Get your hip pain under control and find out when to turn to a doctor for help.
The hip is the body’s largest ball-and-socket joint and also one of the most important joints in the body, enabling you to walk, run and jump with ease. The hip also has to take on a lot of force and pressure every time you move. So, it’s not too surprising that at some point you may find yourself dealing with hip pain. Our Joliet, IL, team of podiatric, spinal, orthopedic surgeons Dr. Joe George, Dr. Rebecca Kuo, Dr. Ryan Pizinger offer a variety of nonsurgical and surgical treatment options.
What is causing your hip pain?
Before we can treat the problem we have to first understand what is causing you pain. Sudden hip pain is often caused by injury or stress. In this case, strained or inflamed tissue is most likely causing your pain. Usually, with rest and home care, the problem will go away within a couple of days.
However, if you are experiencing severe or chronic hip pain then you will want to investigate the problem further. Common causes of hip pain include,
- Bursitis
- Tendonitis
- Arthritis (e.g. osteoarthritis; rheumatoid arthritis)
- Hip impingement
- Hernia
It’s important to talk with our orthopedic physicians and to let them know any and all symptoms you are experiencing. The more information you provide the easier it will be to determine the best diagnostic tests to perform.
When should I see a doctor?
If your hip pain persists for more than two weeks then it’s time to give us a call. As we said, the more information you can provide us during your evaluation the better, so write down everything you can about your condition before you head to our office.
Common tests used to diagnose hip pain include,
- CT scans
- X-rays
- MRI
- Blood tests (if a doctor suspects arthritis or an infection)
How is hip pain treated?
Conservative care is usually the first course of action, depending on the severity of your condition. This includes rest, icing, gentle exercises and anti-inflammatory medications. For more serious conditions, further treatments such as physical therapy and steroid injections may be recommended.
Hip fractures will almost always require surgery to correct and stabilize the bone. Older individuals may also require hip replacement surgery at some point, particularly those dealing with advanced forms of arthritis.
We offer a variety of cutting-edge and minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures for patients dealing with chronic hip problems. If your pain is new, worsening or appearing after an injury then the team at Illinois Orthopedic Institute in Joliet, Bolingbrook and Channahon, IL, can help. Call our office today at (815) 741-6900.