularly in cases where conservative treatments have failed. This minimally invasive procedure uses heat to disrupt pain signals from specific nerves surrounding the hip joint.

By targeting the sensory nerves responsible for transmitting pain, RFA can provide long-lasting relief, often for 6-12 months or longer.

This treatment is especially beneficial for patients with hip osteoarthritis or not candidates for hip replacement surgery.

Epidural Steroid Injections for Lumbar Radiculopathy

Epidural steroid injections can effectively manage hip pain caused by lumbar radiculopathy, a condition where nerve roots in the lower back are compressed.

By delivering anti-inflammatory medication directly to the affected nerve roots, we can reduce inflammation and alleviate radiating pain in the hip and leg.

This procedure can provide significant pain relief, improve mobility, and allow patients to progress more comfortably with physical therapy and other rehabilitative treatments.

Why Choose All American Medical?

Our team of integrated doctors and pain experts has extensive experience diagnosing and treating various hip conditions, from acute injuries to chronic degenerative diseases. 

Schedule a consultation with All American Medical today. We will work with you to identify the underlying cause of your hip pain and develop a personalized treatment plan to help you find relief and restore your mobility.

FAQs about Hip Pain

What can cause hip pain in women?

Hip pain in women can be due to various causes, including arthritis (osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis), bursitis, tendinitis, or stress fractures. Overuse injuries, pain from the lower back or pelvis or conditions like hip dysplasia, can also trigger it.

Hormonal changes, particularly during menopause, may also contribute to joint discomfort.

What should you not do if your hip hurts?

If your hip hurts, avoiding high-impact activities like running or jumping is advisable, as these can worsen the pain and potentially worsen any underlying condition. Additionally, prolonged sitting or standing without breaks can strain the hip joint and increase discomfort.

What causes severe hip pain if I’m not injured?

Severe hip pain without a clear injury may be caused by conditions such as osteoarthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, or nerve compression syndromes like sciatica or piriformis syndrome. Inflammatory conditions like arthritis can also lead to intense hip pain, even without a specific injury.

How do I relieve hip nerve pain?

Conservative treatments like rest, ice packs, and over-the-counter pain relievers (such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen) can help relieve hip nerve pain. Physical therapy exercises focusing on stretching and strengthening the hip muscles may also relieve nerve-related discomfort.

How do I know if my hip pain is nerve pain?

Hip nerve pain is typically characterized by sharp, shooting pain that radiates down the leg, often following the path of the sciatic nerve. You may experience numbness, tingling, or weakness in the hip, thigh, or leg. Pain is often worsened by movements that stretch the affected nerve, such as sitting for prolonged periods or bending forward.

How do I know if my hip pain is serious?

You know your hip pain is a serious condition requiring medical attention if you experience the following symptoms. 

• Severe, persistent hip pain
• Redness, swelling, warmth, or fever
• Difficulty bearing weight on the hip
• Sudden onset of pain after trauma