Chronic acute or aching pain in the hip joint (HJ) often indicates the development of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, which are important to be diagnosed and treated in time. In the initial stages of development of the pathology, it will be possible to relieve pain in the joints in a conservative way, using special tablets and ointments. When the disease starts, the joint becomes immobile and worries about a constant pain syndrome, surgical intervention is indispensable.
Possible causes and symptoms
Severe pain in the hip joint can be caused by various degenerative-dystrophic pathologies, under the influence of which the joints are destroyed, worn out and cease to function fully. Periodic soreness is often worried about diseases of the spine, due to which there is tension in the muscles and pinching of nerve fibers. Symptoms of pain in the pelvic bones appear due to injuries, bruises, fractures of the head or neck of the femur. To accurately determine the causes of hip pain, you need to see a doctor.
Traumatic factors
Severe bruising
Sharp pain when sitting, walking or abducting the leg occurs due to bruises that occur due to a fall on the side or a direct blow to the hip joint. In contusions, the structure of the bone tissue remains intact, but the soft fibers suffer significantly and ligament damage may occur. An extensive hematoma forms at the site of the impact, which hurts when pressed, but if a person is at rest, there is no pain syndrome. When pain in the hip joint on the left or right gradually increases, it is worth visiting a doctor to rule out a fracture.
hip luxation
Such a violation occurs under the influence of a large force along the axis bent in the knee joint with a fixed torso. A typical situation of this condition is an accident or a fall from a great height. With dislocations, a person is worried about sharp pain in the joints, which radiates to the leg and inguinal areas, which completely disrupts the functioning of the limb. You can relieve the condition by applying cold to the affected area, in addition, qualified medical assistance is required.
It is important to keep in mind that if a luxation is suspected, it is forbidden to try to adjust the joint yourself.
Hip fracture
It is often the cause of hip pain in elderly women. Violation of integrity often occurs due to a fall and a strong impact of the trochanter on a hard surface. Fracture of the neck of the femur is considered one of the most dangerous pathologies, as there is a high risk of complications in the form of thrombosis, infection and necrosis. Typical symptoms:
- Severe pain in the left or right hip joint, aggravated by attempts to move the limb or take it to the side.
- When sitting or lying down, the victim cannot lift his leg off the floor.
- Relative to the healthy leg, the injured leg appears shortened.
- When nerve structures are affected, there is a feeling of numbness in one limb.
After surgery
Often, pain in the hip joint, lower back and back occurs after surgery related to the installation of the implant. The need to insert an endoprosthesis appears in cases where the native joint is worn and worn for some reason and it is not possible to treat the problem in a conservative way. To prevent further destruction of the joint, endoprosthesis is performed. After the operation, until the wound is completely healed, the patient will be disturbed by pain, but with each new day their intensity will decrease.
Complications after hip replacement have a negative impact not only on the hip area, but also on the general physical, psychological condition, physical activity and ability to walk. In order to restore the previous health, it is necessary to undergo a number of rehabilitation measures, which are prescribed based on the developed pathologies and problems. For a quick and effective recovery, it is necessary to establish the causes of complications and limitations after hip arthroplasty.
Diseases
infectious inflammation
A dangerous complication that causes pain in the hip joint. There are such types of purulent inflammation:
- Primary. The main reason is the penetration directly into the joint cavity of pathogenic microflora.
- Second. The infection penetrates into the joint structures with blood from other inflammatory foci.
The symptoms of an inflammatory complication are:
- musculoskeletal pain;
- formation of edema;
- redness of the skin;
- warmth;
- limb dysfunction.
Inflammatory bursitis
Often, frequent joint injuries lead to an inflammatory process in its bags.
This disease is often diagnosed in athletes whose knees and hip joints are prone to frequent injuries and bruises.
Under the influence of a traumatic factor, inflammation develops in the joint bags. Gradually, the pathological exudate accumulates in the bursa, an inflammatory complication joins. When walking, the pain in the groin and below begins to bother, giving to the knee. There is a feeling of stiffness of movements, in advanced cases the limb hurts even at rest, the temperature rises and edema forms.
