Hip pain: causes and treatments

If you feel pain in your hip joint, you need to determine the cause.The treatment of pain depends on the pathology of which it is a symptom.Comprehensive measures and strict adherence to recommendations will help eliminate the disease and maintain motor activity of the joint.Impaired functioning of the hip joint makes active movement impossible.Reduced functionality limits the patient's ability to move independently and work.

Anatomical features

A large joint connects the femur and the pelvic bones and allows movement in three directions: flexion and extension, abduction and rotation of the lower limb.Degenerative changes lead to deformities, limit movement and cause pain.

The hip joint is supplied with blood by the main femoral arteries, located in the joint area.Pathologies that can disrupt vascular capacity lead to lack of oxygen and nutrient deficiency.

The large nerve trunks of the sciatic, obturator and femoral nerves provide innervation.Compression or pinching of nerve endings leads to intense neurological pain in the pelvic region.
 

Causes of hip pain

The development of diseases of various etiologies in the hip joint region leads to serious health problems and even disability.The appearance of pain in the hip joint accompanies each pathology at different stages of its development.

The cause of the pain determines its nature and intensity.Acute pain occurs due to injuries, inflammatory and purulent processes, while painful and non-intense sensations arise from chronic diseases.

Many pathologies of unknown origin and congenital malformations lead to the appearance of symptoms.The syndrome is present initially or may appear following progression of the pathological condition.

Cause illness

• Trauma of varying severity is one of the most common causes.Bruises, sprains and fractures cause mechanical damage to bones and ligaments.On the first day after the injury, sharp pain is observed in the hip joint.Subsequently, the pain weakens and becomes dull.Common injuries: pelvic fracture, hip dislocation, femoral neck fracture.All of the above injuries occur after a direct, serious injury caused by a fall or blow.The situation becomes more complicated if a person has a history of osteoporosis or degenerative changes in the cartilage and bone tissue of the joint.
• Myositis ossificans is characterized by inflammation of the connective tissues of the joint capsule.Appears after injury or when inherited from parents.The progressive course leads to morphological changes in the cartilaginous tissue, which over time degenerate into bone formations.
• A hip dislocation, whether it occurs at birth or develops in the womb, results in deformities, limited movement, and pinched nerves.With this pathology, not only somatic, but also neuropathic pain occurs in the hip joint.
• Coxarthrosis is a common pathology among older people who lead a sedentary lifestyle or perform heavy physical work.Dystrophic changes in cartilage and resulting bone deformation cause pain.The first symptoms appear following intense stress.The advanced course is accompanied by constant dull pain that does not disappear with rest or prolonged sleep.The worsening of the syndrome continues alongside progressive changes in the hip joint.
• Arthritis - inflammation of the joint capsule is accompanied by severe throbbing pain.It can appear as an independent disease or as a complication after an injury or infectious disease.
• Reiter's syndrome is a reactive lesion of an allergic nature, most often occurring after infectious pathologies.There are cases when the disease develops after the penetration of chlamydia or gonococcus into the joint capsule.The pathology is accompanied by acute pain in the hip joint and swelling of the tissues.
• Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease of the immune system in which the body's cells recognize healthy tissue as a foreign organism and attempt to destroy it.This condition leads to a change in joint tissues against the background of severe inflammatory processes.
• Ankylosing spondylitis is a systemic joint disease of a chronic nature.The localization of the process in the iliosacral region is accompanied by pain in the pelvic region, developing mainly at night.The patient's pain intensifies in the morning, stiffness disappears after active movements or exercise.
• Osteochondritis dissecans, also known as Koenig's disease, develops in the cartilage that comes into contact with the femur.The cartilage begins to peel away with further separation of a small area.The condition is often complicated by the addition of synovitis.Patients complain of pain in the hip joint;in the final stages, complete blockage occurs due to the presence of necrotic cartilaginous tissue in the joint cavity.
• Legg-Calvé-Perthess disease is a pathology similar to osteochondropathy, which develops when blood circulation and nutrition in the hip joint are impaired.It is characterized by progressive necrosis of the femoral head, which is accompanied by pain and walking disorders due to acquired shortening of the limb.The disease is considered pediatric, since children of preschool and primary school age are more often affected.
• Bursitis is an inflammation of the synovial bursa followed by its filling with pathogenic fluid.The disease appears in the bursae located near the hip joint, causing pain mainly during exercise or palpation.
• Synovitis is an inflammatory lesion of the synovial membrane lining the walls of the joint capsule.In the acute period, intense and constant pain appears in the hip joint;during the chronic course, the symptoms subside.
• Symphysitis - changes in the tissues of the pubic symphysis with divergence of the pubic bones.Occurs during pregnancy and childbirth.The pathology is of an inflammatory nature, accompanied by severe pain in the pubic region, spreading to the hip joint area.
• Pelvic radicular syndrome is represented by neuropathic pain.The syndrome is caused by compression of large nerves located in the area where the femur and pelvic bones join by bony growths and deformed tissues.
• Varus foot deformity, clubfoot, can be a congenital anomaly or an acquired disease.A poorly distributed load on the feet, due to the inward displacement of the forefoot, negatively affects the hip and knee joints.Over time, due to inappropriate actions or lack of treatment, the hip joint becomes deformed, causing pain.
• Enthesopathy is a degenerative-dystrophic process in the ligamentous apparatus of the joint.The processes are often accompanied by inflammation.The painful condition leads to a weakening of the structure of ligaments and tendons with possible rupture of connective tissue.Additionally, there is ossification of certain areas, which reduces the functionality of the joint.
• Intermittent hydroarthrosis is a chronic joint pathology in which increased synthesis of synovial fluid is observed, accompanied by an increase in joint volume and a decrease in motor activity due to pain.
• Synovial chondromatosis is the degeneration of areas of the synovial membrane of the joint into cartilaginous formations.New shoots can reach the size of a matchbox.Accompanied by severe pain during movements, a decrease in amplitude until the hip joint is completely blocked.
• Juvenile epiphysiolysis is a pathological displacement of the femoral head downward and backward.Boys get sick during puberty, when dysfunction occurs due to an imbalance in the synthesis of sex hormones and growth hormones.Pain in the hip joint appears when you try to move your leg.
• Aseptic necrosis of the femoral head may develop due to acute circulatory deficit of the hip joint.Against the background of death of bone tissue, severe pain turns into a burning sensation, which sharply limits the ability to move the affected leg.The attacks last several days and disappear before the start of the next acute phase.
• There are known cases of gout developing in the hip joint.Excessive formation of uric acid with insufficient excretion crystallizes and is deposited in the joint cavity, gradually filling it.During a gout attack, pain appears that cannot be tolerated.
• Malignant tumors of the bones or surrounding tissues.

