About hip pain

Your joints are involved in almost every activity you do. Simple movements such as walking, bending, and turning require the use of your hip and knee joints. Normally, all parts of these work together and each joint moves easily and without pain. But when a joint becomes diseased or injured, the resulting pain can severely limit your ability to move and work.

The hip is one of the main weight-bearing joints in your body. It consists of 2 main parts:
+ A ball (femoral head) at the top of your thighbone (femur)
+ A rounded socket (acetabulum) in your pelvis

A healthy hip allows pain free movement since joints are connected by cartilage which cushions the bone and provides easy movement of the joints.

• + Causes of hip pain
• + Other causes of hip pain

• Causes of hip pain

  Hip pain is sometimes caused by deformity or injury, but one of the most common causes is osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative joint disease¹. In a joint that has been damaged by arthritis the cartilage becomes inflamed and wears down, causing bone to rub against bare bone, creating pain, stiffness, deformity and loss of mobility. And since it’s a degenerative disease, it just gets worse over time. Other common causes of joint pain include rheumatoid arthritis or post-traumatic arthritis¹.

  • Osteoarthritis

    Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis in Australia¹. Over 2.1 million Australians experience OA, which was over half (59%) of all arthritic conditions in the years 2014–15². Although osteoarthritis can affect people of all ages, it mostly affects people over 45, with 1 in 5 Australians (21%) having some degree of osteoarthritis².

    There is currently no cure for OA, but there are many effective treatments to control symptoms³.

    

  • Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

    If you have OA you may feel discomfort, pain or joint stiffness (which may vary at different times of the day or night) and show signs of swelling and tenderness in one or more joints. You may even hear a crunching sound in your joints as the bones rub directly against each other.

  • Causes of OA

    In many cases, it’s hard to identify a clear cause of OA. But research suggests some things may put certain joints at more risk. For example:

    • Knees – a previous knee injury, being overweight or jobs involving kneeling, climbing or squatting³.
    • Hips – a previous hip injury, being overweight, or jobs involving heavy lifting, such as farming³.
    • Hands – a family history of OA in the family³.
  • OA Treatment

    To diagnose you properly and offer the right treatment, your doctor will consider your symptoms and medical history, examine your joints, and arrange one or more diagnostic tests. For example, he or she may suggest blood tests, X-rays, a CT scan, or an MRI scan to get a clear view of your joint’s alignment and general condition³.

    Based on the results of these tests, your doctor will then discuss the best treatment options with you. Depending on the severity of your OA and the pain you’re experiencing, treatments suggested by your doctor may include:

    • Pain relief – using medicines such as paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)³.
    • Exercise and/or weight loss – an exercise program designed specifically for you, and a weight loss program if you’re overweight³.
    • Referral for a surgical procedure or joint replacement surgery – if your OA symptoms and pain levels are no longer controlled with other therapies³.

    Always discuss your treatment options with your doctor.

     

    Go to hip treatment options

• Other causes of hip pain

  This section explores several other causes of hip pain, there may however, be reasons not included here, which can cause hip pain. Please consult your health care professional to determine the exact cause of your specific pain.

  • Rheumatoid arthritis

    Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes pain and swelling of the joints. This can become very painful and causes swelling and stiffness that may eventually damage the joint’s cartilage and bone, and weaken the soft tissue around the joint, preventing the joint from working properly⁴.

    For more information about rheumatoid arthritis please visit https://arthritisaustralia.com.au/types-of-arthritis/rheumatoid-arthritis/

  • Post-Traumatic Arthritis

    Post-traumatic arthritis can develop if, after an injury to the joint, the bone and cartilage don’t heal properly. When this happens, the joint is no longer smooth, which can lead to extra wear on the joint. Post-traumatic arthritis often follows serious injury to the hip, or repeated high impact or force to the joint. Injury to a joint, such as a bad sprain or fracture, can also cause damage to the articular cartilage. Once this cartilage is damaged, it doesn’t normally grow back. Instead, scar tissue replaces it, which doesn’t protect or cushion the bones in the joint as effectively.

    Post-traumatic arthritis is treated in a similar way to osteoarthritis³.

    Always discuss your treatment options with your doctor.

     

    Go to hip treatment options