Hip Pain
What is Hip Pain?
Hip pain can be a debilitating problem. It can affect you during your activities of daily living, at work, during sport or even during your sleep
A problem with your hip can present with pain in the front of your hip, your groin, the side of your hip, into the gluteal region, down your thighs or even into your lower back.
There are many causes of hip pain. Most do not require surgery but it is important to get an accurate assessment to find out what your problem is. This way not only can you have a diagnosis but also access to multiple non surgical treatments which may help you.
In some cases surgery may be offered to you but you will be given all the information that you need to help you make an informed decision about what is best for you.
I work with a wide variety of expert health professionals to help you get back to your best hip health. These include; sports and exercise medicine consultants, rheumatologists, radiologists, physiotherapists, osteopaths, and strength & conditioning coaches.
Hip Arthritis
Arthritis of the hip joint is a condition that commonly presents with hip pain, mobility problems and joint stiffness.
It can affect people of all ages. There are different type of arthritis. Some types often present in younger patients whereas others present as people age.
If you have arthritis, it is important to know what type you have as some forms of arthritis (Inflammatory types) in the early stages can be treated successfully with medical therapy (without surgery) by specialist medial doctors (Rheumatologists).
One of the most common symptoms of hip arthritis is joint stiffness.
In the early stages this may be that you notice a reduction in the range of movement in your hips when undertaking stretching exercises or performing activities such as yoga.
In more severe cases the stiffness may stop you from bending down to pick things up off the floor or mean that you struggle to put on socks and shoes.
Some people find that their hips are more stiff first thing in the morning and ease slightly as the day goes on.
A lot of people with hip arthritis struggle with mobility issues. You may not be able to walk as far as you used to, or maybe you need to use walking aids such as a stick or a frame. Going up and down stairs can also be challenging.
For more active people you may notice that sports that you enjoy may be harder to play, or you may not be able to hike as far as you are used to. Often after strenuous activity your hip may be more sore the next day.
Pain is a common feature of hip arthritis. There are many different patterns of how hip pain can present. Common sites for hip arthritis pain is in the groin, around the front of the hip and into the gluteal area (at the back of the hip). The pain can start as a mild ache and range through to a severe pain that really limits your life.
How I Can Help
There are many ways to treat for hip arthritis, including non surgical and surgical treatments. But it is important to get an accurate assessment and diagnosis so you can best plain what is the right course of action for you with your specialist.