Your hip joint is located at the point in which your leg connects to the trunk of your body. This important joint contains your thigh bone, which is referred to as your femur. It also includes your pelvis which consists of three different bones – the ilium, the ischium, and the pubis.  These three bones combine to form the socket, which joins the ball that is located at the top of your thigh bone in forming your hip joint.

This ball and socket joint is held together by ligaments and is responsible for the task of supporting your weight. You also depend upon your hip to tolerate the repetitive movement in the upper portion of your leg that is natural with common day-to-day functions such as walking, traveling upstairs, and squatting.

The structure of this ball and socket joint that comprises your hip is formed to efficiently absorb this consistent movement, and the flexibility that is necessary for this process is made easier by the cartilage that buffers the friction that occurs as the bone moves within the socket.

You also depend upon your hip joint to continue operating reliably when you undertake more demanding movements that take place during exercise, sports, and recreational activities.

Your hip joint can normally tolerate this repeated range of motion along with the understandable degree of wear and tear that can accumulate over time. But even though your hip joint usually functions effectively when you embark upon your regular movements, the ongoing challenge of perpetual mobility can eventually result in pain. 

Common Causes Of Hip Pain

Arthritis – this inflammation of your hip joint can occur due to osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis takes place when the cartilage deteriorates, while rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition that involves the lining in your joint. These conditions become more likely as we age.  

Bursitis – the sacs of liquid that are located within the tendons, bones and muscles are known as bursae. These sacs reduce the friction that takes place when the tendons and muscle make contact with the bones. When the bursae become inflamed, it can cause discomfort.    

Tendonitis – the ongoing demands of making the repetitive motion can eventually result in overuse. This can lead to an inflammation of the tendons. The repeated motion that becomes necessary in many sports activities can accelerate this condition, as can a sudden increase in the intensity of your exercise regimen.

Muscle Strain – this is another unwelcome result of repetitive movement, and involvement in sports or recreational activities is often the culprit. Neglecting to warm-up properly can lead to this inflammation, as can a sudden fall or collision.  

Labral Tear – the ring of cartilage that follows the outside rim of your hip joint socket is referred to as your labrum. This keeps the ball that is located at the top of your thighbone within your hip socket. Once again, repetitive motion that can take place during sporting activities is a frequent cause of this condition. 

Pinched Nerve – if a nerve receives excessive pressure from an adjacent bone, muscle, or tendon, it can become pinched. The impact on your nerve creates pain, and the level of discomfort can sometimes become severe.     

Hip Fracture – unfortunately, if you experience a break that is located in the upper portion of your thigh bone (femur), then you will be contending with a fractured hip. This often takes place due to a fall or a direct blow to that region of the hip.

Hip Dislocation -while this condition is rare in comparison to other health issues that have been listed, it does occur if the head of your thigh bone (femur) is shifted out of the socket in your pelvis. It usually takes a significant event for this to transpire, such as an automobile accident, or a fall from a sizable distance. This results in an emergency situation when it occurs.

Bone Infection – this is a rare issue, but it can develop when an infection travels through the bloodstream into your bone, or if a surgery exposes your bone to infection.

When Should You Visit A Doctor

You should seek immediate medical assistance if you are unable to move your hip or your leg, or cannot place any weight on your leg. This is also the case if are experiencing intense pain, swelling, signs of infection, or if your joint does not appear to have its normal form. In every example that was just mentioned, you should absolutely have someone else drive you to urgent care for assistance.

You should also contact a physician if you have been contending with discomfort and your attempts to improve the situation with rest, heat, ice, and pain medications have not eliminated the pain.

At Orthopedic Associates, We Are Here To Help

If you are experiencing pain in your hip, or if you have any questions or concerns about your hip or any other area of your body, the experienced and knowledgeable staff at Orthopedic Associates is ready to assist you. We are dedicated to making sure that you can return to pain-free participation in the activities and lifestyle that you prefer.  

That is why Orthopedic Associates offers a full spectrum of musculoskeletal care, along with in-house physical sports therapy, and state-of-the-art-technology including our digital imaging and open MRI, and an on-site surgical center for more patient convenience.

Our board-certified doctors have been practicing medicine for a combined total of 183 years of experience. This includes expertise in personalized care and treatment for a vast range of conditions with the hip. These conditions include:

• Anatomy of the Hip Joint
• Avascular Necrosis (AVN) of the Hip
• Bursitis of the Hip (Trochanteric Bursitis)
• Degenerative Joint Disease of the Hip (Osteoarthritis of the Hip)
• Femoral Fractures
• Femoral-Acetabular Impingement (FAI)
• Hamstring Muscle Injuries
• Hip Dislocation
• Hip Fracture/Prevention
• Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS)
• Inflammatory Arthritis of the Hip
• Labral Tears of the Hip
• Loose Bodies in the Hip
• Muscle Strain Injuries of the Hip
• Osteoarthritis of the Hip
• Osteomyelitis
• Pediatric Femoral Fractures
• Perthes Disease
• Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE)
• Snapping Hip Syndrome
• Sports Hernia
• Transient Osteoporosis of the Hip

At Orthopedics Associates we are also extremely experienced in performing various treatments and surgeries for the hip. These include:

• Absorbable Antibiotic Bead Treatment for Osteomyelitis
• Anesthesia
• Arthroscopic Surgery for Femoral-Acetabular Impingement (FAI)
• Bone Cement Injection
• Bone Density Scan (DXA or DEXA)
• Cold Laser Therapy
• Computed Tomography (CT) Scan
• Computer-Assisted Hip Replacement Surgery
• Core Decompression for Avascular Necrosis of the Hip
• Femur Fracture Fixation
• Fluoroscopic Guided Hip Injection
• Hip Arthroscopy
• Hip Fracture Treatment with Surgical Screws
• Hip Hemiarthroplasty (Bipolar/Unipolar)
• Internal Screw Fixation for Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE)
• Large Bearing Metal-On-Metal Mini Total Hip
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Mini Total Hip Replacement
• Osteoporosis Screening
• Periacetabular Osteotomy
• Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection Ove
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan
• Revision Hip Surgery
• Stem Cell Therapy for Avascular Necrosis of the Hip
• Surgical Dislocation and Debridement for FAI
• Total Hip Replacement
• Total/Partial Hip Resurfacing
• Ultrasound-Guided Ilioinguinal Nerve Block

We encourage you to visit one of Orthopedic Associates two locations or request an appointment today to be on your way to feeling better.