Hip Pain

Are you suffering from hip pain?

Are you suffering from hip pain?

Your Osteopath maybe able to help. The hip has very similar mechanics to the shoulder, but scarifies mobility for stability and so it is important to establish why pain is being experienced.

The first thing your Osteopath is going to do is ask you specific questions about the type of your pain, location and known (if possible) cause.  With this information they will be able to establish what tissues are involved in the injury. They can then assess the area with palpation, (touching) and movements.
  Your pain maybe felt in the hip, but may not even be originating from this area; therefore a detailed examination is imperative to arrive at the correct diagnosis so that appropriate treatment can be directed at the underlying problem.

Potential reasons for your suffering:

Arthritis

Arthritis is among the most frequent causes of hip pain, and there are many treatments available. If conservative treatments fail, hip replacement surgery is an option but this will be discussed in depth with your practitioner.

Trochanteric Bursitis

Are you suffering from pain in the outer aspect of your upper thigh?  Has it been there for sometime?  Trochanteric bursitis is an extremely common problem that causes inflammation of the bursa over the outside of the hip joint.  Your bursa is completely normal and nothing to worry about, however when they become inflamed they can be extremely uncomfortable and restricting.

Tendonitis

Tendonitis can occur in any of the tendons that surround the hip joint. The most frequently encountered tendonitis around the hip is iliotibial band (IT band) tendonitis.  This will commonly produce a pain down the side of the thigh

Osteonecrosis

Osteonecrosis is a condition that occurs when blood flow to an area of bone is restricted. If an inadequate amount of blood flow reaches the bone, the cells will die and the bone may collapse. One of the most common places for osteonecrosis to occur is in the hip joint.  Your Osteopath will not treat this condition but is trained to ask specific questions and undertake a detailed examination in order to uncover the possibility of whether it is the potential cause of your suffering and therefore refer you for the appropriate investigations.

Lumbar Pain – Referred Symptoms

Many back and spine problems can cause symptoms around the buttocks and hip. The most common problems that refer pain to the hip region are herniated discs and sciatica, both conditions seen on a daily basis here at True Alignment.

Snapping Hip Syndrome

Snapping hip syndrome is a word used to describe three distinct hip problems. The first is when the IT band snaps over the outside of the thigh. The second occurs when the deep hip flexor snaps over the front of the hip joint. Finally, tears of the cartilage, or labrum, around the hip socket can cause a snapping sensation.

Muscle Strains

Strains of the muscles around the hip and pelvis can cause pain and spasm. The most common strains are groin pulls and hamstring strains.

Hip Fracture

Hip fractures are most common in elderly patients with osteoporosis. Treatment of broken hips requires surgery to either replace the broken portion or repair it with a metal plate and screws.

Stress Fracture

Stress fractures of the hip are most common in athletes who participate in high-impact sports, such as long distance runners. Treatment usually is successful by avoiding the impact activities.

Childhood Hip Problems:

Developmental Dysplasia

When the hips are dislocated or out of position in infancy, the joint may not develop properly. While this is not usually painful as a child, it will lead to early arthritis and problems with walking.

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease

Also called Perthes disease, this is a problem similar to osteonecrosis (see above) but in childhood. If severe, it can lead to permanent damage to this hip joint and early arthritis.

If your Osteopath feels you are not a candidate for Osteopathy you will be directed to the relevant health care professional.

Your Osteopath is not just trained in the diagnosis and treatment of back pain, he or she under went a 4-5 year medically based degree covering every joint in the body and is equally happy and competent to treat a wide variety of injuries. If you are unsure just give us a call today and we can discuss any concerns you may have with pleasure.