Hip
Pain
One
example of referred hip pain is a pinched nerve at the level
between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae. Pinching of this nerve
commonly causes referred pain into the hip. The hip joint will ache or
burn or may even experience sharp pain; however, the joint itself
should not be overly tender to touch or swollen. Because the pain
signal originates in the back, bending the spine to one side may
relieve the pain while bending the spine to place more pressure on the
nerve may worsen it.
True hip pain (pain from the hip joint itself) can be caused from an
acute (usually accident related) or a chronic (usually arthritis
related) condition. The treatment goal for an acute hip injury is first
to control and reduce the swelling. After the swelling is controlled,
the next phase is to help restore the mobility and return the proper
function of the hip joint and leg. The goal of treatment of a chronic
hip condition is to try and determine what caused the hip joint to
become symptomatic, relieve or eliminate that cause, and rehabilitate
the hip joint.
A Doctor of Chiropractic has the training and equipment needed to help
determine if your hip pain is coming from a pinched nerve in your spine
or directly from the hip joint, itself. For more information on
referred pain caused by pinched nerves, please see this article: About
Pinched Nerves
Acute hip injuries can be initially difficult to treat as the actual
hip joint resides a few inches beneath the level of the skin. This
makes it difficult to ice the area well enough to control swelling.
Care must be taken not to extend the use of ice past twenty minutes to
avoid the consequences of ice injury (frostbite.) Proper elevation of
the area (elevating the joint above the level of the heart) is also a
bit of a challenge. For instance, the use of a recliner is usually
ineffective since a recliner will not allow the hip to be elevated
above heart level. A better choice for elevation is bed rest by lying
on the opposite of the hip injury.
Passive hip range of motion can also be very beneficial to reduce
swelling. The application of passive motion is only to be done with an
appropriate device or administered by a trained professional. Ask your
chiropractor about the use of passive motion to help reduce swelling.
Chronic hip pain requires proper history, examination, and diagnosis to
determine a course of treatment. A chiropractor can perform these
procedures and will recommend a suitable treatment program for your
condition. Your chiropractor may also outline goals and recommend
changes in lifestyle to help reduce the chances of a re-injury and to
better manage your present complaint.
Adjustive procedures can be made to a hip joint and other
therapies such as short-wave diathermy and microwave (two methods to
deliver moist heat into deep tissue, and massage can be used to help
improve the hip joint. Stretching and exercises can also be added at
the appropriate time to protect against future re-injury. Nutritional
supplements may also be recommended. For instances, a proper uptake of
calcium needs to be obtained by many senior citizens, especially women.
Several spontaneous hip fractures could be avoided if bone density
checks were checked during routine examines in the forth or fifth
decade of life.
Hip problems whether acute or chronic can both benefit from supportive
care. Proper exercise, stretching, nutrition, and support can all aid
in your recovery and enhance your functionality. The goal is to stay
active but not create pain in the joint. Pain generally goes hand in
hand with swelling and swelling leads to bone loss in the joint
(osteoporosis) create calcium deposits around the tendons and joint
(tendonitis and arthritis) and reduces mobility. Your chiropractor will
work with you with a number of recommendations to help you maintain
mobility while minimizing joint irritation.
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DISCLAIMER:
Articles posted on this site are for informational purposes only.
Articles are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment. Users of
this site should consult with their doctors before making any decisions
regarding their health care.
Back Pain
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