Are you finding it harder each day to climb stairs or get out of a chair without wincing? You’re not alone. Millions of Americans experience hip pain that progressively worsens, making simple activities feel like significant challenges.
Hip pain is common and can range from mild annoyance to pain so severe that it interferes with everyday life.
Home Treatment Alternatives First
Not every ache or injury requires a trip to the doctor. If your hip pain is on the milder side – the kind of annoying, but not debilitating kind – you can try home treatments first.
This might include the RICE home remedy, an acronym for Rest, Ice or Heat, Compression, and Elevation. You might couple that with over-the-counter pain relievers. But if you’ve tried these for a week and your pain doesn’t improve or gets worse, it’s time to see a healthcare professional.
6 Warning Signs
Additionally, if you experience any of the following 6 warning signs, see a doctor right away.
1. Persistent Pain
The most telling sign that you may need to see a doctor is ongoing hip pain that doesn’t respond to home treatment. This pain is often experienced as deep, aching discomfort in your groin, buttocks, or thigh area. Many patients describe this pain as constant and gnawing, significantly impacting their daily activities.
Sleep disturbances frequently accompany persistent hip pain. You may find yourself waking up multiple times during the night, unable to find a comfortable position. Walking difficulties become more pronounced, with pain occurring even during short distances or low-impact activities.
2. Limited Range of Motion
Stiffness and reduced range of motion in your hip joint are clear indicators that it’s time to see a doctor.
Is your once-flexible hip joint feeling stiff and tight? Are you struggling to climb stairs, put on your shoes, or get out of a chair? These restrictions stem from reduced hip range of motion, often accompanied by muscle weakness around the joint.
What starts as minor stiffness in the morning can evolve into significant mobility restrictions that prevent you from participating in activities you enjoy.
3. Difficulty Bearing Weight
If you notice that bearing weight on your affected hip causes significant pain or discomfort, consult with a doctor right away.
Difficulty walking, limping, or relying on assistive devices can be red flags indicating the need for more serious intervention. A doctor may recommend imaging tests to diagnose the problem accurately and determine which options are appropriate to correct it.
4. Swelling or Inflammation
Swelling and inflammation in the hip area can also signal a need to consult a doctor.
They are frequently caused by hip arthritis or trochanteric bursitis, the latter of which is the inflammation of fluid-filled sacs on the outside of the hip. This is commonly caused by injury, overuse, or conditions like tendonitis.
If you experience swelling accompanied by fever, redness, or warmth in the joint, seek medical attention promptly, as these could also be signs of an infection or other serious conditions.
5. A Hip Joint that Looks Deformed
If you observe noticeable changes in your hip joint, it’s time to see a doctor.
If your hip is visibly misaligned or deformed, it could be a sign of advanced arthritis or another condition that might require immediate medical attention.
6. Previous Injuries
If you have a history of hip injuries — such as fractures, dislocations, or sprains — it’s important to keep an eye on your hip health.
Sometimes, previous injuries can lead to long-term complications or chronic pain. If you’re experiencing new symptoms or worsening hip function following an injury, consulting a doctor can provide the necessary assessments and treatments to prevent further deterioration.
What Kind of Medical Specialist Is Good to Start with for Hip Pain?
Hip pain doesn’t necessarily mean that hip replacement surgery is necessary. In fact, in many cases, it can be treated non-surgically.
A good resource to start with is a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation doctor, who is also known as a physiatrist.
Physiatrists are trained in physical medicine and rehabilitation. After subspecialized training, they are well-equipped to diagnose and treat most musculoskeletal conditions, including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. They can also provide nonsurgical treatments and certain interventional procedures, such as nerve blocks and specialized, minimally invasive pain relief.
Physiatrists focus on developing a comprehensive program that can restore function after injury or disease without surgery. They’ll often start by ordering imaging studies to assess the extent of any hip joint deterioration. This will help reveal the extent of cartilage loss, bone damage, and joint space narrowing.
They’ll then evaluate these imaging results to determine the best course of treatment on an individualized basis. Those treatments may include physical therapy, fluoroscopically guided steroid injections, or PRP therapies.
Early Intervention Is Key
Ignoring hip pain won’t make it go away. In fact, it can lead to further complications and make treatment more difficult down the road. The earlier you address hip pain, the better your chances of a full recovery and a return to your active lifestyle.