In the vast majority of cases, pain in the hip joint is associated with degeneration of the cartilaginous synovial layer and the development of osteoarthritis deformans. But this is if we talk about patients older than 45 years. But at a younger age, completely different pathological processes can be the causes of the appearance of such a clinical symptom. And very often they are directly related to the defeat of the lumbosacral spine and lumbago syndrome. Most of them are long-term complications of osteochondrosis without proper treatment.
Pain in the hip joint is a sign that the position of the femoral head in the articular acetabulum is disturbed. This joint is one of the most loaded. It represents the maximum depreciation load both when walking and running, and when a person is standing and sitting.
The head of the femur, like the acetabulum of the ilium, is lined by a cartilaginous synovial layer. Inside the joint capsule is synovial fluid. When compressed, cartilage tissue secretes synovial fluid and, when straightened, absorbs it. Thus, the simultaneous distribution of the depreciation load and protection of the bone tissue from damage and cracks is carried out.
Synovial fluid is produced during the work of the muscles surrounding the joint. It penetrates the joint capsule by diffuse exchange. Maintaining a sufficient level and optimal viscosity of synovial fluid is the key to longevity and health of the hip joint.
Unfortunately, sedentary lifestyle, malnutrition, traumatic effects, excess weight and other risk factors lead to synovial fluid shrinking or losing its physiological properties. This starts the process of destruction of the cartilaginous 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 a hip arthroplasty surgical operation 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 traumatic injury to the ligamentous and tendon apparatus. If a person has even minor problems with the lumbosacral spine, then they do not have an even distribution of the depreciation burden. As a result, there is a large mechanical load on the ligaments and tendons. They are subject to periodic microscopic injury. In these places, cicatricial deformities form and gradually begin to exert a squeezing effect on the adjacent nerve fibers. This causes the appearance of pain.
In middle age, hip joint pain may also be associated with damage to the lumbosacral spine. But in this case, the probability of a violation of blood microcirculation increases. The defeat of the root nerves and the lumbosacral nerve plexus leads to the fact that the tone of the muscular wall of the bloodstream is disturbed. As a result, the tissues around the hip joint, like other parts of the lower extremities, do not receive enough 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 his ability to work, he needs a surgical operation and long-term rehabilitation.
We strongly recommend that in case of discomfort in the hip joint, you contact an orthopedic doctor in a timely manner. He, if necessary, will appoint a consultation with a vertebrologist, neurologist or angiosurgeon.
Causes of Severe Pain and Stiffness in the Hip Joint
Some of the possible 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.
Intense pain in the hip joint can appear as a result of a traumatic effect, that is:
- hip fracture is a serious injury that most often requires surgical intervention to restore integrity;
- fissure of the hip ilium or femur;
- dislocation or subluxation with stretching of the joint capsule, accumulation of capillary blood and the subsequent process of development of hemarthrosis;
- rupture of the joint capsule;
- violation of the integrity of the articular bags (strawberries);
- stretching and rupture of the ligamentous and tendinous fibers, even with the subsequent healing process due to deformation.
Aching pain in the hip joint can be the result of dystrophic processes. They can affect both the external soft tissues and the cartilaginous synovial membranes within the articulation of the bones. Violation of the tone of the vascular wall against the background of lumbosacral osteochondrosis is the most common cause of destruction of the tissues of the hip joints. If we add to this the negative impact of the forced curvature of the spine due to muscle fiber tension syndrome, it becomes clear that the pathology of the cartilaginous intervertebral discs can lead to disability due to the destruction of the hip joint.
Keep in mind that pain and stiffness in the hip joint can be signs of developing ankylosis. This disease can be post-traumatic or rheumatoid. In the first case, the contracture develops first, then the amplitude of mobility is reduced to complete immobility. Rheumatic lesions are the articular form of ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, polyarthritis, etc.
Possible causes of pain in the hip joint 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, provokes 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 synovial fluid decreases, and the process of disintegration of cartilaginous protective tissues begins;
- smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages - changes biochemical processes, provokes a sharp spasm of the capillary bloodstream;
- heavy physical work and extreme weight lifting without prior training;
- incorrect installation of the foot in the form of flat feet or club feet;
- the wrong choice of shoes for everyday wear and physical education;
- violation of ergonomics rules when arranging your sleeping and working place.
All these risk factors must be excluded. An experienced physician during the initial collection of history data will attempt to identify all suspected causes and negative influencing factors. Then she will give the patient individual recommendations, the observance of which will eliminate the risk of recurrence of the identified disease in the future. So be sure to follow all of your doctor's recommendations.
Which doctor should I contact for hip joint pain?
The answer to the question of which doctor treats hip pain depends largely on the circumstances in which such a clinical symptom appeared. For example, if you fell, slipped, or had an accident, you should first contact an orthopedic surgeon. This doctor will exclude the possibility of violation of the integrity of the tissues. If necessary, all necessary assistance will be provided.
Then, for a complete rehabilitation, it is recommended to contact a chiropractor. He will develop a course of therapeutic exercises that will fully restore the working capacity of the muscular structure of the body after forced immobilization. This will avoid the risk of developing deforming osteoarthritis and other serious degenerative pathologies in the future.
If hip joint pain bothers you all the time, which doctor should you see? We strongly recommend that you find a manual therapy clinic near where you live. There are usually doctors with extensive experience in working with these types of patients.
Unfortunately, in most city clinics it is impossible to get an appointment with an orthopedist, or this specialist deals exclusively with symptomatic treatment of the identified pathology. Those. it approaches the solution of the patient's problem exclusively formally.
With long-term pain, it is very important to exclude the possibility of destruction of the lumbosacral spine. Therefore, in addition to seeing an orthopedist, you may also need to see a vertebrologist or neurologist. As a rule, doctors of this profile successfully practice in clinics specializing in manual therapy.
Hip pain treatment
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 correct course of therapy should take into account its 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, then the course of treatment may be approximately the Next:
- 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 of the cartilaginous tissues and root nerves;
- then, with the help of massage, the doctor can eliminate the syndrome of excessive muscle fiber tension and improve the elasticity of all soft tissues, speed up 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, elimination of infiltrating edema of the soft tissues surrounding the joint;
- physiotherapy accelerates metabolic processes, removes decay 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 kinesiotherapy develops the muscular structure of the human body, initiates the processes of impaired trophism of cartilage tissues inside 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 medications without a prescription. Most of them may be completely useless in your case. The second part of 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 in any case. Make an appointment with the specialist who will be available. Order an X-ray of the joint, as necessary, an MRI examination. For treatment, find a manual therapy clinic in your area.