If your whole career revolves around athletics, the proper functioning of the hip becomes a determinant of whether you will run or not. The hip joint is an integral part of the body because it allows us to run, walk, jump and even kick a ball. Besides, the hip joint supports the body weight and leg muscles. However, if the hip joint is affected by an injury or a fracture, normal functioning becomes impossible because of the resulting pain. Therefore immediate treatment of the hip pain is essential to reduce the downtime.
Who qualifies for Hip Pain Treatment?
Hip pain treatment involves conservative approaches and surgery. The mode of treatment depends on the intensity of the pain and the resulting hip injury. You should consider hip pain treatment if you have:
- Osteoarthritis results in worn-out cartilage. Pain results because the bones rub together, causing friction and inflammation around the hip joint.
- Fractures commonly occur in the femur bone.
- Trochanteric Bursitis results after the bursae swell, causing pain on the outer part of the hip. If you suffer from this condition, you cannot lie on the affected side.
- Hip tendonitis occurs when the tendon attaching muscles to the hip bone wears out, resulting in inflammation.
- Referred pain occurs, for instance, when pain resulting from the sacroiliac joint dysfunction or the spinal code becomes referred to the hip.
Conservative Treatments
If, after evaluation, the orthopedic surgeon discovers that the hip pain does not require surgery, they will recommend one intervention or a combination of interventions. The different interventions include:
- Rest and activity modification
- Physical therapy
- Anti-inflammatory drugs
- Steroid injections
- Regenerative medicine injections
- Platelet-rich plasma injections
Surgery
If you have pursued the conservative approaches to address your hip pain without success, you should consult your doctor on the possibility of having surgery. Also, if the scans and X-rays show that you have a hip fracture, you should consult an orthopedic surgeon on the possibility of undergoing surgery. If you have a fracture, the surgeon will realign the ends of the broken bones then use metal pins, rods, screws, or plates to secure them in place.
Hip Replacement
In a progressive condition where the hip becomes damaged by arthritis or fracture cannot be repaired, the surgeon can recommend a total or partial hip replacement. You can also qualify for hip replacement:
- When pain denies you the ability to perform daily routines
- When the pain continues even during resting
- When the hip becomes stiff
- If the conservative approaches do not seem to reduce the pain.
After establishing that you are fit to undergo the procedure, the surgeon uses the different imaging results to choose a suitable prosthetic for you. During the process, you will be under general euthanasia. The surgeon then replaces the worn-out or damaged part of the hip with a prosthetic made of metal, ceramic, or plastic. Although you will not be able to walk immediately, the pain will no longer be there after recovery.
Hip pain affects the quality of life and can lead to career loss. Pavel Muradov, MD, is an experienced orthopedic surgeon with extensive experience in hip pain treatment and replacement. If you have hip pain that limits your daily activities, contact Integrity Orthopaedics and discuss the treatment options available. You can call their Katy Office and schedule an appointment.
