Introduction
Hip pain is complex, and different for every person. Your hip pain is likely caused by a problem with the bone, cartilage, ligament, muscles, tendon or a combination of these structures. Understanding these pain patterns allows us to start building a picture of what your hip problem is, and what structures could be affected.
Our hip specialists can discuss options to reduce pain, increase mobility and decide whether a scan or hip surgery are advisable.
Ready to book now? Get in touch to discuss your needs and decide on the best course of treatment for you.
Ready to book now? Get in touch to discuss your needs and decide on the best course of treatment for you.
Reasons to see a hip surgeon
Hip pain is commonly felt at the front, side or around the hip. There are many reasons for hip pain and you may choose, or be referred on, to see a podiatric surgeon if you experience:
- Osteoarthritis: affects most people as we age. It’s felt during activities such as putting shoes or socks on, getting out of a car or deep chair.
- Lateral hip pain: is caused by irritation of the soft structures on the side of the hip. It is most noticeable when walking or lying on your side.
- Impingement: feels like a ‘pinch’ in the front of the hip joint. It is typically felt during twisting, squatting or sitting.
Common hip conditions
Hip osteoarthritis
From the moment we are born our bones, ligaments, muscles, tendons and cartilage adapt in a response to what we ask of our bodies. This process can simply be thought of as one of ‘wear and repair’.
The process of ‘wear and repair’ allows the cartilage within our joints to adapt to our activity levels, which change throughout our lifetime. Osteoarthritis occurs when the rate of cartilage ‘repair’ is surpassed by the irreversible rate of ‘wear’ over a prolonged period.
Pain on the outside of your hip
The outside of the hip is a common place to experience pain due to the numerous structures found here. Whilst the source of the pain may be unique to you, the causes of lateral hip pain are often very similar. Lateral hip pain is a problem which tends to affect the ‘soft’ tissue of the hip (muscle, tendon and bursa) and it can arise for many reasons. Often the activities you do daily contribute to pain developing, such as how you walk or even the way in which you sit. Treating lateral hip pain focuses on reducing inflammation, and improving the muscular control of the hip and pelvis.
Pain at the front of your hip (Hip Impingement)
Hip impingement relates to how the ‘ball and socket’ interact with each other. Sometimes the ball differs slightly from the shape of the socket resulting in a ‘pinching’ type action when you bend or twist the hip. If you are suffering from impingement, you should feel reassured that you were born with it, and likely spent most of your life without pain. Treatment of hip impingement focuses on reducing the activities that give you pain, at very least for a short period of time to allow your symptoms to settle. During this period the irritated cartilage and bone will have a chance to become less tender. A specific muscular control programme will help you regain confidence and restore pain free function. Modifying exercises and activities that avoid deep flexion (such as sitting cross legged) will further improve your recovery. Our hip specialists can advise whether treatment through (femoroacetabular) impingement surgery is necessary.
Common hip procedures
Total hip replacement surgery
Total hip replacement surgery is a common procedure for hip pain caused by degenerative conditions, such as arthritis. If you’re suffering from chronic hip pain a hip replacement surgery to replace the damaged or deteriorated hip joint with an artificial joint may be advisable.
