In the vast majority of cases, pain in the hip joint is associated with the degeneration of the cartilage synovial layer and the development of deforming osteoarthritis. But this is if we are talking about patients over the age of 45. But at a young age, completely different pathological processes can be the causes of the appearance of such a clinical symptom. And most often they are directly related to the defeat of the lumbosacral spine and the syndrome of low back pain. Most of them are long-term complications of osteochondrosis without proper treatment.
Pain in the hip joint is a signal that the position of the femoral head in the joint acetabulum is disturbed. This joint is one of the most loaded. It represents the maximum depreciation load during both walking and running and when a person is standing and sitting.
The head of the femur, like the acetabulum of the ileum, is lined with a cartilaginous synovial layer. Inside the joint capsule is synovial fluid. When compressed, the cartilage tissue secretes synovial fluid and, when straightened, absorbs it. In this way, the simultaneous distribution of the depreciation load and the protection of the bone tissue from damage and cracking are achieved.
Synovial fluid is produced during the work of the muscles surrounding the joint. Penetrates the joint capsule by diffuse exchange. Maintaining a sufficient level and optimal viscosity of the synovial fluid is the key to the longevity and health of the hip joint.
Unfortunately, a sedentary lifestyle, malnutrition, traumatic effects, excess weight and other risk factors lead to the fact that the synovial fluid shrinks or loses its physiological properties. This begins the process of destroying the cartilage synovial layer.
Bone tissues are destroyed and begin to be covered with deposits of calcium salts - osteophytes. The joint loses its mobility. Ankylosis and contracture are formed. In the later stages of coxarthrosis, only hip arthroplasty surgery can help the patient. This is the most dangerous disease that can lead to disability in adulthood. In the early stages, it can be successfully treated with manual therapy methods.
At a young age, pain in the hip joint when walking may be due to a traumatic injury to the ligament and tendon apparatus. If a person has even minor problems with the lumbosacral spine, then he does not have an even distribution of the depreciation load. As a result, there is a high mechanical load on the ligaments and tendons. They are subject to periodic microscopic lesions. In these places, scar deformities form and gradually begin to exert a compressive effect on adjacent nerve fibers. This causes pain to appear.
In middle age, hip joint pain may also be associated with damage to the lumbosacral spine. But in this case, the likelihood of a violation of blood microcirculation increases. The defeat of the radicular nerves and the lumbosacral nerve plexus leads to the fact that the tone of the muscle wall of the bloodstream is disturbed. As a result, the tissues around the hip joint, like other parts of the lower limbs, do not receive sufficient nutrition. Ischemic processes begin.
With a prolonged combined load on the hip joint against the background of an ischemic process, there is a risk of developing aseptic necrosis of bone tissue. This is a very dangerous disease, which, in case of delayed treatment, can lead to disability in adulthood. A person loses the ability to work, needs long-term surgery and rehabilitation.
We strongly recommend that you contact an orthopedic doctor promptly in case of any discomfort in the hip joint. If necessary, he will appoint a consultation with a vertebrologist, neurologist or angiosurgeon.
Causes of severe aching pain and stiffness in the hip joint
Some of the potential causes of severe hip pain have already been mentioned above. However, this is not a complete list of factors that negatively affect the condition of the hip joint.
Severe pain in the hip joint can appear due to a traumatic effect - this is:
- hip fracture is a serious injury that most often requires surgery to restore integrity;
- fissure of the ileum of the hip or femur;
- dislocation or subluxation with elongation of the joint capsule, accumulation of capillary blood and subsequent process of development of the hemarthrosis;
- rupture of the joint capsule;
- violation of the integrity of the joint bags (burs);
- elongation and ruptures of ligament and tendon fibers, also with the subsequent scar deformation process.
Aching pain in the hip joint can be the result of dystrophic processes. They can affect both external soft tissues and cartilage synovial membranes within the bone joint. Violation of the tone of the vascular wall against the background of lumbosacral osteochondrosis is the most common cause of tissue destruction of the hip joints. If we add to this the negative impact of the forced curvature of the spine due to the muscle fiber tension syndrome, it becomes clear that the pathology of the cartilaginous intervertebral discs can lead to disabilities due to the destruction of the hip joint.
Note that pain and stiffness in the hip joint may be signs of ankylosis development. This disease can be post-traumatic or rheumatoid. In the first case, contracture develops first, then the range of motion is reduced to complete immobility. Rheumatic lesions are the joint form of ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, polyarthritis, etc.
