At some point in our lives, we will encounter discomfort of pain in our hips. Hip complaints are common, and it is important to treat any pain in your hips with urgency, so that treatment can begin, minimizing potential damage and loss of mobility.

If you are struggling with hip conditions in Shoreline, OPA Ortho can help connect you with an orthopedic professional that can get you the help and care you need in a convenient and easy way, allowing you to get back on your feet in no time at all.

Signs of a Hip Problem

It is important to keep an eye out for any signs of hip pain, so that the causes can be ascertained early, and you can be treated before further complications occur.

Some common signs of hip problems are as follows:

• Muscle stiffness around the hip area
• Experiencing pain in your hip
• Pain in your leg when bearing weight on the leg
• Reduced mobility in the hip joint

With potential hip problems, it is also possible to feel pain or discomfort in areas such as the thigh, groin, buttocks, and both inside and outside the hip joint.

What Causes Hip Conditions?

Hip conditions can be broad ranging, which means that they can also have a multitude of causes.

Falls

Falls onto hard surfaces or from great heights can cause injury to the hips, which can fracture or dislocate as a result. Older individuals are more susceptible to falls, which can result in complex hip injuries and more complicated treatment measures.

Blunt Trauma

Exposing the hip joint to blunt trauma, such as that which would be sustained in a car crash, can result in multiple fractures, and dislocations. Multiple breaks in the hip can prolong treatment and recovery from this type of injury.

Diseases

Diseases which degenerate the bone tissue, such as osteoporosis and arthritis, can cause pain and immobility in the hip joint, and can affect movement. Obesity is another disease that can exacerbate degeneration of the bone tissue, simply by adding additional pressure on the joints with added weight. Obesity can particularly affect weight-bearing joints such as the hips as well as the knees.

How Are Hip Conditions Treated?

Treatment greatly depends on what has caused the hip condition in the first place.

Arthritis

Arthritis has various forms, but is treated in three main ways: medication, therapy, and surgery. Medication such as anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids can help ease inflammation and help to manage the pain associated with arthritis. Some types of physical therapy can also be helpful for arthritis, with exercises improving range of motion in the affected joints.

In more serious cases of arthritis, surgical intervention may be required, either in the form of a repair of the affected joint, a fusion of joints, or a total joint replacement.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis

These chronic rheumatic diseases cause progressive inflammation and joint degeneration, and a reduction in mobility and overall physical performance. Being rheumatic, these diseases are autoimmune in nature, and cause the immune system to attack your joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, resulting in inflammation, pain, and reduced mobility.

Treatment for these diseases can also be either through medication, physical therapy, or through surgeries. Hip replacements (along with other total joint replacements) can be performed to reduce pain in the affected joints, as well as to improve mobility.

Hip Fracture or Dislocation

Hip fractures and dislocations are serious and can usually only be remedied through orthopedic surgeries. A great deal of soft tissue can be damaged in the process of a fracture or dislocation, which makes manually pushing the ball of the hip back into the socket (in the case of dislocation) a risky process.

Additionally, fractures in the hip usually require internal fixation methods to keep the fractured bone in place and to facilitate better healing.

Developmental Hip Dysplasia

This congenital birth defect results in the hip joint being underdeveloped or dislocated. This is usually remedied in two ways: either through a Pavlik harness (a fabric splint that secures the baby’s hips into a stable position and allows them to develop regularly), or through surgery, following failure of a Pavlik harness, where the head of the femur bone is placed back into the socket of the hip.

How are Hip Disorders Diagnosed?

Hip disorders can be diagnosed through the following diagnostic procedures:

• X-Ray – This is the most common method of imaging and allows an orthopedic doctor to see hard tissue (such as bone) in detail. Some soft tissue can be seen on an X-ray, but other methods are often employed if soft tissue needs to be examined.
• Ultrasound – An ultrasound is often used if an orthopedic doctor needs to see the soft tissues around a joint, such as tendons, ligaments, and muscles. Ultrasounds are often used to ascertain whether there has been a tear in muscle, tendons, or ligaments.
• MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or an MRI, is used to get cross-sectional, multiplanar images of a particular area of the body, with a great amount of detail. MRIs often pick up smaller fractures and other hip problems that otherwise wouldn’t be picked up by an X-ray or an ultrasound.

Make an Appointment through OPA Otho Today

If you are experiencing hip conditions in Shoreline, or in any area of the Pacific Northwest, OPA Ortho can help. Not only do we provide various valuable resources and information in our commitment to help you understand the pain you are experiencing, but we endeavor to aid you on your healing journey and get you back on your feet as soon as possible.

We do this by connecting you with an orthopedic professional nearest to you, so that you can get the help and attention you require as soon as possible, allowing you to heal as quickly as possible. Request an appointment today or call us for all your orthopedic needs.

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