Hip pain can be a symptom of several conditions, such as arthritis, bursitis, and structural issues. This article explains why your hip might be hurting.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis happens when cartilage on the ball end of the thigh bone and the hip socket breaks down. This causes your bones to grind against each other, causing you to feel pain in your crotch and at the front of your thigh.
Sciatica
Too much sitting and no exercise can inflame and irritate your sciatica nerve. This causes pain that starts from the hip and could feel mild, sharp, tingly, numb, or like an electric shock.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis makes your immune system attack certain parts of your body, including the synovium. This makes it thicken, swell, and create chemicals that damage the cartilage that covers your hip bones.
Dislocation
This happens when the ball on your thigh bone is knocked out of its pelvic socket. It can result in other injuries, such as bone fractures and tissue tears, and can damage cartilage, nerves, and blood vessels.
Hip Fracture
A hip fracture is a break in the top part of your thighbone. This can cause pain in your groin and the top and outer part of your thigh, especially when flexing the joint.
Bursitis
Bursitis happens when fluid-filled sacs (bursae) that ease friction between bones, tendons, and muscles get irritated and swollen. This can happen on the outer bony part of your hip, where it causes a sharp pain that dulls and spreads over time.
Dysplasia
Dysplasia occurs when your hip socket isn’t deep enough for the ball to fit firmly inside. This looseness can vary from fairly easy to push out to complete dislocation.
Hip Strain
A hip strain happens when you tear or overstretch any muscles or tendons that help your hip joint move. This can affect multiple muscles, including your hip flexors, abductors, quadriceps, and hamstrings.
Labral Tear
Labral tear involves damage to the cartilage at the bony edge of your hip socket that keeps the joint together. This can lead to clicking sensations and pain in your hip or groin.
Tendinitis
Tendinitis happens when your tendons are inflamed or irritated due to repetitive stress from overuse.
Conclusion
You can treat hip pain by resting and applying a cold compress to the affected area. However, you should visit your doctor if you have intense pain, sudden swelling, or any signs of infection like chills, fever, and red skin.
