Chronic acute or painful pain in the hip joint (HJ) often indicates the development of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, which is 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 pain in the joints in a conservative way, using special tablets and ointments. When the disease begins, the joint becomes immobile and causes constant pain syndrome, 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, erased and stop functioning completely. Periodic soreness is often a concern in spinal diseases, due to which there is tension in the muscles and pinching of nerve fibers. Symptoms of pain in the pelvic bones are caused by 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 is caused by bruises caused by a fall on the side or a direct blow to the femoral joint. In case of bruises, the structure of the bone tissue remains intact, but the soft fibers suffer greatly, and ligament damage may occur. A large 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 the pain in the hip joint on the left or right side gradually increases, it is worth seeing a doctor to rule out a fracture.
hip dislocation
Such a violation occurs under the influence of a large force along the axis, bent in the knee joint with a fixed torso. A typical situation of this condition is an accident or a fall from a great height. With a dislocation, a person is worried about sharp pain in the joint that radiates to the leg and inguinal areas, which completely disrupts the functioning of the limbs. You can alleviate the condition by applying cold to the affected area, further qualified medical assistance is required.
It is important to remember that in case of suspicion of dislocation, it is forbidden to try to set the joint on your own.
Hip fracture
It often becomes a cause of hip joint pain in older women. Damage to the integrity often occurs due to a fall and a strong impact of the trochanter on a hard surface. Fracture of the neck of the femur 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 attempts to move the limb or take it to the side.
- When sitting or lying down, the victim is unable to lift his leg off the floor.
- Compared to the healthy leg, the injured leg looks shortened.
- If the nerve structures are affected, there is a feeling of numbness in one limb.
After surgery
Pain in the hip joint, lower back and back often occurs after surgery related to implant placement. The need to install an endoprosthesis occurs in cases where the native joint is worn and worn for some reason, and the problem cannot be cured in a conservative way. In order to prevent further destruction of the joint, an endoprosthesis is performed. After the operation, until the wound is completely healed, the patient will be disturbed by pain, however, with each new day, their intensity will decrease.
Complications after hip replacement have a negative impact not only on the hip area, but also on the general physical, mental state, physical activity and ability to walk. To restore former health, it is necessary to undergo a series of rehabilitation measures, which are prescribed on the basis of developed pathologies and problems. 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:
- Primary. The main reason is the penetration of pathogenic microflora directly into the joint cavity.
- Secondary. The infection penetrates into joint structures with blood from other inflammatory foci.
Symptoms of inflammatory complications are:
- musculoskeletal pain;
- edema formation;
- skin redness;
- heat;
- 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 sacs. Pathological exudate gradually accumulates in the bursa, an inflammatory complication is added. When walking, the pain in the groin and below begins to disturb, radiating to the knee. There is a feeling of stiffness of movement, in advanced cases the limb hurts even at rest, the temperature rises and swelling occurs.
Tumors of different etiologies
Pain in the hip joint on the right or left side can be caused by neoplasms:
- Benign. As they increase in size, they compress the nerve structures, causing discomfort and periodically causing unpleasant symptoms in the spine and hip.
- Malignant. 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. Increasing, the tumor compresses the nerve structures, one leg is taken away from the person, the sacrum is very painful, painful symptoms are felt in the lumbar region. Common painkillers in this case cannot 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 hurt badly after sitting, walking, standing. The disease is characterized by chronic femoral neck fractures, due to which joint functioning is significantly limited. They are also concerned about signs of intoxication, under the influence of which the general condition of the patient significantly worsens.
Other reasons
Due to the destruction of the cartilage in the joint, the person begins to feel difficulties with movement.
If a person has painful legs and a 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 on bone structures. In the initial stages, the symptoms are not expressed, but as the progression progresses, the functional mobility of the joint is disturbed, the patient is disturbed by excruciating pain, muscle deformity and atrophy are observed. If treatment is not started on time, the person becomes disabled.
- Osteochondrosis. A disease of a degenerative nature, in which the lumbar spine is subject to destruction and deformation. Due to inflammation and pinching of nerve fibers, the pain radiates to the thigh, the patient's motor activity is significantly reduced, the discomfort is worrying 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, constant pain in the hip joint, it is necessary to contact an orthopedist who will help establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe an adequate treatment regimen.
After conducting an initial examination and collecting anamnesis, the doctor will give guidelines for passing such diagnostic measures:
- x-ray examination of the spine and hip joint;
- dopplerography and angiography of blood vessels;
- electromyography;
- CT, MRI of the thigh;
- laboratory tests that will show the presence or absence of other dangerous pathologies in the body.
What is the treatment?
Effective medicines
Depending on the patient's diagnosis, the doctor selects an adequate regimen of drug therapy aimed at eliminating accompanying symptoms and alleviating the patient's general condition. During the period of conservative treatment, it is important to limit the load on the joint, if necessary, adhere to the bed and use orthopedic devices. The following asset groups are used:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It helps relieve inflammation, swelling, and pain.
- Analgesics. Reduce acute pain.
- Glucocorticosteroids. If NSAIDs did not help to resolve the inflammatory complication, steroid drugs are prescribed that are injected directly into the joint cavity.
- Muscle relaxants. Relieve muscle spasms.
- Hemostatic. They promote hematoma resorption.
- Chondroprotectors. They restore cartilage structures, preventing their further destruction.
Helper Methods
Exercise "bicycle" will help to avoid problems with articulation.
In order to speed up recovery and normalize the work 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 daily:
- bicycle;
- scissors;
- picking up small objects with toes;
- walking barefoot on toes and heels.
In parallel, a course of physiotherapeutic procedures is prescribed, for example, electrophoresis, phonophoresis, laser therapy, massage. When diagnosing 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. In order to prevent relapse and speed up recovery, rehabilitation is prescribed.