Ways to relieve hip pain at home

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint that connects the leg to the torso of the body. The head of the femur (thighbones) rotates within the acetabulum—the socket—that is made up of pelvic bones. Many causes of hip pain may result from the joint itself, while others could arise from the other structures surrounding the hip.

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Experiencing daily hip pain caused by arthritis can be difficult. Physicians encourage their patients to do a few exercises to alleviate the pain. Welcome the day by doing the bridge exercise in the morning to get the muscles moving, activated, and busy. Begin by lying on the back with knees bent and the feet flat on the floor hip-width apart. Press down through the ankles and raise the buttocks off the mat while tightening the abdominal muscles.

If the pain is too much and it feels inflamed, try icing the area. For arthritis and bursitis, doing this can lower the inflammation, thus helping with the pain. Warmth may be helpful in treating pain caused by arthritis. A hot shower or bath can soothe the joint. Although, be careful not to do use this method when the pain is caused by bursitis.

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Working in water can help relieve pain. Swimming and water aerobics are great workouts for the hip joint. Such exercises strengthen muscles without placing as much stress and pressure on the joints. For arthritis relief, weight loss can also be helpful. This can offset the pressure on the joint and alleviate hip pain.

Dr. Ryan Shephard received his medical degree from the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2010. For quick updates, follow this Twitter page.

Why hip pain occurs

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Hip pain isn’t an uncommon complaint at all. While the hip joint is durable and can withstand repeated motion and a reasonable amount of wear and tear, it’s not indestructible; the cartilage can eventually wear down or undergo damage. Hip pain can occur as a result, possibly of abnormalities in the hip itself or other joints in the body.

Issues within the hip joint tend to cause pain on the inside of one’s hip or groin. Hip pain on the outside of the hip, as well as the upper thigh or outer buttock, is typically caused by problems with the ligaments, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues surrounding the hip joint. The pain can also be what’s called referred pain, or one emanating from diseases in other bodily areas, such as the lower back.

Hip pain is commonly caused by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, particularly in older adults. Arthritis leads to inflamed hip joint and the breakdown of the cartilage cushioning the hip bones. Hip fractures are another common cause, as aging bones can become weak, brittle, and likely to break during a fall.

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Hip pain can also emerge from a number of injuries, such as bursitis or joint inflammation, dislocation, hip fracture, hip labral tear, sprains and strains, tendinitis, and inguinal hernia. Tendinitis is inflamed or irritated tendons, the thick bands of tissue attaching bones to muscles. It usually results from repetitive stress from overuse.

Other common reasons for hip pain include pinched nerves, cancer, and other problems such as avascular necrosis, osteomyelitis (bone infection), osteoporosis, and synovitis. In the case of cancer, advanced cases may have already spread to the bones, affecting hip joint health. Tumors starting in the bone or spreading to it can also cause pain in the hips.

Dr. Ryan Shephard has a medical degree from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency in Orthopedic Surgery at McLaren Macomb in Mt. Clemens, MI in 2015. For similar reads, visit this page.

A primer on hip replacement surgery

Through a hip replacement surgery, a doctor removes a painful hip joint due to arthritis and replaces it with an artificial joint that is usually constructed out of ceramic, metal, and very tough plastic.  The prosthesis will then help reduce pain and improve a patient’s mobility. 

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A hip replacement surgery is often considered when all other means to reduce pain have failed.  The procedure can be done by a surgeon either traditionally or by utilizing what is referred to as a minimally invasive method.  While both should be effective, the main difference they have is the size of the incision done on the patient.

General anesthesia will be administered to the patient to help the muscles relax.  Per usual, this will prevent the patient from experiencing any pain during the surgery, and leave them with no awareness of the procedure.  Some surgeons would opt for a spinal anesthetic to alleviate pain.

When both surgeon and patient decide to follow the traditional technique, an incision of 8 to 10 inches along the side of the hip will be done.  If following the new, minimally invasive method, the surgeon would make a cut or two, around 2 to 5 inches long.  This approach is said to lessen blood loss, ease pain after surgery, and quicken recovery.

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Regardless of the technique, it is crucial that only a skilled surgical team will be performing the procedure.  There is also the possibility of blood loss during the surgery. Thus, a patient can opt to donate their own blood before the procedure or a family member or a friend with a compatible blood type can make the donation.

In 2015,Dr. Ryan Shephard completed his residency in orthopedic surgery from McLaren Macomb in Mt. Clemens in Michigan. He received his medical degree from the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2010. For more information about Dr. Ryan Shephard, visit this page.