While hip pain is a common problem that’s easy to detect, diagnosing the cause is a little bit tricky, as hip pain is a symptom of many very different ailments. Among the more common causes of hip pain is arthritis. Arthritis is commonly responsible for pain in the hips and is marked by stiffness and swelling in the joints. Your doctor can detect and repair inflamed and damaged joints by performing an arthroscopy in extreme cases, you may have to resort to hip replacement surgery. Trochanteric bursitis is another common cause of pain in the hips.

Treatments for all manifestations of bursitis can range from anti-inflammatory drugs to cortisone treatments to physical therapy and bursectomy in extreme cases. Tendonitis affects the tendons around the hip joints. The irritation that accompanies tendonitis often responds favorably to hot and cold treatments accompanied by physical therapy and stretching. However, surgery is sometimes necessary to remove and repair the inflamed tissues.

Osteonecrosis restricts the flow of blood to areas surrounding the bones, which results in cell death and bone collapse. Hip replacement surgery is the most common treatment for this condition, however, new developments are emerging and there is positive evidence that hip resurfacing and bone decompression are superior treatments for osteonecrosis. Bone decompression involves drilling into bones and implanting living bone cells along with an electronic stimulation device that can stimulate new growth. Problems with the lower back often manifest themselves as pain in the hips, buttocks, and thighs.

Herniated discs and sciatica are the most common back problems associated with hip pain. Physical therapy is the most effective treatment for back pain, followed by a wellness program that emphasizes diet and exercise. Anti-inflammatory drugs can help relieve the symptoms of sciatica and herniated disc, but provide only temporary relief. If the damage to the back is too severe to respond to physical therapy, surgery may be a consideration though you should always exhaust non-surgical alternatives before considering this option.

Hip pain in children are less common, but should not be ignored, as it can spiral into chronic pain and arthritis in later life if left untreated. Developmental dysplasia occurs when an infant’s hips are out of joint or dislocated. As a result, the hip joints can develop incorrectly and problems walking and arthritis can ensue. Because the bones are soft and flexible in infancy, dysplasia can be easily amended with the use of a plastic harness or a traction device. If the problem is not detected in infancy, surgery may be required. However, children recover quickly and the earlier such disorders are detected, the better off the child will be. Perthes disease is essentially the childhood equivalent of osteonecrosis. If you notice a child walking with a limp, consult your doctor. Often this condition can be treated with a period of wearing leg braces. Surgery is also an option. The outlook for children under six is extremely favorable, whereas children over six may still experience malformed hip joints and arthritis.

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