Hip pain: causes and treatment

7 December 2021

If you feel pain in the hip joint, you need to determine the cause. Pain treatment depends on it being a symptomatic pathology. Complicated measures and strict adherence to recommendations will help get rid of the disease and maintain joint movement. Disruption of the hip joint prevents active movement. The decline in function limits the patient's independent movement and performance.

Anatomical features

The large joint connects the femur and the pelvis, allowing movement in three directions: flexion and extension, contraction and rotation of the lower limbs. The degenerative changes that cause the deformity restrict movement and cause pain.

The hip joint is supplied with blood from the femoral aorta located in the joint area. Pathologies that can destroy blood vessel capacity can cause hypoxia and nutritional deficiencies.

The large nerve trunk of the sciatic nerve, obturator nerve and femoral nerve provides innervation. Severe nerve pain in the pelvic area can compress or squeeze the nerve endings.

Causes of hip pain

The development of diseases of various etiologies in the hip joint area can lead to serious health problems, including disability. The appearance of hip joint pain is accompanied by each pathology at different stages of development.

The cause of pain determines its nature and intensity. Acute soreness is accompanied by trauma, inflammation, and purulent processes, and the feeling of not strong pain can lead to chronic diseases.

Many pathologies of unexplained and congenital defects lead to the appearance of symptoms. The syndrome exists initially, or may appear as the pathological condition progresses.

Induced disease

Traumas of varying severity are one of the most common causes. Bruises, sprains, and fractures can cause mechanical damage to bones and ligaments. On the first day after the injury, there was severe pain in the hip joint. Later, the soreness diminished, showing a low personality. Frequent injuries: pelvic fractures, hip dislocations, hip fractures. All of these injuries occur after the direct serious injury caused by a fall or impact. If a person has a history of osteoporosis or degenerative changes in articular cartilage and bone tissue, the situation is complicated.
Myositis ossificans is characterized by inflammation of the connective tissue of the joint capsule. Appeared after trauma or inherited from parents. The gradual process leads to morphological changes in cartilage tissue, which degenerate into bone formation from time to time.
Dislocation of the hip joint, whether acquired at birth or developed in the uterus, can cause deformities, restricted movement, and nerve compression. Under this pathological condition, not only physical pain but also neuropathic pain may occur in the hip joint.
Hip joint disease is a common condition of elderly people who live a sedentary lifestyle or are engaged in heavy physical work. Dystrophic changes in cartilage and subsequent bone deformation can cause pain. The first symptoms are due to strenuous exercise. Continuous dull pain is accompanied by running, which will not disappear when resting or sleeping for a long time. With the gradual changes in the hip joint, the strengthening of the syndrome continues.
Arthritis-inflammation of the joint capsule with severe throbbing pain. Independent illnesses and complications after injuries or infectious diseases will appear.
Reiter's syndrome is a reactive allergic disease, most commonly after an infectious disease. In some cases, Chlamydia or Neisseria gonorrhoeae invades the joint capsule. The pathology is accompanied by acute pain and tissue edema of the hip joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease of the immune system. Its own cells recognize healthy tissue as a foreign organism and try to destroy it. This situation leads to changes in joint tissues in the context of severe inflammatory processes.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic systemic joint disease. The positioning of this process in the iliac-sacral region is accompanied by pain in the pelvic region, mainly at night. The patient's pain aggravated in the morning, and the restraint state disappeared after activity or physical exercise.
Osteochondritis dissecans is another name for Koenig’s disease, which occurs in the cartilage that comes in contact with the femur. As the small area separates further, the cartilage begins to fall off. This situation is often complicated by an increase in synovitis. The patient complained of pain in the hip joint; in the final stage, due to the presence of necrotic cartilage tissue in the joint cavity, a complete blockage occurred.
Legg-Calvet-Perthess disease is a pathological type of osteochondrosis, which occurs when the blood circulation and nutrition of the hip joint are impaired. It is characterized by gradual necrosis of the femoral head, accompanied by pain, and impaired gait due to acquired shortening of the limbs. This disease is considered a pediatric disease because children of preschool and elementary age are more likely to get sick.
Bursitis is the inflammation of the bursa, which is then filled with pathogenic fluid. The disease appears in the bursae located near the hip joint and causes pain when tired or palpated.
Synovitis is an inflammatory lesion of the synovial membrane lining the wall of the joint capsule. In the acute phase, the hip joint continues to have severe pain, and in the chronic course, the symptoms will be relieved.
Syndrome pubis-changes in the symphysis pubis tissue and differences in the pubic bone. Occurs during labor and delivery. The pathology is inflammatory in nature, accompanied by severe pain in the pubic area, into the hip joint area.
Pelvic root syndrome is neuropathic pain. The occurrence of this syndrome is due to the skeletal growth and compression of deformed tissues of the large nerve located at the junction of the femur and the pelvis.
Varus foot deformity, clubfoot, may be a congenital defect or acquired disease. Due to the inward displacement of the forefoot, the load on the foot is not properly distributed, which will negatively affect the hip and knee joints. Over time, if the movement is improper or untreated, the hip joint can deform and cause pain.
Entheseal disease-a process of degenerative dystrophy in the organs of the joints and ligaments. These processes are usually accompanied by inflammation. The painful condition leads to weakened ligament and tendon structures, and connective tissue may rupture. In addition, ossification of certain areas is observed, which reduces the function of the joints.
Intermittent hydroarthritis is a chronic joint disease in which the synthesis of synovial fluid is increased, accompanied by an increase in joint volume and a decrease in exercise activity in the context of pain.
Synovial chondromatosis is the degeneration of the synovial area of the joint into a cartilage structure. The tumor can reach the size of a matchbox. It is accompanied by severe pain during exercise, and the amplitude decreases until the hip joint is completely blocked.
Juvenile epiphyseal lysis is a pathological displacement of the femoral head downward and backward. The boy fell ill during puberty and failed because of the imbalance in the synthesis of sex hormones and growth hormone. Hip pain occurs when trying to move the leg.
Aseptic necrosis of the femoral head can develop due to acute circulatory insufficiency of the hip joint. In the context of bone death, the severe pain becomes a burning sensation, which greatly limits the ability to move the affected leg. The attack lasts for several days and disappears before the start of the next acute phase.
There are known cases of hip gout. Excessive production of uric acid, insufficient excretion, crystals precipitate in the joint cavity, gradually filling. During a gout attack, there will be unbearable pain.
Malignant tumors in the bones or surrounding tissues.

