Causes of Hip Pain
introduction
Hip pain are a common phenomenon that can affect both young and old people. Also the causes of Hip pain can be diverse. Nevertheless, it can be observed in everyday clinical practice that various causes of Hip pain can often be assigned to specific age groups.
In general one subdivides the causes of Hip pain in congenital and acquired diseases. Furthermore, the acquired causes of hip pain can be combined into one traumatic (triggered by an accident) and one atraumatic Divide the group (not triggered by an accident). In this context you can Hip pain by Disorders of the musculoskeletal system and by changes in the bony hip caused. They are particularly common in older patients degenerative causes for the development of hip pain.
Due to the variety of possible diseases that make themselves felt through hip pain, those affected should carefully observe where the symptoms are localized and in which context the pain develops. The general rule: If hip pain occurs frequently and / or persists over a longer period of time, a specialist should be consulted promptly and the exact cause clarified.
The most common causes, that lead to the development of hip pain can be treated quite well, especially in the early stages. Advanced processes, on the other hand, usually require more extensive therapy and have a significantly poorer prognosis.
Causes of unilateral hip pain
Unilateral hip pain are in most cases related to a Incorrect posture of the body axis. Many of the affected patients tend to gain a large part of their body weight, for example while standing on one leg to relocate.
In this way a Leaning of the whole bodywhich leads to an increased increase in the muscles on the load side over a longer period of time. The affected patients tend to do this not just while standing, but rather even when sitting or walking to take a bias.
Straight in women In many cases, the cause of hip pain is caused by carrying small children on the hip put on.
Furthermore can congenital deformities of the hip joint (for example a Pelvic inclination) Be the cause of unilateral hip pain.
If you suspect a pelvic tilt as the cause of your complaints, you can learn more about this topic from us under Pelvic tilt.
Typical causes for the occurrence of unilateral hip pain in childhood are one insufficient hip joint maturation, Impairment of the individual hip joint parts (for example with Perthes disease) and traumatic injuries the bony structures or the muscular ligament apparatus.
Patients suffering from unilateral hip pain should, if possible, observe at which point the symptoms occur and whether they radiate to other parts of the body.
In addition, the Quality of the hip pain (stabbing, burning, dull) play a crucial role in finding the underlying causes.
Hip pain, the cause of which can be found in the area of the muscle-ligament apparatus, has one in most cases burning character.
In addition, the hip pain in the case of a muscular cause is called very large area and painfully described.
The majority of patients give one for hip pain, the cause of which cannot be found in the area of the hip joint itself Radiation of pain in the legs, the move or that buttocks on. In addition, hip pain with muscular causes is usually strongest in the morning, after getting up or immediately after an exertion phase.
Adequate, light exercise units during the day, however, contribute muscular diseases or pathologies in the area of the connective tissue mostly to improve the hip pain.
The Hip arthrosis (Coxarthrosis) is one of the most common causes of hip pain in addition to the pathologies of the muscle ligament apparatus. This condition is a wear-related, slowly progressive, non-inflammatory change of Hip joint.
Usually this cause of hip pain affects primarily old and / or overweight people.
The most common reason for such a wear and tear disease to occur is a disproportion between the load acting on the joint and the actual load capacity of the various parts of the joint.
Appointment with a hip expert?
I would be happy to advise you!
Who am I?
My name is dr. Nicolas Gumpert. I am a specialist in orthopedics and the founder of .
Various television programs and print media report regularly about my work. On HR television you can see me every 6 weeks live on "Hallo Hessen".
But now enough is indicated ;-)
The hip joint is one of the joints that are exposed to the greatest stress.
The treatment of the hip (e.g. hip arthrosis, hip impingement, etc.) therefore requires a lot of experience.
I treat all hip diseases with a focus on conservative methods.
The aim of any treatment is treatment without surgery.
Which therapy achieves the best results in the long term can only be determined after looking at all of the information (Examination, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, etc.) be assessed.
You can find me in:
- Lumedis - your orthopedic surgeon
Kaiserstrasse 14
60311 Frankfurt am Main
Directly to the online appointment arrangement
Unfortunately, it is currently only possible to make an appointment with private health insurers. I hope for your understanding!
Further information about myself can be found at Dr. Nicolas Gumpert
Other causes of unilateral hip pain are:
inflammatory changes in the hip joint (Coxitis)
infectious inflammation of the hip joint („Runny nose“)
Of the Runny nose is also known as Coxitis fugax or transient synovitis designates and represents a abacterial, this means germ-free inflammation of the hip joint represent.
