Most adults will experience hip pain at one point or another. Thankfully, for the majority of people, hip pain is transitory or short-lived. But what about people who have lasting pain in one or both of their hips?
Hip pain that does not go away is classified as chronic pain. It can last for months, or even years. As almost anyone who has suffered from chronic hip pain will attest, this condition has a very real impact on the sufferer’s quality of life, daily outlook, and ability to get rest at night.
Depending on the specific condition that is causing your hip pain, you may have discomfort in the following areas:
Inside or outside of the hip joint
Thigh
Buttocks
One of the most frequent causes of chronic hip pain is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis can be caused by a number of factors — age and trauma are two of the most common. As a result, cartilage in the hip, which is supposed to cushion the joints, starts to break down. This causes the bones to rub together, and that bone-on-bone action creates a high level of pain. Osteoarthritis can also lead to general stiffness and loss of movement.
According to the CDC, osteoarthritis affects as many as 27 million people.
Conservative treatments are always the preferred option when it comes to chronic hip pain, and osteoarthritis in particular. However, when those conservative treatments are no longer enough, then it’s time to start considering hip replacement surgery as an option.
Fortunately, the majority of hip pain due to osteoarthritis can be managed through proper treatment, and hip replacement surgery has an incredibly high satisfaction rate among patients. Hip replacement surgery leads to long-term improvement, not only in quality of life, but also in mood and the ability to get a full night’s rest.
Finding relief from hip pain starts with getting a proper diagnosis. If hip pain is causing you trouble at night or when you are resting, or if you’re feeling stiffness in the joint, then it’s time to seek help.
Dr. Troy Miles is a board certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in surgery of the hip and knee. For all appointments and inquiries, please call (530) 246-2467.