symptom

Hip pain is divided into 3 degrees:

Mild-minor injuries and consequences are accompanied by strong loads on the thigh and buttocks muscles;
Moderate-there is malnutrition, inflammation and infectious pathology, which may have local characteristics or be given to the lower limbs or pubic bone;
Strength-Fractures, severe dislocations, and obvious limitation of joint movement, sometimes paralysis.

Pain that progresses at night and passes during the day appears in the pathology of vascular congestion. A defect in the circulatory system can cause numbness, tingling, and "running peristalsis. "

Many diseases occur in inflammation of joint capsules, ligaments or surrounding tissues.

In this case, pay attention to the appearance of characteristic symptoms:

Swelling around the hip joint is due to the invasion of excess fluid outflow, while the skin is stretched and shiny;
Changes in the skin color of the painful area: from medium red to blue;
The local temperature increase in the joint area is due to the reaction to acute inflammation;
The severe course of the disease can lead to systemic poisoning, accompanied by headache, joint pain and fever.

Methods of diagnosing the hip joint

In order to carry out a detailed examination, many studies have been carried out. With the help of these studies, a complete picture of the disease that has appeared can be drawn:

Laboratory blood tests will show potential or obvious inflammation, the presence of rheumatoid factor;
Bacteriological examination of synovial fluid to determine the pathogen of inflammation;
Biopsy of suspicious tissues to determine whether there are malignant factors;
X-ray examination of the hip joint from different sides will help identify signs of tissue deformation;
Joint ultrasound examination;
Doppler-an ultrasound examination method to assess blood circulation;
CT scan.