Symptoms

Pain in the hip joint is divided into 3 degrees:

1. mild – accompanies minor injuries and consequences after severe stress on the muscles of the thigh and buttocks;
2. medium – occurs with pathologies of a dystrophic, inflammatory and infectious nature, can be local in nature or radiate to the lower limb or pubic bone;
3. strong - appears with bone fractures, severe dislocations, accompanied by severe limitation of joint movements and sometimes paralysis.

Pain that progresses at night and disappears during the day appears in pathologies with congestion of the blood vessels.A lack of blood circulation can cause numbness, tingling, and crawling sensations.

Many diseases occur with inflammation of the joint capsule, ligaments or surrounding tissues.

In this case, characteristic symptoms appear:

• swelling around the hip joint appears due to a violation of the outflow of excess fluid, while the skin stretches and becomes shiny;
• change in skin color at the sore spot: from moderate red to bluish;
• a local increase in temperature in the joint area is due to a reaction to acute inflammation;
• a severe course causes general intoxication of the body, which is accompanied by headache, joint pain and fever.

Methods for diagnosing the hip joint

For a detailed examination, a number of studies are carried out, with the help of which it is possible to create a comprehensive picture of the appeared disease:

• a laboratory blood test will indicate latent or obvious inflammation, the presence of rheumatoid factor;
• bacteriological examination of synovial fluid to determine the causative agent of inflammation;
• biopsy of tissue suspicious for the presence of a malignant factor;
• X-ray examination of the hip joint from different sides will help identify signs of tissue deformation;
• ultrasound examination of the joint;
• Doppler is an ultrasound method for assessing blood circulation;
• CT scan.

Hip joint treatment

If the hip joint hurts, therapeutic measures may vary depending on the disease.It all depends on the pathology, the symptom of which is unpleasant pain.The set of procedures is determined from medications, physiotherapeutic treatments, therapeutic exercises and alternative medicine methods.Strict adherence to the recommendations and compliance with all prescriptions lead to the normalization of the condition.Only a doctor should prescribe medicines and medicines.

