Chronic acute or aching pain in the hip joint (HJ) often indicates the development of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, which are important to timely diagnosis and treatment. In the initial stages of the development of pathology, it will be possible to conservatively eliminate joint pain using special tablets and ointments. When the disease begins, the joint becomes immobile and causes constant pain syndrome, and 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, removed and stop functioning completely. Periodic pains are often disturbed in diseases of the spine, due to which there is tension in the muscles and compression of nerve fibers. Symptoms of pain in the pelvic bones occur due to injuries, bruises, fractures of the head or neck of the femur. You need to consult a doctor to determine the exact cause of hip pain.
Traumatic factors
Severe caries
Sharp pain when sitting, walking, or running, occurs due to bruises caused by a fall on the side or a direct blow to the femoral joint. With fractures, the structure of the bone tissue remains intact, but the soft fibers suffer a lot and the ligament can be damaged. A large hematoma forms at the site of the impact, which hurts when pressed, but if the person rests, there is no pain syndrome. When the pain in the left or right hip joint gradually increases, it is worth seeing a doctor to rule out a fracture.
hip dislocation
Such a violation occurs under the influence of a large force along the bent axis in the knee joint with a stable body. A typical situation of this situation is an accident or a fall from a great height. With sprains, a person suffers from acute joint pain that spreads to the leg and inguinal regions, completely disrupting the function of the limb. You can alleviate the condition by applying cold to the affected area, then you need qualified medical attention.
It should be noted that if you suspect a dislocation, it is forbidden to try to fix the joint yourself.
Hip fracture
It is often the cause of pain in the hip joint in older women. Integrity damage often occurs due to falls and strong impact of the trochanter on a hard surface. Fracture of the femoral neck 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 move it to the side.
- When sitting or lying down, the victim cannot lift his leg off the floor.
- The healthy leg appears shortened relative to the injured leg.
- If the nerve structures are affected, a feeling of numbness appears in one limb.
After surgery
Often, pain in the hip joint, lower back and back occurs after the operation associated with the installation of the implant. The need to insert an endoprosthesis arises in cases where the local joint is worn and worn for some reason, and it is impossible to treat the problem conservatively. An endoprosthesis is performed to prevent further destruction of the joint. After the operation, the patient will be worried about pain until the wound is completely healed, but their intensity will decrease with each new day.
Complications after hip replacement have a negative impact not only on the thigh area, but also on the general physical and psychological condition, physical activity and walking ability. To restore former health, it is necessary to go through a series of rehabilitation measures determined on the basis of developed pathologies and problems. For a quick and effective recovery, it is necessary to determine 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 direct penetration of pathogenic microflora into the joint cavity.
- Secondary. The infection penetrates the articular structures with blood from other inflammatory sites.
Symptoms of an inflammatory complication are:
- musculoskeletal pain;
- formation of edema;
- redness of the skin;
- heat;
- limb dysfunction.
Inflammatory bursitis
Often, frequent joint injuries cause 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.
Inflammation develops in joint bags under the influence of a traumatic factor. Gradually, pathological exudate accumulates in the bursa, and an inflammatory complication is combined. When walking, the pain in the groin and below begins to disturb the knee. There is a feeling of stiffness of movements, in advanced cases, the extremity hurts even at rest, the temperature rises and swelling occurs.
Tumors of various etiologies
Pain in the hip joint on the right or left side can be caused by neoplasms:
- Good. As their size increases, they compress the nerve structures, causing discomfort and periodic unpleasant symptoms in the spine and hips.
- Malignant. These are dangerous neoplasms that tend to grow rapidly and spread metastases throughout the body. In the initial stages, the patient complains that the joints hurt after running or walking. The growing tumor compresses the nerve structures, one leg is removed from the person, the sacrum hurts a lot, and painful symptoms are felt in the lumbar region. In this case, conventional painkillers cannot relieve pain in the hip joint.
- Sarcoma of femoral neck. Severe, cancerous bone disease, during its progression, the patient's pelvis hurts a lot after sitting, walking, and standing. The disease is characterized by chronic fractures of the neck of the femur, due to which the activity of the joint is significantly limited. The symptoms of intoxication are also disturbing, under the influence of which the general condition of the patient has significantly worsened.
Other reasons
Due to the destruction of the cartilage in the joint, a person begins to have 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 the destruction of inter-articular cartilage and the growth of osteophytes in bone structures. In the initial stages, symptoms are not expressed, but as it progresses, the functional mobility of the joint is impaired, the patient suffers from unbearable pain, and muscle deformation and atrophy are observed. If the treatment is not started on time, the person becomes disabled.
- Osteochondrosis. A degenerative disease in which the lumbar spine undergoes destruction and deformation. Due to inflammation and compression of nerve fibers, the pain spreads to the thigh, the patient's motor activity is significantly reduced, and even in a state of complete rest, discomfort is disturbing.
If the hip joint hurts in a child, the development of such pathologies is possible:
- hip dysplasia and subluxation;
- osteochondropathy;
- epiphysiolysis.
Diagnostic methods
With severe, ongoing pain in the hip joint, you should contact an orthopedist who will help you make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe an adequate treatment regimen.
After conducting an initial examination and collecting anamnesis, the doctor will prescribe the following diagnostic measures:
- x-ray examination of the spine and hip joint;
- dopplerography and angiography of vessels;
- electromyography;
- CT, MRI of thigh;
- 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 chooses an adequate drug therapy regimen 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, observe bed rest if necessary, and use orthopedic devices. The following fund groups are used:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Help relieve inflammation, swelling, pain.
- Analgesics. Reduce acute pain.
- Glucocorticosteroids. If NSAIDs did not help to get rid of an inflammatory complication, steroid drugs are prescribed, which are injected directly into the joint cavity.
- Muscle relaxants. Eliminate muscle spasms.
- Hemostatic. Promote resorption of hematomas.
- Chondroprotectors. Restore cartilage structures, prevent their further destruction.
Auxiliary methods
"Bicycle" exercise will help prevent problems with articulation.
It is useful to do therapeutic exercises regularly to speed up recovery and normalize the work of the hip joint. The training complex is selected by the doctor individually for each patient, taking into account the general condition and diagnosis. For prevention, it is recommended to do the following exercises every day:
- bicycle;
- scissors;
- pick up 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 malignant tumors or advanced pathologies of a deforming nature are diagnosed, surgical intervention is necessary. During the operation, the surgeon removes the affected tissue, if necessary, installs an implant. Rehabilitation is prescribed to prevent relapses and speed up recovery.