Written by: PROFESSOR ALI GHOZ
Published: 27/01/2020 | Updated: 19/05/2023
Edited by: CAMERON GIBSON-WATT
Hip pain is a very common condition but can make everyday life more difficult.
Usually, hip pain has a very simple explanation, other times, it might be more
complicated and requires more comprehensive treatment. Professor Ali
Ghoz has put together this patient-friendly guide which covers the most common
causes and various treatments available for hip pain.
What causes hip pain?
There are several causes of hip pain, but the first thing to determine is if the
pain is coming from the hip joint or outside the hip joint. Pain on the inside of
your hip is usually a result of problems with the hip joint, however, pain on
the outer part of your hip is normally caused by problems with the soft tissues
that surround your hip, not in the joint itself.
The most common causes of hip pain include:
• hip arthritis;
• hip impingement;
• hip flexor strains.
Less common causes of hip pain can be from a hip fracture, an infection in
the bone or joint, or bursitis; an inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs over your
hip joint that prevent muscles rubbing against the bone.
How can I find relief from hip pain at home?
If you believe that your hip pain can be managed at home, here are some tips
and home treatments for you to consider to help alleviate any hip pain and aid
recovery.
Avoid activities that make hip pain worse. If your hip pain was caused by an
injury, the first and most important thing to do is to stop the activity that caused
the injury in the first place and avoid all activities that make the pain worse.
There are certain movements that trigger hip pain, such as lunges and squats.
Rest and take medication for hip pain. Usually a period of rest, between 6-8
weeks, is recommended. The next step is to take medication, locally or orally,
starting with paracetamol or ibuprofen.
Apply ice. If it’s a strain, applying ice to the affected area in the acute (early)
stage helps to reduce pain and swelling and promotes quicker healing.
Keep your weight under control. If you are overweight, you should consider
losing weight to minimise excess pressure on your hips.
Exercise regularly. There are stretching exercises you can do, such as yoga and
Pilates to gradually build strength in your joints. Remember, it’s essential to
stretch before and after any exercise to maintain healthy hips and prevent
injuries.
See a physiotherapist. If there is an injury, a course of physiotherapy focusing
on your core muscles, gluteal muscles and hamstrings will aid recovery.
What kind of treatments can a doctor offer for hip pain?
General hip pain will often get better without the need to visit a doctor.
However, there are times when hip pain doesn’t get better and a trip to the
doctor is necessary.
Typically, a doctor will check your medical history first and then try to establish
the cause of the pain by conducting a clinical assessment. This may or may not be
followed by X-rays or an MRI scan to study the hip joint and surrounding
structures. Following a diagnosis, your doctor will give you the appropriate
treatment or medication. This may include:
• Pain killers or steroid injections – to manage general pain or conditions
such as osteoarthritis your doctor might prescribe some pain killers or
administer steroid injections, so you can get on with your day-to-day
activities without pain. If the hip pain is severe, then you and your doctor
may need to discuss a hip replacement procedure.
• Surgery – the treatment for impingement (if home treatments haven’t
worked) may include hip impingement surgery. Keyhole surgery is
often used to reshape the hip and repair any cartilage damage.
• Anti-inflammatory meds and physiotherapy – in some cases, hip
pain can be felt from a groin sprain. This commonly happens because of
overtraining, turning suddenly or moving your hip awkwardly. The
doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medication and pain killers and
advise you to rest. This may also be followed up by guided
physiotherapy.
It is essential to include enough vitamin D in your diet to maintain strong bones
and muscles. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus from
the food you eat, however, quite often, this is overlooked. So, getting adequate
amounts of this essential vitamin help increase bone density and prevent
bone fractures and diseases like osteoporosis.
When is hip replacement a good option for hip pain?
Hip replacement is a suitable option for you if you are experiencing
severe, chronic hip pain and your mobility has been reduced. Patients who
suffer severe osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis are often more likely to
need a hip replacement at some point in their lives.
A hip replacement is major surgery and carried out under a general
anaesthetic. A surgeon will make an incision in your hip, remove the damaged
hip joint and replace it with an artificial one made of metal (in some cases,
ceramic). The outcome is very good with the success rate being higher than 90
per cent and the risk of serious complications being very low – at around one in
100. Nowadays, artificial hips are known to last longer than 20 years!
Is there a way to avoid having surgery?
The most effective way to reduce the chance of any long-term damage to your
hip joints, and consequently avoid hip surgery later on in life, is to make some
small lifestyle changes. These small changes, such as keeping fit by cycling,
swimming, etc. will keep your muscles and joints healthy and will have a
positive impact on your overall health. There are some sports, such as running
which are good but too much of it can cause injuries, such as impingement.
Making sure that you carry out activ
