Hip Pain

The hip joint sustains the weight of your torso and provides stability for the rest of your body. If you experience chronic hip pain, sports medicine specialist William Graham, MD, can help at Sporting Medicine in Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Graham has an onsite motion lab and advanced treatments, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, to improve your hip function if you suffer from chronic pain. Call Sporting Medicine today or schedule an appointment online to learn more. 

What causes hip pain?

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint that offers the body stability and motion. A group of muscles, tendons, and other tissues support and hold the hip joint in place. Damage to any of these structures can lead to chronic hip pain. The most common causes of hip pain include:

Arthritis

Arthritis is a degenerative inflammatory disease that affects the joints. As the joints swell, pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion can reduce your mobility.

Bursitis

The bursae are fluid-filled sacs that protect your joints from friction. When a bursa becomes inflamed, it can cause pain and limit your joint’s range of motion.

Fractures

Fractures are bone breaks that can damage the top of the thighbone. When the end of the femur breaks, it can cause pain and significantly limit your mobility.

Tendonitis

Tendons connect muscle to bone. When the tendons that join your muscles to your hip bone become inflamed, walking, running, and even standing can feel painful.

Bursitis

Bursitis is inflammation of the bursae, fluid-filled sacs that minimize friction between the joints and their surrounding structures. When you have bursitis, the hip joint can become tender and painful.

What are the signs of hip pain?

Common signs of hip pain include:

• Pain and tenderness in the hip
• Redness around the joint
• Difficulty walking or stretching the hip
• Clicking or popping sound when walking
• Pain in the groin, buttocks, or upper thigh
• Stiffness

If you have hip damage, your pain may worsen when you wake up in the morning or after lying down for long periods.

How is hip pain diagnosed?

Diagnosing hip pain requires a comprehensive physical exam and medical history review. After evaluating your movement and gait, Dr. Graham may order imaging tests, such as X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) scans.

What are the treatments for hip pain?

Dr. Graham takes an integrative approach to hip pain treatments. To treat your hip pain, he may recommend:

• Physical therapy
• Corticosteroid injections
• Regenerative medicine
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
• Activity modifications
• Assistive devices
• Arthritis management

Call Sporting Medicine today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about hip pain.