Hip pain is a very common complaint that can be due to injury or disease. A specialist like Dr. Peter Candelora, with Coastal Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, works with patients to evaluate the pain they feel and determine the cause. Hip pain may result from the joint itself or be a symptom of a problem in another part of the body such as the lower back. Schedule your consultation at his New Port Richey, Florida office online, or call Dr. Candelora today.
The hip joint, like the shoulder joint, is a ball and socket mechanism. What this means is one bone has a large "ball" on the end of it that fits into a cup or socket on another one. In the hip, the ball rests on the tip of the large femur bone of the thigh and connects into the acetabulum of the pelvis. In this capacity, the joint helps support the weight of the body whether it is at rest or moving.
Pain in this joint generally is the result of a nerve problem, infection, trauma or disease. The location of the pain is very telling when it comes to the hip. Damage to the actual joint usually presents as pain on the inside of the joint or groin area.
Hip pain that radiates on the outside of the hip, the upper thigh or the buttock tends to represent a muscular or soft tissue injury. Hip pain may also be symptomatic of a lower back issue.
As a specialist in orthopaedic surgery, Dr. Candelora often treats patients in need of a partial or complete hip joint replacement, need hip arthroscopy or are suffering from a hip fracture. Those are not the only possible causes of hip pain, though. Some other conditions that may lead to hip pain include:
Hip pain may also be due to an impingement or a pinched nerve. Certain forms of cancer can lead to hip pain, as well, like bone cancer or leukemia.
The occasional hip twinge is rarely something to worry about, especially if self-care measures like ice, heat and rest help. Patients who experience chronic or severe pain that interferes with their quality of life or that wakes them up at night should see a specialist like Dr. Candelora. Get emergency medical assistance if the joint is:
You will also want to get immediate care if the pain is due to an injury of some kind, such as an accident or fall.
