Hip Pain
Hip pain has multiple causes, and it is crucial to determine the correct one as treatment options vary. Many conditions cause pain in the area around the hip but this does not necessarily mean the hip joint is the source. It is important to avoid surgery when an alternative source of pain is the main problem.
Patients often have multiple causes for their symptoms. It is therefore important to determine which symptoms are likely to improve with surgery and which will persist afterwards to enable an informed decision regarding the potential benefits and risks of surgery.
Establishing the correct diagnosis is not always easy as often these areas of symptoms overlap or are in close proximity to each other.
Pains around of the front area of the hip and groin could be:
- Hip arthritis
- Impingement and labral pathology (usually seen in younger patients)
- Groin hernias
- Hip flexor tendinopathy and other muscular strains.
- Bowel or ovarian/testicular problems
Pains around the outer side of the hip could be:
- Greater trochanter pain syndrome (previously called Trochanteric Bursitis)
- Gluteal tendinopathy
- Meralgia Paraesthetica
Pains around the back and buttocks could be:
- Back arthritis
- Nerve root entrapment in the back and Sciatica
- Sacro-iliac joint pain and arthritis.
- Hip pain – occasionally groin to buttock pain
Hip Arthritis
Hip arthritis is a common cause of groin pain which can radiate to the front of the thigh and the top of the knee but not beyond. Some individuals experience predominantly knee pain which is referred from the hip. Others describe groin to buttock pain. Many patients also report stiffness and limited movement, which can affect daily activities such as putting on socks and cutting toenails. Hip arthritis can also cause sleep disturbances and difficulty with daily tasks.
Diagnosis is typically established through a plain X-ray. However, if the pain is disproportionate to the imaging findings further investigations such as an MRI may be necessary to examine the joint in greater detail.
Management of hip arthritis
The management of hip arthritis is multi-modal and a hip replacement is often the end of the journey in managing symptoms. Before considering surgery, patients often consider:
- Lifestyle modifications
- Pain relief
- Weight management
- Physiotherapy
- Walking aids
Further information can be found using the following links.
https://www.arthritis-uk.org/media/nsfbwg4t/a5-osteoarthritis-of-the-hip-booklet_digital.pdf
For patients in Norfolk and Waveney
https://norfolkandwaveneycommunityhealth.nhs.uk/msk/self-help/hip/osteoarthritis-of-the-hip/
For patients in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
https://www.dynamichealth.nhs.uk/help-and-advice/hip-pain
