Hip pain: causes and treatments.

If you feel pain in the hip joint, it is necessary to determine the cause.The treatment of pain depends on the pathology of which it is a symptom.Comprehensive measures and strict compliance with the recommendations will help eliminate the disease and maintain the motor activity of the joint.Poor hip joint function makes active movement impossible.Diminished functionality limits the patient's ability to move independently and work.

Anatomical features

A large joint connects the femur and pelvic bones and provides the ability to move in three directions: flexion and extension, abduction and rotation of the lower limb.Degenerative changes that lead to deformities, limit movement and cause pain.

The hip joint receives blood through the main femoral arteries, located in the area of the joint.Pathologies that can alter vascular capacity cause lack of oxygen and nutrient deficiency.

The large nerve trunks of the sciatic, obturator, and femoral nerves provide innervation.Compression or pinching of the nerve endings causes intense neurological pain in the pelvic area.
 

Causes of hip pain

The development of diseases of various etiologies in the hip joint leads to serious health problems, including disability.The appearance of pain in the hip joint accompanies each pathology at different stages of its development.

The cause of the pain determines its nature and intensity.Acute pain occurs due to injuries, inflammatory and purulent processes, while painful and non-intense sensations are the result of chronic diseases.

Numerous pathologies of unknown origin and congenital defects cause the appearance of symptoms.The syndrome is present initially or may appear as a result of the progression of the pathological condition.

Causing diseases

• Trauma of varying severity is one of the most common causes.Bruises, sprains and fractures cause mechanical damage to bones and ligaments.On the first day after the injury, sharp pain in the hip joint is observed.Subsequently, the pain weakens and becomes muted.Common injuries: pelvic fracture, hip dislocation, femoral neck fracture.All of the above injuries occur after a direct and serious injury from a fall or blow.The situation is complicated if a person has a history of osteoporosis or degenerative changes in the cartilage and bone tissues of the joint.
• Myositis ossificans is characterized by inflammation of the connective tissues of the joint capsule.It appears after an injury or when it is inherited from parents.The progressive course leads to morphological changes in the cartilaginous tissue, which over time degenerates into bone formations.
• A dislocated hip, whether it occurs at birth or develops in utero, causes deformities, limited movement, and pinched nerves.With this pathology, not only somatic, but also neuropathic pain occurs in the hip joint.
• Coxarthrosis is a common pathology in older people who lead a sedentary lifestyle or perform intense physical work.Dystrophic changes in cartilage and subsequent bone deformation cause pain.The first symptoms appear as a result of intense stress.The advanced course is accompanied by a constant dull pain that does not disappear during rest or prolonged sleep.The worsening of the syndrome continues in parallel with progressive changes in the hip joint.
• Arthritis: inflammation of the joint capsule is accompanied by intense stabbing pain.It can appear as an independent disease or as a complication after an injury or infectious disease.
• Reiter's syndrome is a reactive lesion of an allergic nature, which occurs most often after infectious pathologies.There are cases when the condition develops after chlamydia or gonococcus penetrates the joint capsule.The pathology is accompanied by acute pain in the hip joint and swelling of the tissue.
• Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease of the immune system, in which the body's own cells recognize healthy tissue as a foreign organism and attempt to destroy it.This condition leads to the modification of joint tissues against the background of serious inflammatory processes.
• Ankylosing spondylitis is a systemic joint disease of a chronic nature.The localization of the process in the iliosacral region is accompanied by pain in the pelvic area, which progresses mainly at night.The patient's pain intensifies in the morning, stiffness disappears after active movements or exercises.
• Osteochondritis dissecans, also known as Koenig's disease, develops in the cartilage that contacts the thighbone.The cartilage begins to delaminate with further separation of a small area.The condition is often complicated by the addition of synovitis.Patients complain of pain in the hip joint;In the final stages, complete blockage occurs due to the presence of necrotic cartilaginous tissue in the joint cavity.
• Legg-Calvé-Perthess disease is a pathology similar to osteochondropathy, which develops when blood circulation and nutrition in the hip joint are impaired.It is characterized by gradual necrosis of the femoral head, which is accompanied by pain and impaired gait due to acquired shortening of the limb.The disease is considered pediatric, as children of preschool and primary school age are most often affected.
• Bursitis is an inflammation of the synovial bursa followed by its filling with pathogenic fluid.The disease appears in the bursae located near the hip joint and causes pain mainly during exercise or palpation.
• Synovitis is an inflammatory lesion of the synovial membrane that lines the walls of the joint capsule.In the acute period, severe and constant pain appears in the hip joint;during the chronic course, the symptoms soften.
• Symphysitis - changes in the tissues of the pubic symphysis with divergence of the pubic bones.It occurs during pregnancy and childbirth.The pathology is inflammatory in nature and is accompanied by intense pain in the pubic area that extends to the hip joint area.
• Radicular syndrome in the pelvic area is represented by neuropathic pain.The syndrome arises due to the compression of large nerves located in the area of the junction of the femur and pelvic bones by bone growths and deformed tissues.
• The varus foot deformity, clubfoot, can be a congenital defect or an acquired condition.Poorly distributed load on the feet, due to the displacement of the forefoot inward, negatively affects the hip and knee joints.Over time, with improper actions or lack of treatment, the hip joint becomes deformed and causes pain.
• Enthesopathy are degenerative-dystrophic processes in the ligamentous apparatus of the joint.The processes are usually accompanied by inflammation.The painful condition leads to weakening of the ligament and tendon structure with possible tearing of the connective tissue.In addition, ossification of certain areas occurs, which reduces the functionality of the joint.
• Intermittent hydrarthrosis is a chronic joint pathology in which there is increased synthesis of synovial fluid, accompanied by an increase in joint volume and a decrease in motor activity due to pain.
• Synovial chondromatosis is the degeneration of areas of the synovial membrane of the joint into cartilaginous formations.New growths can reach the size of a matchbox.Accompanied by severe pain during movements, decreased amplitude up to complete blockage of the hip joint.
• Juvenile epiphysiolysis is a pathological displacement of the femoral head downwards and backwards.Children become ill during puberty, when malfunction occurs due to an imbalance in the synthesis of sex and growth hormones.Pain in the hip joint appears when trying to move the leg.
• Aseptic necrosis of the femoral head may develop due to acute circulatory deficiency in the hip joint.Against the background of the death of bone tissue, severe pain turns into a burning sensation, which sharply limits the ability to move the affected leg.The attacks last several days and pass before the onset of the next acute phase.
• There are known cases of gout developing in the hip joint.Excessive formation of uric acid with insufficient excretion crystallizes and is deposited in the joint cavity, gradually filling it.During a gout attack, pain occurs that cannot be tolerated.
• Malignant neoplasms in bones or surrounding tissues.