Drug therapy

1. Anesthetic medications may be used to temporarily relieve pain.Pain relievers do not treat the cause of hip pain, but they are effective in relieving the symptom for a short time.
2. In case of severe pain, if there is no effect of non-narcotic analgesics, a blockade is carried out.
3. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used as anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic agents.The medicine is taken strictly according to the instructions, without exceeding the dose, so as not to cause side effects from the gastrointestinal tract.
4. In cases of severe inflammation that cannot be treated with non-hormonal drugs, glucocorticosteroids have a positive therapeutic effect.Steroid hormones provide anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antihistamine effects.They can be injected directly into the diseased joint during a puncture.
5. Antibiotics are prescribed for associated purulent infections.Antibacterial agents have a detrimental effect on the pathogen, destroying the cause of the pathology.In addition to antibiotics, the patient is prescribed probiotics to normalize the intestinal microflora.
6. Muscle relaxers - effectively relax muscles, eliminating spasms.Medications will reduce tone to immobilization, thereby relieving pain in the pelvic region.
7. Diuretics remove fluid, prevent swelling and negative effects on heart activity.
8. Vitamin therapy is indicated to strengthen immunity and improve general well-being.The biochemical processes that ensure the body's vital functions take place at optimal speed.
9. In case of degenerative processes destroying the joint, chondroprotectors are taken for a long time to stop the degenerative process and recover independently.The medications contain chondroitin and glucosamine, the deficiency of which creates an imbalance in the joint.The drugs are used in the form of tablets and are also injected into the joint.
10. Sedatives for unbalanced mental states.A nervous system disorder occurs when a person experiences constant, debilitating pain in the hip joint.
11. Angioprotectants to improve blood microcirculation.They improve metabolic processes in the walls of blood vessels, thereby increasing their permeability.

Physiotherapeutic treatment of hip pain

Modern methods of auxiliary therapy relieve pain in the affected area and help to quickly eliminate the pathology.Modern medicine has many methods for relieving pain in the hip joint.

Each of the methods is assigned with the aim of:

• improve blood circulation in the tissues of the hip joint;
• reduce inflammation;
• relieve pain;
• prevent the development of edema;
• improve metabolic processes in cells;
• start tissue self-healing processes;
• strengthen the immune system.

Laser therapy allows you to influence the joint, penetrating up to 9 cm.Laser beams aimed at the affected area heat the thickness of the tissue down to the bones.The healing effect on nervous processes alleviates pain.This method is designed to relieve inflammation;the analgesic effect is additional.

Electrophoresis involves using galvanic current to penetrate deep into tissue.A direct electric current of low intensity and low voltage is prescribed in combination with anti-inflammatory or analgesic drugs, for their administration by chemical reaction.

Magnetotherapy ensures the penetration of magnetic pulse current to a depth of 7-12 cm.The treatment is carried out ongoing, the effect is achieved at the end of the treatment period and is maintained until the start of the next session.To improve the health of the hip joint, a device that relieves pain and triggers regeneration processes is suitable.

Shockwave therapy involves short-term exposure to low-frequency acoustic pulses.It is used to eliminate inflammatory manifestations, providing a kind of high-frequency massage.Enhanced collagen synthesis begins, blood supply and tissue trophism improve.

Orthopedic medical products

Reducing the manifestation of pain in the hip joint can be achieved with the help of orthotics and rehabilitation items.Modern developers of medical products have taken care in advance of possible difficulties that patients will have to face.

Femoral neck injuries require complete immobilization for several months.In order not to apply a massive cast to the entire lower limb, there is an orthosis with a degree of rigid fixation - a “derotation boot”.It is convenient for the patient to use the product in practice, safe from the point of view of allergenicity (the plaster causes skin irritation and allergies) and for others to care for the victim's leg.

An anti-decubitus mattress is essential if a person has to lie on it for many months.During the rehabilitation period, when the first steps are taken after an injury, a walker is first used for independent movement.When greater stability appears, crutches are used, then a cane, which provides support when walking.

Symphysitis causes a lot of suffering due to severe pain in the pubic and pelvic region.To relieve the painful condition, unload the hip joint, compress and support with the help of rigid ribs, an orthopedic corset for the pelvic ring is used.

Choosing the right shoes is of great importance for correct unloading of the hip joint.Preventive shock-absorbing insoles for everyday wear will relieve many problems not only in the joints, but also in the spine.

