Hip Pain

What is hip pain?

Hip pain is discomfort in one or both of the joints connecting your legs to your torso. Often, hip stiffness or immobility accompany hip pain, and you may find it hard to stand, walk, or change positions between sitting and standing. Sometimes, hip pain migrates, or there is referred pain into the groin or thigh. 

What causes hip pain?

Hip pain is the result of a number of different conditions and injuries. In many cases, hip pain comes from degenerative conditions that get worse with time. However, hip pain can also come from an acute injury affecting a part of the joint. Some of the most common causes of hip pain are:

• Tendinitis
• Arthritis
• Bursitis
• Hip fractures, often from osteoporosis
• Hip labrum tear
• Joint infection

If the pain starts mild and seems manageable, you might be able to find relief by resting the joint and avoiding repeated bending. You can also use over-the-counter pain relievers, ice, or a warm bath to find some relief. If your attempts don’t provide any relief, the team at Los Angeles Orthopaedic Center can make an assessment. 

How is hip pain diagnosed?

When you come to Los Angeles Orthopaedic Center reporting hip pain, the team starts your evaluation by reviewing your medical history. They ask about any recent trauma and if you have a previous diagnosis of arthritis, which points to a likely cause. They also ask for details about the pain and any other symptoms that arrived with it or shortly after. 

Next, the team performs a physical examination. That lets them observe the movement of your hip, assess its ability to bear weight, and examine your posture. They may also use imaging tests to view the structures within the joint and look for specific areas of damage.

The team at Los Angeles Orthopaedic Center often uses a test called the flexion, abduction, and external rotation (FABER) test to diagnose hip issues. During the test, you lay flat on your back as your provider maneuvers your hip and leg to see if the hip pain flares up during specific movements. 

How is hip pain treated?

Treating hip pain starts with non-surgical techniques put together in an individualized care plan. The team at Los Angeles Orthopaedic Center builds your treatment plan with consideration to the type of damage or condition at the root of the pain. It may involve:

• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Physical therapy 
• Activity modification
• Steroid injections

Hip surgery can treat hip pain when other treatments do not result in any significant relief. 

Hip arthroscopy, a minimally invasive option using small incisions and a lighted camera on a tube, can treat a hip labrum tear, while a partial or total hip replacement can replace parts of the joint that osteoarthritis affects. Robotic-assisted hip replacement surgery may be an option depending on your case.

To learn more about hip pain and the options available to treat it, call Los Angeles Orthopaedic Center, or request an appointment online today.