Why there is pain in the hip joint?

The appearance of pain in the hip joint should definitely alert, because this is the largest bone connection without which the walking process is impossible.

It maintains balance, redistributes the mass of the body between the spine and lower limbs. When the function of TBS is violated, the quality of life of the patient immediately decreases, its motor activity decreases.

So what are the reasons for such unpleasant discomfort in the hip joint, and how to treat it at home? Let's try to understand.

Causes

Pain in the hip joint may appear for various reasons: due to damage to the joint itself, both to the right and to the left, as well as bones, cartilage or ligaments located next to it. Often with a painful symptom, there is numbness and restriction of movement throughout the thigh.

Diseases of the hip joint can appear at any age, but most often disturb the elderly. When pain occurs, it is advisable to consult a physician-therapist, he will prescribe an initial examination and recommends which doctor to go to.

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The most common causespain in the hip joint are:

dislocations;
fractures;
infectious inflammation, or arthritis;
degenerative changes, or osteoarthritis (coxarthrosis);
aseptic necrosis of the head of the femur;
inflammation of the periarticular bag (bursitis);
noninfectious inflammation in autoimmune diseases of connective tissue;
period of pregnancy.

The prevalence of the pain syndrome of this localization increases with age. If among young people under the age of 18, pain in the hip joint is found in 8-10%, then for middle-aged people this figure is 20-30%. At the age of 50-59 years, 40% already suffer from this, and from 50 to 60% among older people. Women are more likely to suffer from a painful syndrome of this localization than men.

Depending on the age

Typical for different age groups of pathological conditions,
causing pain in the hip joint:

Adults and seniors. Osteoarthritis (coxarthrosis), injuries and deformities of the joint, squeezing the acetabulum.
Children and teens. Perthes disease, transient sinoitis, acquired varus deformation, tuberculosis lesions, injuries and deformities of the joint.
Newborns and infants under 1 year old. Congenital dislocation of the hip, consequences of generic epiphysis, acute purulent osteoarthritis, congenital varus deformities.

Bursitis

The main signs of bursitis are:

with the development of the disease the appearance of low back pain;
increased discomfort when walking with a foot;
increased pain after prolonged sitting, back pain;
acute and burning pain, especially lying on his side at night, spreading all over the surface of the thigh.

If an infection occurs, purulent bursitis may appear, which is characterized by acute pain in the region of the hip joint. For this type of bursitis, a characteristic symptom is the impossibility of full extension of the leg. When pressed, a seal is felt that can spread over the large surface of the thigh. Perhaps, the appearance of pain in the lower back.

Osteoarthritis (coxarthrosis)

Coxarthrosis is based on degenerative (destruction) and dystrophic (eating disorders) processes in the hip joint. As a result, the joint ceases to perform its functions - the leg movements are disturbed. It can be an independent disease or develop with secondary damage to the joint (swelling in the bone). In the elderly, coxarthrosis develops again after a fracture of the neck of the thigh.

Depending on the severity of those changes that occurred in the joint, there are 3 stages of coxarthrosis.

At stage 3, pain in the hip joint worries patients even at rest, at night. Noticeable lameness, which forces the use of a cane, is noticeable.
In the 2 stages of coxarthrosis, the pain begins to be transmitted to the groin, the inner and the front of the thigh, often dropping to the knee. They arise after the usual daily load, but do not disturb at rest.
Stage I is characterized by pain in the hip joint, which occur during excessive loads: walking on the stairs with a load in hands, walking for more than 2-3 kilometers, running. Painful sensations abate after a short rest.

The choice of methods for treating arthrosis of the hip joint depends on the severity of the changes that occurred in the joint. 1 and 2, the degree of illness can be treated, as a rule, conservatively. Anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors, drugs that improve blood circulation in the joint, physiotherapy, curative gymnastics are prescribed. The last stage is treated only with the help of operations.

Fracture of the neck of the hip

A very common injury, especially in older people with weak bones. This condition is characterized by severe pain, the inability to perform any movements in the joint.

In this case, hospitalization is necessary for proper treatment, since fracture of the femoral neck is often complicated by the infectious process, for example, bacterial arthritis, etc. The adhesion of the inflammation significantly worsens the healing of the fracture and promotes the wrong fusion of the bones.

Dislocation of the hip joint

Most often is a consequence of traffic accidents, and also occurs when falls and various work injuries.

Clinical manifestations of dislocation: unbearable acute pain, almost absolute difficulty of movement of the lower limbs, with damage to the nerve endings, the sensitivity of the foot and ankle joint is lost. When bilateral dislocation of the joint symptoms are expressed in the form of intermittent claudication, or the so-called "duck gait."

It is worth highlighting such a thing as congenital dislocation of the hip, diagnosed in newborns. This ailment is a consequence of the underdevelopment of the acetabulum, due to which the head of the femur falls out beyond its limits, thus forming a dislocation.

