Common Problems of the Hip

Hip pain affects millions of Americans each year. The primary cause of this pain is arthritis in which cartilage around the hip joint has been inflamed or damaged. Other causes of hip pain may involve injuries resulting from sports or falls, or just the wear and tear of use that comes with age. Pain in the hip can radiate down your legs or up your back and become debilitating and immobilizing.

Diagnosing the cause of hip pain and problems usually involves a review of medical history, including your direct relatives; a physical examination by a physician and specialist and diagnostic imaging utilizing X-ray, CT scan, and/or MRI. Diagnosing arthritis usually only requires X-ray to see the amount of damage done to bones as cartilage is lost or damaged. CT scans and MRI images can determine the level of injury to ligaments, tendons, and other parts of the joint.

Treatment for hip pain may include rest, prescribed exercise, physical therapy, massage, medications for pain and inflammation, and injections. Surgery will traditionally include a total joint replacement of the hip. This surgery, which is performed nearly 200,000 times each year in the Unites States, provides pain relief and the ability to return to regular activity for many patients.

Click here to learn more about common problems of the hip from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.