The applicator has been shown to be effective in relieving pain and improving blood circulation.Plastic needles, in close contact with the painful area, first cause pain, which turns into pleasant warmth.During the acute period, the duration of sessions is 5 minutes up to 6 times a day, for chronic pain – 15 minutes up to 3 times a day.

Therapeutic gymnastics

Exercise therapy classes play a special role.The more movements a joint performs with a measured load, the more synovial fluid it produces, necessary for tissue nutrition and functioning.A set of exercises is developed by a medical instructor for each patient individually.

Exercises are performed in the remission phase, when there is no pain.The technique for correctly executing the movements is explained by a physiotherapist and reproduced under the supervision of a specialist.Movements should not be abrupt or radical;the number of repetitions should be exactly as indicated.

Therapeutic exercise improves blood circulation, tones the thigh muscles, increases the motor ability of the pelvic joint, makes walking easier and improves immunity.Each exercise must be coordinated;incorrect actions cause an attack of pain, an increase in blood pressure and the appearance of microtrauma leading to inflammation.

A series of exercises to do at home:

• in a lying position, bend your knees at a right angle, pull both legs to your chest at the same time, creating slight resistance with your hands;
• Without changing position, raise your bent legs one by one, holding them for a few seconds;
• lying on your right side, raise your left leg, bent at the knee, repeat the same action with the other leg;
• in a position on the stomach, extend the arms along the body, raise the straight leg by 15 cm, holding for 5 seconds, perform movements in turn with both legs;
• sitting on a chair, raise your legs parallel to the floor, repeat the movements with each leg.

Surgical treatment of the hip joint

When conservative treatment does not bring the desired result, surgical intervention is performed to alleviate the patient's condition.There are several methods of surgical care:

1. Arthroscopic debridement - cleaning the inner walls of the joints from necrotic particles, followed by washing with a medicinal solution.The manipulation is carried out in the operating room.
2. Periarticular osteotomy - a fracture of the bones of the joint is performed to connect at a different angle to reduce the load on the diseased joint.
3. Endoprostheses consist of replacing a diseased joint with an artificial joint;the method involves active rehabilitation actions after the operation.

Traditional medicine

Affordable and safe recipes developed by healers with centuries of experience help relieve pain in the hip joint and speed up recovery.Before use, you should consult to exclude contraindications.

1. Peel and chop a head of garlic, add the finely chopped celeriac and a lemon with the zest.Mix all the ingredients and add hot water, leaving for a day in a cool place.Take 1 spoon for thirty days.
2. Linden and birch bud tea can be drunk every day to reduce inflammation.A teaspoon of linden flowers and birch buds are brewed with hot water.After 30 minutes, the decoction is ready for use.
3. Prepare the herbal mixture: St. John's wort, chamomile and immortelle, mix 1 tablespoon each.Pour the composition into 500 ml of water and boil for 10 minutes.Take the product 50 ml 3 times a day.
4. Finely chop the turnips, add a little honey and 30 ml of vodka.Apply the resulting mixture to the sore joint, securing it with plastic wrap on top.The compress is covered with a warm blanket throughout the night.
5. Mix mustard powder with honey and vegetable oil.Gauze, folded in several layers, is dipped in the composition and applied to the joint.Keep the compress for a maximum of 60 minutes.
6. Wash the cabbage leaf and grease it with honey, apply it to the hip joint area.Honey has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and cabbage will relieve pain in the affected joint.
7. Crushed celandine leaves are mixed with a small amount of olive oil.The mixture is infused for 7 days, after which it is used to rub the painful area.
8. It is necessary to chop and combine hop cones and St. John's wort, add petroleum jelly until you get an ointment-like consistency.Rub the painful joint 2 times a day.
9. Mix red pepper, kerosene and vegetable oil and leave for 3 weeks.Use for scrubbing no more than once a day.

Hip joint prevention

To prevent the appearance of pain in the hip joint, simple recommendations will help:

• the lifestyle should be active with periodic light physical exercise;
• good nutrition is the basis of health: exclude fatty, salty and smoked foods, alcohol, sausages, chocolate, confectionery;
• do not overload the joints with tiring physical activity or heavy work;
• use preventive bandages to unload the pelvic joint;
• wear comfortable shoes that meet orthopedic standards;
• If unpleasant symptoms appear in the hip joint, consult a doctor for examination and prescribe effective treatment.