Hip pain is sometimes due to an acute injury resulting in torn tendons and ligaments, dislocation of the joint, or fractures of the bones. These injuries cause immediate and severe pain. The causes of acute hip pain are typically falls, sports injuries, and auto or work accidents.
Many chronic conditions also cause hip pain. Some of the most common include:
Osteoarthritis arises after years of joint wear-and-tear that results in erosion of the protective articular cartilage on your bones. The result is inflammation, chronic pain, and stiffness in your hips that gets worse as you age.
Small sacs of liquid called bursae in the large joints, including your hips, prevent friction and protect your bones. Trochanteric bursitis — also known as greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) — is inflammation in the trochanter bursa on the outer part of your hip.
The labrum is a piece of cartilage in your hip and shoulder joints. It keeps the ball-shaped bone at the top of your thigh (femoral head) securely in the socket (acetabulum) in your pelvis. Acute injuries like dislocations can tear the labrum, but labral tears are often a result of repetitive strain.
To diagnose your hip pain, the Pain Specialists of Oregon team performs a physical exam and assesses how well you can move your hip joints. They also study your medical history and talk about all your symptoms.
Diagnostic imaging tests like X-rays or a CT or MRI scan are often necessary, too. They can confirm or rule out a specific diagnosis and produce detailed pictures of any damage within your hip joint.
The Pain Specialists of Oregon team creates a personalized treatment plan for you that caters to your precise needs. Each person’s program is different, but common interventions include:
Pain Specialists of Oregon also offers minimally invasive radiofrequency ablation for hip pain. This treatment involves heating the nerves sending pain messages to your brain. Radiofrequency ablation stops the transmission of most hip pain signals for as long as a year.
If hip pain is interfering with your life, call Pain Specialists of Oregon to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online today.