Anyone can develop hip pain, but particularly athletes such as runners, skiers, or dancers. Pain can develop slowly over time or flare up abruptly due to a sudden injury. A fall on the ski slopes, for example, can result in a fracture, bursitis, or muscle tear.
People who suffer from hip pain usually start limping, which can cause back or other lower leg problems that exacerbate the original problem. This is because limping changes your gait, causing you to shift weight onto parts of your body not meant to support it. For example, if the pain is localized on one side of your hip, shifting your weight to the other leg will put additional strain on those muscles and bones.
Field athletes can develop problems such as:
- Snapping hip syndrome, also called dancer’s hip. This condition is characterized by a snapping sensation felt when the hip is extended or flexed, often accompanied by pain and a popping noise.
- Iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome results from overuse of the connective tissues on the outer part of the knee, and is especially common in runners.
- Hip impingement results when overuse of the hip wears away the cartilage between the ball and socket hip joint. The bones rub together, causing pain and discomfort.
- Muscle strain
It is important to identify the source of your hip pain. Dr. Rolnik is an experienced sports medicine physician who can diagnose your problem and develop an individualized treatment plan incorporating surgical or non-surgical options as necessary. Unless you have a fracture, surgery is only considered as a last resort.
There are a number of home remedies you can try, including:
- Resting your hip for several days
- Icing the area for 15 minutes several times a day
- Heating the area with a shower or warm bath
- Over-the-counter pain medication to ease pain symptoms while you rest
Whether your hip pain is becoming a daily problem, or it flares up occasionally, you should see a sports medicine specialist so you can get back on the slopes, trails, or courts as quickly as possible. Call Remedy Sports and Regenerative Medicine today and get a complete evaluation of your hip pain.