Hip treatment

If the hip is painful, treatment may vary from disease to disease. It all depends on the pathology, the symptoms of which are unpleasant soreness. The complexity of the procedure depends on drugs, physical therapy, therapeutic gymnastics, and alternative medicine methods. Strictly following the recommendations and executing all appointments resulted in the normalization of the condition. Only a doctor can prescribe prescriptions and medicines.

medical treatement

Anesthetics can be used to temporarily relieve pain. Analgesics cannot treat the cause of hip pain, but they can be effective in treating symptoms in a short period of time.
For severe pain syndromes, if non-narcotic analgesics are not effective, they will be blocked.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used as anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic drugs. Strictly follow the instructions and do not exceed the dose to avoid gastrointestinal side effects.
For severe inflammation that cannot be treated with non-hormonal drugs, glucocorticoids have a positive therapeutic effect. Steroid hormones have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antihistamine effects. They can be injected directly into the diseased joint during the puncture process.
Antibiotics are used for related purulent infections. Antibacterial agents have an adverse effect on pathogens and destroy pathological causes. While using antibiotics, prescribe probiotics to normalize the intestinal flora.
Muscle relaxants-effectively relax muscles and eliminate spasms. The medication will lower the pitch to a fixed point and relieve pelvic pain.
Diuretics remove fluids and prevent swelling and negative effects on the heart.
Vitamin therapy is used to boost immunity and improve overall health. Ensure that the biochemical processes of important physical activities are carried out at the optimal speed.
For the degenerative process that destroys the joints, long-term use of chondroprotective agents to prevent the malnutrition process and self-recovery. The preparation contains chondroitin and glucosamine, lacking them can cause joint imbalance. The funds are used in the form of pills, which are also injected into the joints.
A sedative for mental imbalance. When a person experiences persistent, debilitating pain in the hip joint, neurological disease occurs.
A vasoprotective agent that improves blood microcirculation. They improve the metabolic process of the blood vessel wall and increase its permeability.

Physiotherapy for hip pain

Modern adjuvant treatment methods can relieve pain in the affected area and help quickly get rid of pathology. With the help of modern medicine, there are many ways to eliminate hip pain.

Each method is assigned to:

Improve blood circulation in hip joint tissue;
Reduce inflammation;
relief the pain;
Prevent the development of edema;
Improve the metabolic process of cells;
Start the organization's self-healing process;
Strengthen the immune system.

Laser therapy allows you to work on the joints with a penetration depth of 9 cm. The laser beam directed at the affected area heats the thickness of the tissue to the bone. The healing effect on neural processes can relieve pain. This method is designed to relieve inflammation, and the analgesic effect is additional.

Electrophoresis is the use of electric current to penetrate deep into the tissue. Low-intensity and low-voltage constant currents are prescribed together with anti-inflammatory or analgesics and are introduced through chemical reactions.

Magnetic therapy penetrates magnetic pulse currents to a depth of 7 to 12 cm. The treatment is carried out in separate courses, and the effect is achieved at the end of the treatment period and lasts until the beginning of the next treatment. To improve the health of the hip joint, a device that relieves pain and triggers the regeneration process can be used.

Shockwave therapy involves short-term exposure to low-frequency sound pulses. It is used to eliminate inflammation and provide a high-frequency massage. Enhanced collagen synthesis begins, blood supply and tissue nutrition are improved.

Orthopedic medical equipment

With the help of orthotics and rehabilitation products, the performance of hip joint pain can be reduced. Modern medical device developers have already considered the difficulties that patients may face in advance.

For injuries that affect the femoral neck, several months of complete fixation are required. In order not to apply a large amount of plaster to the entire lower limbs, there is a rigid fixed orthosis-"unrotating boots". It is convenient for patients to use the product in practice, it is safe from the point of view of sensitization (plaster causes skin irritation and allergies), and it is safe for others to take care of the victim's feet.

If a person has to lie down for several months, an anti-decubitus mattress is essential. During the recovery period, when they took the first step after the injury, they first used a walker for independent exercise. When more stability appears, use crutches, and then use the cane to provide support while walking.

Due to severe pain in the pubic and pelvic area, syndactyly can cause a lot of pain. The orthopedic corset of the pelvic ring is used to relieve pain, reduce the load on the hip joint, and compress and support with stiff ribs.

Choosing the right shoes is essential for proper hip relaxation. Preventive cushioning insoles worn daily can not only relieve joint problems, but also relieve spine problems.

