Chronic hip pain can be physically and mentally debilitating. When the pain radiates to your legs, buttocks, and lower back, it can affect your work, exercise routine, and ability to engage in daily activities like going up the stairs. The best way to deal with this pain is to get a diagnosis and discuss regenerative medicine treatment options with your doctor. This all begins with understanding what could be behind your persistent hip pain.
1. Core Muscle Injury
Constant physical activity, especially among novices, can cause core muscle injuries like tears or strains in the soft tissues located in the lower abdomen. If you play a lot of sports that involve extreme turning or twisting, these injuries could be the cause of your hip pain.
2. Tendonitis
Common symptoms of tendonitis include hip flexor pain and a feeling of tenderness when you move or touch your groin or hip. This problem is usually caused by repeated minor injuries resulting from over-using or straining tendons. Naturally, it is common among people who perform repeated actions regularly such as kicking a ball, skating, and more.
3. Bursitis
Hip pain that occurs on the outside of your thigh, buttocks, or hip could be caused by bursitis. Bursitis, which is more common among people aged 60 and over, is the inflammation of the fluid sacs that prevent your muscles and tendons from rubbing against your bones.
4. Labral Tears
The labrum refers to the cartilage ring that surrounds your hip socket and keeps the thigh bone ball in place. Tears in the labrum, common among ballerinas and athletes, can cause hip pain. In most cases, they are also accompanied by a reduced range of motion; a clicking, catching, or locking sensation in your hip; and persistent pain.
5. Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a common condition that can cause dull pain in your hip. It occurs when the joints in your hip swell and become stiff due to inflammation and cartilage breakdown. Although a strenuous physical routine can increase your risk of osteoarthritis, it is more common among older patients. It can become disabling when combined with injury, obesity, or aging.
6. Pelvic Floor or Gynecological Issues
The organs in the pelvic region are closely packed together and sometimes, your hip pain could actually be originating from elsewhere in your pelvis. If it is concentrated around your groin and appears or worsens when you ovulate during your periods, you could have fibroids or endometriosis. Hip pain can also be caused by gastrointestinal and urological issues like gastroenteritis and prostate cancer.
Regenerative Medicine for Hip Pain
Regenerative treatments are nonsurgical interventions for common ailments. They use naturally occurring substances like cells to promote your body’s natural healing processes. When it comes to hip pain, regenerative treatments that could be of help include:
- Viscosupplementation
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
- Stem cell therapy
- Prolotherapy
Hip joints can get sensitive with age or injury and attract problems like dislocations, osteoarthritis, fractures, and bursitis. If you are experiencing debilitating hip pain, understanding the cause is only the first step. You should also contact Glenn Flanagan, MD, a double-board-certified pain management specialist that uses nonsurgical treatments to improve joint function and relieve hip pain. Call his Naples, Florida, office to schedule a consultation online to learn more.