The hip runny nose is the most common affection of the hip joint in growing age. Typically this disorder occurs between the ages of 3 and 8 on, whereby both younger and older children can get sick.
Adults can also get a runny nose, but this is extremely rare. The hip runny nose is not infectious.Skeletal system diseases
Skeletal system disorders can also affect the hip joint and / or the thighbones, causing hip pain as follows.
These diseases include osteoporosis, which is caused by a decreased Density of the bone is marked and the Osteomalacia, in which, as a result of a deficiency in vitamin D in adults, a painful softening of the bones comes.
Also one local thickening and deformation of the bone due to increased remodeling of the bone known as Paget's disease can cause hip pain.Congenital hip dysplasia (Developmental disorder of the acetabulum)
- The growth plate slides off when the femoral head is detached (Epiphysiolysis capitis femoris)
- Impingement of the hip
The concept of Impingements means as much as Entrapment or bump and describes the bump of the on the hip Thigh bone on the front roof of the Acetabulum.
This will happen in people with Shape deviations on joint parts of the hip favored by certain movements. To be mentioned here is that diffraction and also that lead inside of the thigh. Affected people complain about Pain localized deep in the grointhat at the beginning especially with prolonged exposure occur. Above all, activities in which the movement pattern described above predominates, such as climbing stairs or cycling, cause these complaints.
- Intraosseous ganglion
An intraosseous (subchondral) ganglion is a small, rounded ones cystthat is in one of the hip joints near bones is localized.
Either the Femoral head or the Acetabulumwhere the little cyst below the articular cartilage can be found.
The cyst causes one Irritation of the nearby hip joint, it can cause discomfort in the hip area.
The concept of intraosseous ganglion means something like benign tumor located in the bone, which can be detected with the help of an X-ray.
- Rheumatic processes
- Meralgia paraesthetica (Bernhardt-Roth syndrome)
At a Meralgia paraesthetica those affected feel one Nerve pain, a so-called neuralgia.
This is through a inflammation of the lateral thigh cutaneous nerve (Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve) conditional.
The reason for this is usually one Compression of the nerve in the area of the inguinal ligament or a mechanical pressure from the outside, for example through body fat, skin-tight clothing or seat belts ("Seat Belt Syndrome“).
Describe the affected patients burning pain at the upper outside of the thighwhich of Paresthesia, such as tingling or numbness of the skin may be accompanied.
- Polymyalgia rheumatica
The polymyalgia rheumatica is a disease that belongs to the group of Vascular inflammation (Vasculitis) is counted. She shows up with acute pain in the shoulder and pelvic girdle muscles.
This condition affects mostly older people, mainly after the age of 50, with women being affected significantly more often than men. Tumors
Benign or malignant tumors can also In rare cases cause hip pain.
These are tumors that originate from bone or cartilage tissue or from the Synovial membrane (Synovia) to take.
Bone metastases (settlements from other tumors in the bone tissue) can also cause hip pain if they occur in the hip area.
Causes of bilateral hip pain
In general, all diseases that lead to one-sided hip pain can also occur simultaneously on both halves of the body and thus be the cause of hip pain on both sides.
In most cases, the causes of bilateral hip pain are based on one clearly incorrect posture of the hip joint and the lower extremity. Men in particular often tend to keep the hip joints in an outwardly rotated position. This External rotation of the legs while standing, walking and / or sitting leads to a significant increase in stress individual components of the hip joint. Over time arise degenerative processes caused by stress, the especially the cartilaginous parts of the hip joint and to severe hip pain being able to lead. In addition, the Hollow back posture the so-called "starter muscle" is one of the most common causes of hip pain on both sides.
Hip pain at night
Certain clinical pictures can cause discomfort, especially when resting or lying down, and thus especially at night cause hip pain.
Since nighttime hip pain the Disturb sleep and so for a substantial Impairment of quality of life are responsible, they should be one Reason for a medical consultation represent.
This can then be done using survey (Anamnesis) of the patient and one physical exam beautiful first clues get to the cause of the discomfort. Depending on the assessment of the symptoms, he may recommend further investigationssuch as x-rays.
The following treatment the nightly hip pain is ultimately dependent on the responsible clinical picture.
A common reason for hip pain at night is that Coxarthrosis, i.e. osteoarthritis of the hip joint.
Hip osteoarthritis usually affects people advanced age and is conditioned by the Wear of the articular surfaces (Read also: Cartilage damage).
