Most of us will experience hip pain at some point, and many will require medical care for pain that won’t go away. Pain in your hips generally occurs for treatable reasons, and your doctor can help determine the cause and possible treatments. Here are five things you should know about hip pain and the solution for it…
- The hip is a ball-and-socket joint -- The large bone of the upper leg, the femur, has a ball at the top of it that fits into a socket, the acetabulum, in the pelvis. A smooth and slippery film called cartilage lines both the socket and the ball, allowing the hip joint to move smoothly. The joint is then surrounded by ligaments and tissue that hold the joint together.
- What causes the pain – Bone spurs form around the socket or the ball, keeping the hip from moving freely. Or the cartilage lining the socket can sustain tears, creating pain during movement. Sometimes the tissue around the hip joint becomes inflamed, causing the joint to become irritated.
- Hip replacement isn't always the answer -- Occasionally, hip replacement is necessary; those procedures have become more common and are highly successful. Most hip pain, however, is the result of factors that do not require a hip replacement.
- There are alternatives to hip replacement - In those cases, a range of treatments may help, including physical therapy, injections, or medication. For others, there is a procedure now available called hip arthroscopy. Arthroscopy is a procedure in which a camera (called an "arthroscope") is inserted into the joint through a small incision, providing vision of the joint to the surgeon while instruments are inserted through other small incisions. This allows the surgeon to perform repairs to the joint without fully opening it up as done in traditional surgery.
- Hip arthroscopy means quicker recovery – The smaller incision and reduced disruption to the body during an arthroscopy normally allows for a much quicker recovery from the surgery. Many patients can have hip arthroscopy as an outpatient; some will need to stay overnight in the hospital, depending on their procedure and circumstances. With the aid of physical therapy, most people return to a full and active lifestyle a couple months after hip arthroscopy.