Potential causes of hip joint pain are diseases of the musculoskeletal system. They develop under the influence of the following risk factors:
- overweight and obesity (each additional kilogram of weight puts a huge load on all joints and the spine, causes their accelerated destruction);
- maintaining a sedentary lifestyle with insufficient physical activity and sedentary work - the process of blood supply to the tissues of the hip joint is disrupted, the efficiency of the synovial fluid decreases, and the process of disintegration of the protective cartilage tissues begins;
- smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages - changes biochemical processes, causes a sharp spasm of the capillary blood flow;
- heavy physical work and extreme weight lifting without previous training;
- incorrect installation of the foot in the form of flat feet or clubfoot;
- the wrong choice of shoes for everyday use and physical education;
- violation of the rules of ergonomics during the organization of the bed and work place.
All of these risk factors must be ruled out. An experienced physician during the initial collection of medical history data will try to identify all suspected causes and factors of negative influence. Then he will provide the patient with individual recommendations, the observance of which will eliminate the risk of recurrence of the identified disease in the future. Therefore, be sure to follow all of your doctor's recommendations.
Which doctor should I contact about hip joint pain?
The answer to the question of which doctor treats hip pain largely depends on the circumstances under which such a clinical symptom appeared. For example, if you have fallen, slipped or been involved in an accident, you must first contact a traumatologist. This doctor will exclude the possibility of violation of the integrity of the tissues. If necessary, he will provide all necessary assistance.
So, for a complete rehabilitation, it is recommended to contact a chiropractor. He will develop a course of therapeutic exercises that will completely restore the working capacity of the muscle structure of the body after forced immobilization. This will prevent the risk of developing deforming osteoarthritis and other serious degenerative diseases in the future.
If hip joint pain is bothering you all the time, which doctor should you see? We strongly recommend that you find a manual therapy clinic near your place of residence. There are usually doctors with extensive experience in working with such patients.
Unfortunately, in most city clinics it is impossible to get an appointment with an orthopedist or this specialist deals exclusively with the symptomatic treatment of the identified pathology. Those. it approaches the solution of the patient's problem exclusively in a formal way.
With long-term pain, it is very important to exclude the possibility of destruction of the lumbosacral spine. Therefore, in addition to consulting an orthopedist, it may also be necessary to consult a vertebrologist or neurologist. As a rule, doctors of this profile successfully practice in specialized manual therapy clinics.
Treating hip pain
Treatment for hip pain can only be started after an accurate diagnosis has been made. This is a clinical symptom of various pathologies. And the right course of therapy should take into account their causes.
For example, if the destruction of the cartilage layer inside the joint is provoked by muscle weakness against the background of insufficient innervation due to the destruction of the intervertebral discs in the lumbosacral spine, the course of treatment can be approximately as follows:
- first, with the help of manual traction of the spine, it makes sense to restore the normal position of the vertebral bodies and eliminate the compressive pressure from the cartilage tissues and root nerves;
- then, with the help of massage, the doctor can eliminate the syndrome of excessive tension of the muscle fiber and improve the elasticity of all soft tissues, accelerating the process of blood supply;
- osteopathic influence triggers the disturbed process of blood microcirculation, lymphatic and intercellular fluid, which has a positive effect on tissue trophism, on the elimination of infiltrative edema of the soft tissues surrounding the joint;
- physiotherapy accelerates metabolic processes, removes decomposition products, improves the synthesis of new cells, etc. ;
- laser exposure stimulates reparative processes;
- reflexology has a stimulating effect due to the fact that it affects the biologically active points of the human body;
- therapeutic gymnastics in combination with kinesitherapy develops the muscular structure of the human body, initiates the processes of disturbed trophism of cartilage tissues within the joints and in the area of the affected cartilaginous intervertebral discs.
The course of treatment for hip pain is always developed individually. Do not rush to take non-prescription medications. Most of them could be completely useless in your case. The second part of the pharmacological agents can significantly accelerate the process of tissue breakdown within the hip joints.
If you have unpleasant sensations in the area of this joint of the bones, do not tolerate them under any circumstances. Make an appointment with the specialist who will be available. Request an X-ray of the joint, if necessary, an MRI exam. For treatment, seek out a manual therapy clinic in your area.