Hip pain is something we all have experienced, as it is a widespread issue caused due to a variety of problems. The exact location and the kind of the pain in your hip can provide critical insight to investigate the root cause of the discomfort. These issues can be due to age, injury, or physical trauma or may be symptoms of other underlying diseases and disorders.
The hip is responsible for the connection between the upper and lower body. It can withstand a lot of wear and tear, as it has evolved to support the body’s weight. It contains the largest ball and socket joint in the body, allowing for fluid movement with added support and structure. The cartilage between the bones acts as a cushion to reduce the friction between bones. This allows for fluid and frictionless motion. But like any other part of the body, with age, it can start to deteriorate. The cartilage over time become damaged, thus making it less effective at enabling movement. This can lead to further bone and nerve damage, inflammation, and other forms of physical discomfort. Besides general wear and tear, one may also experience pain in the hip due to arthritis. Arthritis leads to inflammation in the joints, and muscle structures constituting the hip region. Patients may experience stiffness in these joints, too, leading to limited motion.
Injury is another common cause of hip pain. If a patient takes a nasty fall or pulls specific muscles in the hip area, it can cause many discomforts. As the hip is a critical part of physical movement, it becomes hard for it to support the body, making movement painful and labored. Besides injury, inflammation in the muscles, tendons, and bursae can also lead to pain in the hips. Pain in the hip could also be a sign of cancer formation; check your body for lumps in the hip region, and consult a doctor to get a full medical check-up to better understand the situation.
Hip pain can directly impact a lot of other parts of the body. While making movement difficult, hip pain can also cause pain in the thighs, groin area, buttons, and back. To find an effective treatment, you need to understand your condition. If your problem is moderate and doesn’t last too long, it’s probably not something you need to worry about. But if the pain is severe and is prolonged, please consult a doctor. Diseases such as arthritis and tendinitis can lead to a lot of pain, but effective treatment exists to minimize the pain and suffering a patient experiences. A doctor may prescribe pain killers, anti-inflammatory medication, and other medicines that protect and cure diseases. Applying ice packs to the pain area can also help reduce the discomfort one experiences.