Symptoms

Pain in the hip joint is divided into 3 degrees:

1. mild - accompanies minor injuries and consequences after intense tension in the muscles of the thigh and buttocks;
2. medium – occurs with pathologies of a dystrophic, inflammatory and infectious nature, can be local in nature or radiate to the lower extremity or pubic bone;
3. strong - appears with bone fractures, severe dislocations, accompanied by severe limitation of movement in the joint, and sometimes paralysis.

Pain that progresses at night and disappears during the day appears in pathologies with congestion in the blood vessels.Lack of blood circulation can cause sensations of numbness, tingling and tingling.

Many diseases occur with inflammation of the joint capsule, ligaments or surrounding tissues.

In this case, characteristic symptoms appear:

• swelling appears around the hip joint due to a violation of the outflow of excess fluid, while the skin stretches and becomes shiny;
• change in skin color over the painful area: from moderate red to bluish;
• a local increase in temperature in the joint area is due to a reaction to acute inflammation;
• The severe course causes general intoxication of the body, which is accompanied by headaches, joint pains and fever.

Methods for diagnosing the hip joint

For a detailed examination, a series of studies are carried out, with the help of which a complete picture of the disease that has arisen can be created:

• a laboratory blood test will indicate latent or obvious inflammation, the presence of rheumatoid factor;
• bacteriological examination of synovial fluid to determine the causative agent of inflammation;
• biopsy of suspicious tissue to detect the presence of a malignant factor;
• X-ray examination of the hip joint from different sides will help identify signs of tissue deformation;
• ultrasound examination of the joint;
• Doppler is an ultrasound method to evaluate blood circulation;
• computed tomography.

Treatment of the hip joint.

If the hip joint hurts, therapeutic measures may vary depending on the disease.It all depends on the pathology whose symptom is unpleasant pain.The set of procedures is determined from medications, physiotherapy treatments, therapeutic exercises and alternative medicine methods.Strict compliance with recommendations and compliance with all prescriptions leads to the normalization of the condition.Only a doctor should prescribe medications and drugs.