The applicator is great for relieving pain and improving blood circulation. When the plastic needle is in close contact with the affected area, it will first cause pain and then turn into pleasant warmth. In the acute phase, the duration of treatment is 5 minutes, up to 6 times a day, and for chronic pain-15 minutes, up to 3 times a day.

physiotherapy

Exercise therapy courses have a special role. The more joints move under a certain load, the more synovial fluid is produced, which is necessary for tissue nutrition and performance. The medical instructor prepares a set of exercises for each patient individually.

Exercise during periods of relief without pain. The physiotherapist explains the technique to perform the exercise correctly and replicates it under the supervision of an expert. The action should not be sharp and sweeping, and the number of repetitions should be strictly in accordance with the instructions.

Physical therapy exercises can improve blood flow, strengthen thigh muscles, increase the exercise capacity of pelvic joints, promote walking, and improve immunity. Each exercise must be coordinated, and incorrect movements can cause pain attacks, increased blood pressure, and the appearance of microtraumas leading to inflammation.

A set of exercises to be done at home:

In the prone position, bend your knees at a right angle, pull your legs toward your chest at the same time, and produce slight resistance with your hands;
Without changing the position, alternately pull up the bent legs and hold for a few seconds;
Lie on your right side, raise your left leg, bend your knees, and repeat with the other leg;
In the prone position, extend your arms along your body, raise the straight leg 15 cm, hold it for 5 seconds, and alternate your legs;
Sit on a chair, raise your legs parallel to the floor, and repeat each leg.

Surgical treatment of the hip joint

When conservative treatment fails to bring the desired results, surgery will be performed to alleviate the patient's condition. There are several methods of surgical care:

Arthroscopic debridement-remove necrotic particles from the inner wall of the joint, and then rinse with liquid medicine. The operation is performed in the operating room.
Periarticular osteotomy-Fractures of joint bones to connect at different angles to reduce the load on the diseased joint.
An endoprosthesis is the replacement of a diseased joint with an artificial joint; this method implies active rehabilitation after the operation.

National Science

Affordable and safe recipes provided by therapists with hundreds of years of experience can help relieve hip pain and accelerate recovery. Consult before use to rule out contraindications.

Peel and chop a head of garlic, add the chopped celery root and a lemon with the skin. Mix all the ingredients and pour in hot water and leave it in a cool place for one day. Take 1 scoop for 30 days.
Linden and birch bud tea can be consumed daily to reduce inflammation. Brew a teaspoon of linden flowers and birch buds with hot water. After 30 minutes, the broth is ready to use.
Prepare herbal tea: Mix 1 tablespoon each of St. John's wort, chamomile and helichrysum. Pour the composition into 500 ml of water and boil for 10 minutes. The medicine should be taken 3 times a day, 50 ml each time.
Chop the radish, add a little honey and 30 ml of vodka. Apply the resulting mixture to the painful joints and fix them with plastic wrap. Throughout the night, the top of the compress was covered with a warm blanket.
Mix the mustard powder with honey and vegetable oil. Fold the gauze into several layers, dip into the composition and apply to the joints. The compression is maintained for no more than 60 minutes.
Wash the cabbage leaves, grease them with honey, and apply to the hip joints. Honey has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and cabbage numbs the affected joints.
The crushed celandine leaves are mixed with a small amount of olive oil. The mixture is injected for 7 days and then used to rub the painful area.
It is necessary to grind and mix hop cones and St. John's Wort, and add petroleum jelly to a greasy consistency. Rub the painful joint twice a day.
Mix the red pepper, kerosene, and vegetable oil and let stand for 3 weeks. Used for rubbing, no more than once a day.

Prevent hip joints

In order to avoid hip pain, simple suggestions will help:

Lifestyle should be active and simple physical exercise should be carried out regularly;
Proper nutrition is the basis of health: eliminate fat, salty and smoked foods, alcohol, sausages, chocolates, candies;
Do not use tedious physical exertion to overload the joints and do hard work;
Use preventive bandages to relieve pelvic joints;
Wear comfortable shoes that meet orthopedic standards;
If there are symptoms of discomfort in the hip joint area, please consult a doctor for an examination and make an appointment for effective treatment.