Introduction: The hip is one of the most rigid structures in the body. The hip joint looks like a ball-and-socket joint or a synovial joint that is formed between the hip bone and the femur. Though it is a complex joint, it is one of the most flexible joints in the body as it allows a greater range of motion.

It allows us to perform important movements in our body – such as walking, running, and jumping, and so on. It bears the whole weight of our upper body and the force from other strong muscles and thigh bones.

Hip Disorders in Adults

Hip disorders affect your hip joint. Hip bones, cartilage, muscles, ligaments, and tendons from the hip joint – which is ball and socket-like. Hip disorders may affect any of these parts. The ball and socket allow your thigh to move in various directions. The hip joint fits inside a capsule that contains lubricating fluid for smooth movement. Cartilage is a tough and flexible substance that lines the ends of joint bones. The ligaments guard the ball of the joint preventing it from slipping away from the socket.

By any means, if the parts get damaged, you may lose the function of the hip joint. Some severe conditions may even require a hip replacement.

Lower back and hip pain on one side – Sciatic nerve runs from the lower back to the back of each leg. Any injury or pressure on the sciatic nerve can cause lower back pain that radiates to the buttocks, hip, and back of the leg.

Pain in right hip area female

Hip bursitis (greater trochanteric bursitis), external snapping hip and nerve pain from the back, hip to the leg (sciatica pain) can cause pain in the right hip in females.

Sudden sharp pain in the hip comes and goes: This type of pain is often associated with hip Osteoarthritis. The pain manifests in the hip, groin, and thigh and may radiate to other areas of the body. Pain becomes worse with activity.

 Hip Pain Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of the hip disorders vary based on the cause and the part of the hip joint affected. The common symptoms observed in a person with the hip disorder include:

• Hip joint pain (near the groin area)
• Limping
• Referred pain that extends the thighs and knee
• Lack of movement in the hip joint
• Reduced range of motion
• Muscle stiffness
• Leg pain when you apply weight

Hip pain when walking: People with arthritis problems experience chronic pain in the hip even while walking.

Hip Fracture Pain

Severe pain, inability to move the leg may indicate a fracture. If left untreated, the fracture can lead to severe complications. If you fall or met with an accident involving your hip, seek medical attention immediately.

Hip Pain symptoms pregnancy: The enlarged uterus puts excess pressure on the sciatic nerve causing pain, numbness, and tingling sensation in the thighs, hips, and buttocks. This is known as Sciatica- It is normal during pregnancy.

Hip Pain symptoms of early pregnancy: Early pregnancy pain in the hip may not related to pregnancy, but may be due to another condition. The obstetrician refers the case to orthopaedician to detect the exact cause. However, hip pain during the second or third trimester may be due to sciatica.

Hip Pain Causes

Causes of Hip Problems: The hip joint is a rigid structure, but it is vulnerable to certain conditions that might cause various hip problems, such as:

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): It is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the joints (synovial joints). The inflammation of the joints might

result in swelling, pain, and joint stiffness. It can affect any joint in the body. In some cases, rheumatoid arthritis occurs in other smaller joints, and may even advance to the hip joint in the body.

Osteoarthritis

Degeneration of cartilage in the hip joint leads to Osteoarthritis. The condition makes the cartilage brittle and splits it into pieces. Some pieces may move away and float within the joint in the synovial fluid. This may lead to joint inflammation. Eventually, the cartilage breaks down substantially and fails to cushion the hip bones. Osteoarthritis commonly affects hip joints, spine, shoulder joints, fingers, knee joints, ankles, feet, and toes.

Ankylosing Spondylitis

This is a form of inflammatory arthritis whose effects on the hip are rare. Pain in the hip joint and stiffness in the morning is the most common symptom of this condition. The exact cause or a significant factor contributing to this condition is yet to be known, but experts believe that genes play an essential role.

Nearly one-third of people with ankylosing spondylitis have their hip and shoulders affected. Usually, hip involvement is a gradual process. The pain may often be felt near the groin area and sometimes in the knees or in the front of the thigh.

Ankylosing spondylitis can also be an underlying cause of other disorders like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and psoriasis.

Soft Tissue Pain and Referred Pain

Soft tissue pain might be due to an injury, and some other underlying condition that can affect the soft tissues outside the hip that result in pain called referred pain in the hip.

Hip Bursitis

The condition mostly develops in people who have been already suffering from joint pain. It could be due to other inflammatory conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and excess weight. Being overweight puts excess strain on your hip joint, with an increased risk of hip bursitis.

Bone Fracture

As we age, our bones lose their density as part of aging, so older people are more prone to hip fractures. In some people, osteoporosis – a disease due to excessive loss of bone tissue is the cause. In this condition, bones become brittle and prone to fractures and other deformities. Women are more likely to experience osteoporosis than men.