Drug therapy

1. Anesthetic drugs may be used to temporarily relieve pain.Pain relievers do not treat the cause of hip pain, but they are effective in relieving the symptom for a short period of time.
2. In case of severe pain, if non-narcotic analgesics do not produce any effect, a block is performed.
3. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used as anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic agents.The drug is taken strictly according to the instructions, without exceeding the dosage, so as not to cause side effects in the gastrointestinal tract.
4. For severe inflammation that cannot be treated with non-hormonal drugs, glucocorticosteroids have a positive therapeutic effect.Steroid hormones provide anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antihistamine effects.They can be injected directly into the diseased joint during a puncture.
5. Antibiotics are prescribed for associated purulent infections.Antibacterial agents have a detrimental effect on the pathogen, destroying the cause of the pathology.Along with antibiotics, the patient is prescribed probiotics to normalize the intestinal microflora.
6. Muscle relaxants: effectively relax muscles and eliminate spasms.The medications will reduce the tone to the point of immobilization, relieving pain in the pelvic area.
7. Diuretics eliminate fluid, prevent swelling and negative effects on cardiac activity.
8. Vitamin therapy is indicated to increase immunity and improve general well-being.Biochemical processes that ensure the vital functions of the body develop at an optimal speed.
9. In case of degenerative processes that destroy the joint, chondroprotectors are taken for a long time to stop the degenerative process and recover on its own.The medications contain chondroitin and glucosamine, a deficiency of which creates an imbalance in the joint.The medications are used in tablet form and are also injected into the joint.
10. Sedatives for unbalanced mental states.A nervous system disorder occurs when a person experiences constant, debilitating pain in the hip joint.
11. Angioprotectors to improve blood microcirculation.They improve metabolic processes in the walls of blood vessels, increasing their permeability.

Physiotherapeutic treatment of hip pain.

Modern methods of auxiliary therapy relieve pain in the affected area and help to quickly eliminate pathology.Modern medicine has numerous methods to relieve pain in the hip joint.

Each of the methods is assigned with the purpose of:

• improve blood circulation in the tissues of the hip joint;
• reduce inflammation;
• relieve pain;
• prevent the development of edema;
• improve metabolic processes in cells;
• initiate tissue self-healing processes;
• strengthen the immune system.

Laser therapy allows you to influence the joint, penetrating up to 9 cm.Laser beams directed at the affected area heat the thickness of the tissue down to the bones.The healing effect on nervous processes dulls pain.This method is designed to relieve inflammation;the analgesic effect is additional.

Electrophoresis is the use of galvanic current to penetrate deep into tissue.A low-intensity, low-voltage direct electrical current is prescribed along with anti-inflammatory or analgesic drugs, to be administered through a chemical reaction.

Magnetotherapy ensures the penetration of the magnetic pulse current to a depth of 7 to 12 cm.Treatment is carried out in courses, the effect is achieved at the end of the treatment period and is maintained until the start of the next session.To improve the health of the hip joint, a device that relieves pain and triggers regenerative processes is suitable.

Shockwave therapy involves brief exposure to low-frequency acoustic pulses.It is used to eliminate inflammatory manifestations, providing a kind of high-frequency massage.Improved collagen synthesis begins, improves blood supply and tissue trophism.

orthopedic medical products

The manifestation of pain in the hip joint can be reduced with the help of orthoses and rehabilitation elements.Modern developers of medical products have taken care of the possible difficulties that patients will have to face in advance.

Injuries affecting the femoral neck require complete immobilization for several months.In order not to apply a massive cast to the entire lower limb, there is an orthosis with a rigid degree of fixation - a "rotation boot".It is advisable for the patient to use the product in practice, safe from the point of view of allergenicity (the plaster causes skin irritation and allergies), and for others to take care of the victim's leg.

An anti-decubitus mattress is essential if a person has to stay there for long months.During the rehabilitation period, when taking the first steps after an injury, a walker is used for independent movement for the first time.When greater stability appears, crutches are used and then a cane, which provides support when walking.

Symphysitis causes a lot of suffering due to intense pain in the pubic and pelvic area.To alleviate the painful condition, unload the hip joint, compress it and support it with the help of rigid ribs, an orthopedic corset for the pelvic ring is used.

Choosing the right footwear is of great importance for proper unloading of the hip joint.Preventive shock-absorbing insoles for daily use will alleviate many problems not only of the joint, but also of the spine.