Tumors of different etiology
Pain in the hip joint on the right or left side can cause neoplasms:
- Benign. Increasing, they press on the nerve structures, cause discomfort and cause periodic unpleasant symptoms in the spine and hip joint.
- Malignant. These are dangerous neoplasms that tend to grow quickly and spread metastases throughout the body. In the initial stages, the patient complains that the joints hurt after running or walking. Increasing, the tumor compresses the nerve structures, one leg is torn off from a person, the sacrum is very inflamed, painful symptoms are felt in the lumbar regions. The usual painkillers in this case are not able to relieve the pain in the hip joint.
- Sarcoma of the neck of the femur. A severe, oncological disease of the bones, during the progression of which the patient's pelvic bones are very painful after sitting, walking, standing. The disease is characterized by chronic fractures of the neck of the femur, due to which the functioning of the joint is significantly limited. Also concerned about the signs of intoxication, under the influence of which the general condition of the patient worsens significantly.
Other reasons
Due to the destruction of the cartilage in the joint, a person begins to experience difficulty in movement.
If a person has pain in the leg and hip joint, the following pathologies can cause such symptoms:
- Coxarthrosis. A chronic degenerative-dystrophic disease characterized by destruction of interarticular cartilage and growth of osteophytes on bone structures. In the initial stages, the symptoms are not expressed, but as the progression progresses, the functional mobility of the joint is disturbed, the patient is disturbed by excruciating pains, muscle deformation and atrophy are observed. If treatment is not started promptly, a person becomes disabled.
- Osteochondrosis. A disease of a degenerative nature, in which the lumbar part of the spine is subject to destruction and deformation. Due to inflammation and pinching of the nerve fibers, the pain radiates to the thigh, the patient's motor activity is significantly reduced, the discomfort is alarming even in a state of complete rest.
If the hip joint hurts in a child, the development of such pathologies is possible:
- hip dysplasia and subluxation;
- osteochondropathy;
- epiphysiolysis.
Diagnostic methods
In case of severe, ongoing pain in the hip joint, you should contact an orthopedist who will help you establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe an appropriate treatment regimen.
After conducting a primary examination and taking an anamnesis, the doctor will give a direction to undergo such diagnostic measures:
- x-ray examination of the spine and hip joint;
- dopplerography and angiography of vessels;
- electromyography;
- CT, MRI of the hip;
- laboratory tests that will show the presence or absence of other dangerous pathologies in the body.
What is the treatment?
Effective drugs
Depending on the patient's diagnosis, the doctor selects an appropriate scheme of drug therapy aimed at eliminating accompanying symptoms and alleviating the patient's general condition. During the period of conservative treatment, it is important to limit the load on the joint, if necessary, observe bed rest and use orthopedic devices. The following groups of funds are used:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Help relieve inflammation, swelling, pain.
- Analgesics. Reduce acute pain.
- Glucocorticosteroids. If NSAIDs did not help to get rid of the inflammatory complication, steroid drugs are prescribed, which are injected directly into the joint cavity.
- Muscle relaxants. Relief of muscle spasms.
- Hemostatic. Promotion of hematoma resorption.
- Chondroprotectors. Restores cartilaginous structures, prevents their further destruction.
Auxiliary methods
The "bicycle" exercise will help to avoid problems with articulation.
In order to speed up the recovery and normalize the functioning of the hip joint, it is useful to do remedial exercises regularly. The training complex is selected by the doctor for each patient individually, taking into account the general condition and diagnosis. For prevention, it is recommended to do the following exercises daily:
- bicycle;
- scissors;
- grasping small objects with toes;
- walking barefoot on toes and heels.
In parallel, a course of physiotherapeutic procedures is prescribed, for example, electrophoresis, phonophoresis, laser therapy, massage. When diagnosing malignant tumors or advanced pathologies of a deforming nature, surgical intervention is indispensable. During the operation, the surgeon removes the affected tissue, if necessary, installs an implant. To prevent relapse and speed up recovery, rehabilitation is prescribed.