HIP PAIN
What Are Common Effects of Hip Pain?
As we age hip pain becomes one of the more common complaints. Your hips can only withstand so much pressure and force that we put onto them each and every day. Depending on the location of the hip pain will often determine the root cause of the injury. Often lower back pain will cause a referral of symptoms into the hip and buttock area while damage to the hip joint itself or muscles surrounding the hip will most likely cause pain within the joint or groin area. In todays on the go society, hip pain can become a significant burden on your daily life, making it difficult to stand, walk, run, sit in a car or office or even bend down to pick up your children.
Sciatica
The Sciatic nerve is the largest and longest running nerve throughout the human body. It extends from the lower back, through the buttocks and into the thighs. Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve. Typically, sciatica affects only one side of your body. Sciatica can be caused at the origin of the nerve by decreased disc space in the lumbar spine, spondylolisthesis, muscle spasm in the back or buttocks (Piriformis Syndrome) or even during pregnancy due to extra pressure being placed on the spinal column and surrounding muscles and nerves.
Hip Total Joint Replacement
Total hip replacement (THR) surgery is typically done to help relieve pain and restore function to a hip that is otherwise damaged or worn and often arthritic. It is one of the most common joint replacement surgeries throughout the world. Similar to other joint replacements the purpose is to help remove the damaged worn bone around the head of the femur and the hip socket, replacing it with a smooth artificial joint that glides and moves freely. Over the years this procedure has been perfected so much that there is little to no downtime and you are expected to begin walking with an assistive device immediately following the surgery. Within a few short months you are expected to have regained full joint movement with little to no pain.
Bursitis/Tendonitis
The term “itis” means inflammation. Your hip joint has both a bursae sac between the bone to help with shock absorption as well as tendons which attach your muscles to your bone to help with joint movement. Any type of overuse or irritation to the bursae or tendon will cause inflammation to the area. Bursitis/Tendonitis are both rather painful causing significant discomfort with any joint movement. Treatment typically consists of rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy to help relieve strain on the affected area.