The applicator has proven to be effective in relieving pain and improving blood circulation.Plastic needles, in close contact with the painful area, first cause pain and turn into pleasant heat.During the acute period, the duration of the session is from 5 minutes to 6 times a day, for chronic pain - from 15 minutes to 3 times a day.

therapeutic gymnastics

Physiotherapy classes have a special role.The more movements a joint makes with a measured load, the more synovial fluid is produced, which is necessary for nutrition and tissue function.A medical instructor develops a series of exercises for each patient individually.

The exercises are performed in the remission stage, when there is no pain.The technique for correct execution of movements is explained by a physiotherapist and reproduced under the supervision of a specialist.The movements should not be sudden or wide;The number of repetitions must be exactly as indicated.

Therapeutic exercise improves blood flow, tones the thigh muscles, increases the motor capacity of the pelvic joint, facilitates walking and improves immunity.Each exercise must be coordinated;Incorrect actions cause an attack of pain, increased blood pressure and the appearance of microtraumas that cause inflammation.

A set of exercises to do at home:

• in a lying position, bend your knees at a right angle, pull both legs to the chest at the same time, creating light resistance with your hands;
• Without changing position, raise your bent legs one by one, holding them there for a few seconds;
• lying on your right side, raise your left leg, bent at the knee, repeat the same action with the other leg;
• in a prone position, spread your arms along the body, raise your straight leg by 15 cm, hold it for 5 seconds, perform movements in turns with both legs;
• Sitting in a chair, raise your legs parallel to the floor, repeat the movements with each leg.

Surgical treatment of the hip joint.

When conservative treatment does not produce the desired result, surgery is performed to alleviate the patient's condition.There are several methods of surgical care:

1. Arthroscopic debridement - cleaning the inner walls of the joints from necrotic particles and subsequent washing with a medicinal solution.The manipulation is carried out in an operating room.
2. Periarticular osteotomy: A fracture of the bones of the joint is performed to connect them at a different angle to reduce the load on the diseased joint.
3. The endoprosthesis is the replacement of a diseased joint with an artificial one;The method involves active rehabilitation actions after the operation.

traditional medicine

Affordable and safe recipes from healers with centuries of experience help relieve pain in the hip joint and speed up recovery.Before use, consultation should be done to exclude contraindications.

1. Peel and chop a head of garlic, add finely chopped celery root and a lemon with zest.Mix all the ingredients and add hot water, leaving for a day in a cool place.Take 1 tablespoon for thirty days.
2. Linden and birch tea can be drunk every day to reduce inflammation.Prepare a teaspoon of linden flower and birch buds with hot water.After 30 minutes, the decoction will be ready for use.
3. Prepare a mixture of herbs: St. John's wort, chamomile and immortelle, combine 1 tablespoon of each.Pour the composition into 500 ml of water and boil for 10 minutes.Take the product 50 ml 3 times a day.
4. Finely chop the turnips, add a little honey and 30 ml of vodka.Apply the resulting mixture to the sore joint, securing it with plastic wrap on top.The compress is covered with a warm blanket on top throughout the night.
5. Mix mustard powder with honey and vegetable oil.Gauze, folded in several layers, is dipped in the composition and applied to the joint.Keep the compress on for no more than 60 minutes.
6. Wash the cabbage leaf and grease it with honey, apply it to the hip joint area.Honey has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and cabbage will relieve pain in the affected joint.
7. Crushed celandine leaves are mixed with a small amount of olive oil.The mixture is infused for 7 days, after which the sore area is rubbed.
8. It is necessary to chop and combine the hop cones and St. John's wort, add Vaseline until an ointment-like consistency is obtained.Rub into the sore joint 2 times a day.
9. Mix red pepper, kerosene and vegetable oil and leave for 3 weeks.Use it to rub no more than once a day.

Prevention of hip joint

To avoid the appearance of pain in the hip joint, a few simple recommendations will help:

• the lifestyle should be active with periodic light physical exercises;
• proper nutrition is the basis of health: exclude fatty, salty and smoked foods, alcohol, sausages, chocolate and confectionery products;
• do not overload the joints with strenuous physical activity or heavy work;
• use preventive bandages to unload the pelvic joint;
• wear comfortable shoes that meet orthopedic standards;
• If unpleasant symptoms appear in the hip joint area, see a doctor for examination and prescription of effective treatment.