Subluxation

This is an incomplete loss of contact between the head of the femur and the acetabulum. The person does not feel a sharp pain, motor activity is limited slightly, but there are always unpleasant sensations.

Rheumatism

Systemic disease of connective tissue, accompanied by damage to the joints and valvular apparatus of the heart. It develops more often in girls and young women after a history of streptococcal angina.

Approximately two weeks after the disease, severe pain occurs in the large joints, which gradually decrease and disappear. Rheumatism does not cause permanent damage to the joints, its main danger is the development of acquired heart defects.

Arthritis

Arthritis is especially common in the elderly. The older the person, the more processes can occur inside his joints. There are unpleasant sensations in the legs and groin area, the rub can be felt in the front of the thigh and even reach the knee. Symptoms are worse when walking and resting on the leg. It becomes difficult to get up from the sitting position, this causes a sharp pain in the hip joint.

Most of the time, malaise intensifies in the morning, but with physical activity there is a decrease. But with excessive loads, there is an increase in unpleasant sensations and there is stiffness in the movements. Treatment depends on the diagnosis, usually prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, exercise therapy and hormonal drugs.

Infections

Infectious arthritis can cause influenza viruses, staphylococcus, streptococcus and others... In such cases, the disease develops rapidly. A fever begins, in the area of the affected joint there is a swelling. Acute pain in the hip joint is observed when moving and even touching the affected area.

Several other symptoms are observed with tuberculous arthritis, which affects most often TBS. In this case, the disease makes itself felt gradually. First, a person starts to worry about a slight soreness when walking, giving in the leg - the middle part of the thigh or knee. As the disease develops, the thigh is limited in movement in all directions, the affected area swells.

Tendonitis

Inflammation of tendons, or tendonitis, usually affects people who are prone to regular strong physical exertion. Most often these are athletes. It is worth noting that this disease sometimes occurs unnoticed, especially if the patient reduces the load on the hip joint. And, conversely, with too active movements and heavy loads, the pains become very strong.

Treatment of tendonitis is carried out with anti-inflammatory drugs - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed.

Which doctor heals?

The help of these doctors may be required if there is pain in the hip joint:

Rheumatologist;
Traumatologist or orthopedist;
Physiotherapist;
Neurologist.

The specialist will conduct a survey and examination of the patient, will appoint a comprehensive examination.

Diagnostics

Laboratory and instrumental methods of research:

Radiography and ultrasound. They are the gold standard for almost all diseases of the hip joint.
General blood analysis. It will give an opportunity to assess the general condition of the body.
Biochemical blood test and specific markers of rheumatological diseases.
Urine examination. Determine the color of urine, the amount, transparency and density. In addition, protein, glucose and bilirubin are important indicators.
Morphological study of biopsy specimens. Used to study the structure of the material taken, especially often with suspicions of cancer of the skeleton.
CT scan. Allows in several projections to visualize the joint, bone tissue, to determine its density.
Magnetic resonance imaging. Visualizes thin layers of body tissue in any plane.
Osteoscintigraphy. When osteotropic radiopharmaceuticals are introduced, the state of blood flow in bone tissue and the intensity of metabolic processes are visualized.

Pay attention to the decrease in mobility in the joint. Recollect, whether disease was accompanied by a temperature, a headache, a local hyperemia, puffiness and other local displays. Do not be afraid to pay attention to the possible causes of the disease. Describe in detail everything that bothers you.

How to treat pain in the hip joint?

What to do if you have painful symptoms in the hip joint? After all, the pelvis is an important link in the musculoskeletal system. And if there are serious pains, you should immediately contact a specialist. It will help to diagnose and identify the cause of the problem. The faster the diagnosis is made, the more effective the treatment will be.

If you suspect that a slight pain is associated with a mild trauma or an overload of the joint, the following measures can be taken:

Avoid stresses on the aching joint, keep him calm;
take acetaminophen (paracetamol) or ibuprofen (or some other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug);
during sleep it is desirable to lie on a healthy side.

Medicationconsists of a comprehensive intake of drugs of different directions:

Hondoprotectors, mineral and vitamin complexes.
Miorelaxants, which reduce the spasms that appear with pain.
NSAIDs: (Diclofenac, Idometacin, etc.) and steroid (Cortizan, Prednisolone). Steroid drugs are prescribed only for severe symptoms.
Means for improving microcirculation. They relieve swelling and hypoxic manifestations in the affected area.
Diuretics for reducing swelling in the inflamed area.

Huge importance in the treatment of hip joint diseases is played by physiotherapeutic measures. Conduct them after removing acute inflammation and severe pain. Well-proven electrophoresis, with which you can create a high concentration of drugs directly in the affected area.

Progressive method is considered laser therapy, which produces analgesic, resolving and anti-inflammatory action. Also successfully used magnetotherapy, diodinamoterapiya and drug phonophoresis.