Learn About the Causes of Hip Joint Pain

Learn About the Causes of Hip Joint Pain
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Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that affects about 1.3 million Americans, according to WebMD. In RA, your body attacks itself and destroys good cells along with the bad. In hip RA, the joint becomes stiff and swells, causing severe damage and pain. As the joint deteriorates, hip replacement surgery may be an option to reduce the pain.

Aseptic Necrosis

Aseptic necrosis is the death of bone tissue due to a lack of adequate blood supply. Some conditions associated with aseptic necrosis include pancreatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus and sickle cell disease. Aseptic necrosis causes hip joint pain when the affected ball of the hip joint, which is weight bearing, degenerates and collapses.

Diagnosis for aseptic necrosis as a cause of hip joint pain includes a MRI scan for early stages and an X-ray for late-stage disease. Treatment options include surgery to remove the damaged bone core and replace it with a new bone graft, or a total hip replacement may be the best choice.

Bursitis

Bursitis is the swelling of the fluid-filled sacs that allow the ligaments, muscles and tendons to glide smoothly over your bones. Bursitis affecting the hip, which may be acute or chronic, is known as trochanteric bursitis. Possible causes of joint hip pain from bursitis include gout, rheumatoid arthritis, overstressing the joint, diabetes and bone spurs.

Treatment options for joint hip pain caused by bursitis include resting the joint, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and an ice pack. If conservative treatment doesn’t relieve your symptoms, a steroid injection into the bursa may be necessary to reduce the pain and swelling.

Hip Fracture

Your age and gender play a major role in the chances of getting a hip fracture. MayoClinic.com reports that about nine out of 10 hip fractures happen to people older than 65, and about 80 percent occur in women. As bone density decreases with age, the chances of fracture increase. Possible symptoms of a hip fracture include severe pain in the hip joint, immediate immobility, difficulty bearing weight on your leg on the injured side and an outward turning of your leg.

If an X-ray, CT scan or MRI confirms the diagnosis of a hip fracture, surgery is usually the treatment of choice. Surgery options include securing the fracture with metal screws, replacing only the head and neck of the femur, or a total hip replacement.

Transient Synovitis

Transient synovitis of the hip is inflammation and swelling of the hip joint tissues, and it is most often found in children between 3 and 10 years of age, according to FamilyDoctor.org. Symptoms to look for in your child include difficulty walking, limping, trouble standing, and complaining of pain in the hip, inner thigh or knee area.

Basic treatment of transient synovitis of the hip includes rest and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine, such as ibuprofen, to reduce the swelling and pain. If your child does not improve within three or four days, or starts running a fever, check with your doctor about further tests to rule out other problems.

References

WebMD: Hip Rheumatoid Arthritis - https://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/guide/hip-rheumatoid_arthritis

MedicineNet: Aseptic Necrosis - https://www.medicinenet.com/aseptic_necrosis/article.htm

FamilyDoctor.org: Bursitis of the Hip - https://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/pain/disorders/983.html

MayoClinic.com: Hip Fracture - https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hip-fracture/DS00185/DSECTION=risk-factors

FamilyDoctor.org: Transient Synovitis of the Hip - https://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/special/bone/181.html