Acute or chronic pain in the hip joint (HJ) often indicates the development of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, which are important to diagnose and treat in a timely manner. In the initial stages of the development of the pathology, it will be possible to relieve joint pain conservatively, using special tablets and ointments. When the disease begins, the joint becomes immobile and the syndrome of constant pain disturbs and surgical intervention is necessary.
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, hidden and stop functioning completely. Periodic pain often worries about diseases of the spine, due to which there is tension in the muscles and tightening of nerve fibers. Symptoms of pain in the pelvic bones occur 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
Acute 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 femoral joint. With a bruise, the structure of the bone tissue remains intact, but the soft fibers suffer a lot and ligament damage can occur. A wide hematoma forms at the site of the impact, which hurts when pressed, but if the person is at rest, there is no pain syndrome. When pain in the hip joint on the left or right side increases gradually, it is worth visiting a doctor to rule out a fracture.
hip dislocation
Such a violation occurs under the influence of a large force along the axis, bent at 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 a sharp joint pain that radiates to the legs and inguinal area, which completely disrupts the functioning of the limbs. You can relieve the condition by applying cold to the affected area, further, qualified medical help is needed.
It is important to note that if a displacement is suspected, it is forbidden to try to set the joint yourself.
Hip fracture
It often becomes the cause of pain in the hip joint in women in old age. Damage to the integrity often occurs due to a fall and a strong impact of the trochanter on a hard surface. Fracture of the femoral neck is considered one of the most dangerous pathologies, because 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 efforts to move the limb or take it to the side.
- When sitting or lying down, the victim is unable to lift the foot off the floor.
- In relation to a healthy leg, the injured one appears shortened.
- If the nerve structures are affected, a feeling of numbness appears in one limb.
After the operation
Often pain in the hip joint, lower back and back occurs after surgery related to the installation of the implant. The need to place an endoprosthesis appears in cases where the native joint is worn and worn for some reason and it is not possible to cure the problem conservatively. To prevent further destruction of the joint, endoprosthesis is performed. After the operation, until the wound is completely healed, the patient will be bothered by pain, but with each new day, their intensity will decrease.
Complications after hip replacement negatively affect not only the hip area, but also affect the general physical and psychological condition, physical activity and ability to walk. To restore the former health, they must undergo a series of rehabilitation measures, which are prescribed based on the pathologies and problems developed. 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:
- elementary. The main reason is the penetration directly into the joint cavity of pathogenic microflora.
- Medium. The infection penetrates into the articular structures with blood from other inflammatory foci.
Symptoms of an inflammatory complication are:
- musculoskeletal pain;
- the formation of edema;
- skin rash;
- heating;
- limb dysfunction.
Inflammatory bursitis
Often, frequent joint injuries lead to an inflammatory process in his 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. While walking, the pain in the groin and below begins to bother, giving the knee. There is a feeling of stiffness of movements, in advanced cases, the limbs hurt even at rest, the temperature rises and swelling is formed.
Tumors of various etiologies
Pain in the hip joint on the right or left side can cause neoplasia:
- benign. As they increase in size, they press on the nerve structures, cause discomfort and cause periodic unpleasant symptoms in the back and hips.
- Malignancy. 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. Growing, the tumor compresses the nerve structures, one leg is removed from a person, the sacrum is very sore, painful symptoms are felt in the lumbar regions. Common painkillers in this case are not able to relieve the pain in the hip joint.
- Sarcoma of the femoral neck. Severe, cancerous bone disease, during the progression of which the patient's pelvic bones are very sore after sitting, walking, standing. The disease is characterized by chronic fractures of the femoral neck, due to which the functioning of the joint is significantly limited. Also worried about 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 a 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 interarticular cartilage and the growth of osteophytes in bone structures. In the initial stages, the symptoms are not expressed, but as the progress progresses, the functional mobility of the joint is disturbed, the patient is disturbed by excruciating pain, muscle deformation and atrophy are observed. If treatment is not started at the right time, a person becomes disabled.
- Osteochondrosis. A disease of a degenerative nature, in which the lumbar spine is subject to destruction and deformation. Due to the inflammation and tightening of the nerve fibers, the pain radiates to the thigh, the patient's motor activity decreases significantly, discomfort disturbs 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 subluxations;
- osteochondropathy;
- epiphyseolysis.
Diagnostic methods
With severe, continuous pain in the hip joint, you should contact an orthopedist who will help establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe an adequate treatment regimen.
After conducting an initial examination and collecting an anamnesis, the doctor will give an instruction for the passage of such diagnostic measures:
- x-ray examination of the spine and hip joint;
- dopplerography and vascular angiography;
- 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 drug
Depending on the patient's diagnosis, the doctor chooses an adequate regimen of drug therapy aimed at eliminating associated symptoms and relieving 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:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Help relieve inflammation, swelling, pain.
- Analgesics. Reduction of acute pain.
- Glucocorticosteroids. If NSAIDs did not help to remove the inflammatory complication, steroid drugs are prescribed, which are injected directly into the joint cavity.
- Muscle relaxants. Relieve muscle spasms.
- Hemostatic. Promotes resorption of hematomas.
- Chondroprotectors. Restore cartilage structures, prevent their further destruction.
Auxiliary methods
Exercise "bicycle" will help to avoid problems from articulation.
To speed up recovery and normalize the functioning of the hip joint, it is useful to do therapeutic 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 every day:
- bicycles;
- scissors;
- picking up small objects with fingers;
- walking barefoot on toes and heels.
In parallel, a course of physiotherapeutic procedures is prescribed, for example, electrophoresis, phonophoresis, laser therapy, massage. During the diagnosis of malignant tumors or advanced pathologies of a deforming nature, surgical intervention is necessary. During the operation, the surgeon removes the affected tissue, if necessary, installs an implant. To prevent relapse and speed up recovery, rehabilitation is prescribed.