If you’re dealing with chronic hip pain, you know it isn’t a joke. Hip pain, defined as pain or discomfort felt in the groin or on the outside of the hip directly over the hip joint, can interfere with exercise and normal everyday activities.

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Common Causes of Hip Pain

There are a wide variety of reasons why you may be experiencing hip pain. It’s important to get an accurate diagnosis so that you can take appropriate actions to alleviate the pain while using the least invasive treatment methods.

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The following are common causes of hip pain:

1. Arthritis. This is the most common cause of all hip pain. Your hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint, and the lubricant that keeps your joints moving smoothly may have started to dry up or the joint itself may simply have started to wear out. The ball isn’t moving easily in the socket anymore, and the friction causes pain that radiates from the joint to the front of your thigh or your groin. You will also feel the joint becoming stiff or beginning to show symptoms of swelling as well.

2. Bone fracture. Believe it or not, you can fracture your hip and not realize it. A hip fracture can show up only as pain experienced when you lift, move, or put weight on our leg. You may also notice that your foot will tilt such that your toes out on the injured side.

3. Tendonitis. Your hips, buttocks, and quadriceps are big muscle groups. These large muscles are attached to the joint by tendons. If you overuse these muscles and tendons, the tendons may become inflamed, causing hip pain.

Tendonitis can occur from a wide variety of forms of exercise or overuse, but one particularly common problem is iliotibial band syndrome. This happens when the iliotibial band (a thick band of tissue that runs from the outer rim of your pelvis to the outside of your knee) is irritated or overused.

4. Bursitis. The bony part of your hip is the point that is closest to the surface. This part of the hip is cushioned by fluid-filled sacs called bursae. If you overuse your hip joint, the bursae become inflamed and can ache.

5. Hernia. If you develop a femoral or an inguinal hernia (common during pregnancy due to pressure related to the developing baby), you may experience hip pain in the front of your hip.

6. Sciatica. Your sciatic nerve can become pinched if you are carrying too much weight or do not have good posture. The pain of sciatica can be rather distracting and can run from your lower back to your buttocks and down your leg, presenting as hip pain.

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Natural Hip Pain Treatments

In most cases, heat and rest are the best natural methods of treating hip pain.

In addition to heat and rest, you will want to take the following steps to prevent and treat hip pain without medication or invasive treatments:

1. Stretch before and after exercising to prevent tears and inflammation.

2. Wear good running shoes and loose clothing that will not constrict movement.

3. Avoid repetitive movement exercises that may be triggering the inflammation or injury. Many runners find they need to switch to another form of exercise while their hips recover from overuse.

4. Lose weight. Extra weight can cause hip joint pain and exacerbate injuries and inflammation.

5. Seek chiropractic adjustments to align the spine and prevent excess wear and tear due to misalignment.

6. Try acupuncture. Acupuncture stimulates natural pain relief hormones and chemicals. It helps the body manage pain without the use of medication.

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Looking for a Huntersville Natural Doctor for Hip Pain Relief?

Dr. Doyle has been helping patients manage hip pain naturally for years. He will first give you a comprehensive examination followed by a specific treatment plan tailored to heal existing hip pain and prevent future pain from developing.

Give us a call or stop by to meet Dr. Doyle and the staff. We’ll gladly answer any questions you have and help you get back on the road to wellness.