Developmental Dysplasia

Developmental dysplasia of the hip is a congenital defect; it means the hip joint of a newborn baby gets dislocated or likely to dislocate. The socket that holds the ball (femoral head) is abnormal and allows it to slip out of the joint easily.

The possible causes of developmental dysplasia include:

• Feet first during delivery
• Family history, i.e., hereditary
• Disorders such as spina bifida etc.

However, 95% of babies born with developmental dysplasia can be treated successfully.

Perthes Disease

It is a type of disease that affects the hip joint. It mostly affects children between the ages of 3 and 11 years. In this disease, the femur head (the ball) becomes soft and gets damaged, due to poor blood supply to the bone cells. However, most of the children with Perthes’ disease recover with proper treatment, but it may take 2 to 5 years to regenerate the femoral head. The exact cause of this condition is unknown.

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis

In this condition, the ball of the hip joint is slipped from the thigh bone near the upper growth plate of the bone. This is observed only in teenagers, i.e., in growing children. Surgical treatment is a common and effective way to treat this condition.

Irritable Hip Syndrome

It is also called toxic synovitis, a temporary form of arthritis. It mostly affects prepubescent children for unknown reasons. The signs and symptoms of this condition are pain on one side of the hip, limping, knee pain, and fever. In most cases, the condition resolves on its own within one or two weeks. If it doesn’t, then you should consult an orthopedic doctor immediately. Boys are more prone to irritable hip syndrome than girls.

Hip pain causes back pain

Pinched nerves, muscle strain, arthritis, herniated disc, Sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and hip injuries can cause back pain. The hip joint is closely located near the spine – and therefore, any injury to the hip resembles or causes back pain. In most instances, back pain is often mistaken for pain in the hip. The other symptoms associated with hip and back pain include stiffness, trouble sleeping, pain while moving or walking, and groin pain on the affected side.

What causes hip pain that radiates down the leg?

 The nerve pain from the hip to the leg (Hip Pain causes leg pain): The pain from the hip radiates from the hip to the back of the hip, buttocks – front, back or side of the legs. The pain radiating from the nerves is caused due to sciatica – compression or injury to the sacral or lumbar nerve roots. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction or piriformis syndrome may also cause sciatica-like pain. In other words,  pain in the hip causes Sciatica

Hip pain causes knee pain: Irritable hip syndrome causes pain in the hip on one side, limping, knee pain, and fever.

What can cause hip pain in a woman?

 Hip arthritis, osteoarthritis, muscle strain, rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, and sciatica cause pain in the hip in a woman.

Hip Pain during pregnancy: Sciatica causes pain in the hip region during the advanced stages of pregnancy due to enlargement of the uterus and excess weight. The pain radiates down the leg.

Hip Pain when sitting

Hip Osteoarthritis related pain is worse in the morning and gets aggravated by physical activity, resting, sitting for long hours. The person having this condition can hear grinding, sticking, and locking sounds during hip movements.

 Hip Pain Treatment

Several treatment options are available for various hip problems. The treatment may depend on the type of hip disorder and the underlying cause:

Hip Pain treatment without surgery

Treatment is available for all forms of arthritis. Some types of arthritis can be treated with certain types of exercise, making patients aware of the condition and self-management programs. For mild forms of Osteoarthritis, simple pain-relieving medications like NSAIDs are often effective.

The treatment options for irritable hip syndrome include taking bed rest, pain medications and NSAIDs medications, etc.

Soft tissue pain can be managed with some exercise programs, anti-inflammatory creams, and simple pain medications.

Hip Pain Treatment Surgery

In the case of severe osteoarthritis, hip replacement surgery might be the best option.

Rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis conditions require more complex treatment like anti-inflammatory medicines and disease-modifying (DMD) drugs. In some cases, surgical intervention is required to treat the condition. Fracture treatment mostly requires surgery.

Hip Pain Treatment for Children

Babies with developmental dysplasia of the hip are supported with a special cast, or Pavlik harness for some weeks to hold the joint tightly in one place during the skeleton growth of the baby.

The treatment options for Perthes disease include bed rest, pain medication, a brace or splint, and surgery in case of severe conditions to treat deformities.

The slipped capital femoral epiphysis can be repositioned surgically and screw firmly in its position.

Bottom Line

Many people resort to hip pain home remedies to get relief from persistent and nagging hip pain. This type of approach is not good unless one doesn’t know what exactly is causing their hip pain. Dr. Vasudeva recommends people not to follow any unproven methods, hip pain exercises or pain-relieving exercises or take any medications for hip pain. For any sort of hip pain, hip disorders, and hip issues, one must consult a qualified orthopedic doctor.

Accurate diagnosis and proper treatment by an experienced and expert Hip Pain specialist orthopedic doctor or a Hip replacement surgeon can help manage hip problems of any severity and magnitude.

If you have any concerns or if you are suffering from hip problems like hip pain or movement problems consult Dr. Vasudeva Juvvadi, Hip replacement surgeon in Hyderabad.