At a advanced osteoarthritis of the hip joint typically also pain when lying down, sitting or at night, whereas in Initial stages the disease only brief pains dominate at the beginning of a movement.
A good hint for a hip osteoarthritis that may begin, for example Start-up pain in the morning or complaints after exposure.
Also one Inflammation of the hip joint (Coxitis) is known, can be responsible for hip pain at rest, including at night.
More symptoms that indicate a Coxitis are suggest swelling, Redness, overheat, Tenderness, Pain on exertion, possibly fever and a Restriction of movement of the affected hip joint.
Rheumatic diseases can also cause hip pain, which affects the rest at night. One example is the group of Spondyloarthritis, an amalgamation of various chronic inflammatory diseases that are characterized by certain common clinical and genetic characteristics.
For diseases from the group of spondyloarthritis, such as Bechterew's disease (ankylosing spondylitis) pain and stiffness in the second half of the night, which extend into the morning, are characteristic.
In addition, an increased uric acid level in the blood, which above certain values causes painful deposits of uric acid crystals in joints, can cause joint problems that can also affect the hip joints. One then speaks of gout. Gout can also cause hip pain at night.
Incidentally, a bursitis of the hip joint (Trochanteric bursitis) trigger nighttime complaints.
The pain in this case is described as pulling or stabbing and is localized over the large hillock of the femur.
Read more on the subject at: Greater trochanter pain.
Typically, they occur after the leg is put under pressure, but if the pain is long and chronic, the hip pain can also occur at rest.
In addition, the area around the bursa appears swollen, reddened and overheated and is very sensitive to movement or pressure.
Nocturnal hip pain can also suggest nerve involvement. This means that the pain at night can also be caused by a herniated disc in the lumbar spine or lumbar sciatica (synonym: sciatic syndrome).
This should be considered especially if the pain originates in the spine or lower back and radiates to the hips or thighs.
Read more on the topic: Hip pain at night - what's behind it?
Hip pain can also occur during pregnancy and be due to many different causes. Pregnant women often notice the pain especially at night.
In the case of slight discomfort, a pillow between or under the legs can provide relief through the relief.
Light movement before going to bed or a hot water bottle can also relieve the pain.
The midwife may also be able to recommend helpful exercises to relieve the hips.
If these methods do not work, pain relievers such as paracetamol can also be taken.
In such cases, to protect the unborn child (read also: Paracetamol in pregnancy), a discussion with the attending physician must be sought before taking.
Read more on the topic: Hip pain in pregnancy
Hip pain when lying down
Also Hip pain when lying down can through a Variety of causes be conditional. Often the pain is felt less during physical distraction or movement than when the body comes to rest and one can concentrate on the complaints, as is the case, for example, when lying down.
In the following, common causes for these symptoms are explained.
More often are Hip pain when lying down to see people who Lie on your side when sleeping.
As a result, the body weight automatically has a certain effect Pressure on the hip one that can cause pain in the hip area at night or in the morning.
This is particularly common when both the sleeping position and the mattress (too hard or too soft) or the slatted frame are considered unfavorable.
Also flu-like infections and associated body aches and pains can be blamed for hip pain when lying down.
In many cases, a excessive stress of Hip joint or the surrounding muscles be the cause of hip pain when lying down. Help here extended training breaks against the complaints. Inflammation of the hip joint (Coxitis) or one Bursitis (Bursitis) can be the cause of such symptoms.
Especially with those affected advanced age should also be a Arthrosis of the hip joint (Coxarthrosis) be considered.
As the disease progresses, this not only results in initial pain, but also pain at rest.
Pregnant women also frequently complain about hip pain, which is often felt mainly at rest. The cause can be, for example Symphysis loosening, so one Loosening of the pelvic girdle which can lead to significant pain.
Also in children and adolescents hip pain can occur, which can also manifest itself when lying down.
Here is a consultation with a doctor particularly important, since the complaints can be attributed not only to the bone growth in the growth phase, but also to legs of unequal length.
For the exclusion of a serious illness and the Compilation of a suitable therapy a visit to the orthopedic surgeon is essential.
With the help of a patient survey (anamnesis), a physical exam and the imaging diagnostics In most cases, a cause for the hip pain can be found while lying down. If no reason for the complaints can be discovered, the Change of your own sleeping position, the purchase of a other mattress and / or a new slatted frame that adapted to your own physique are to remedy the situation.
In addition, you can also purchase one Side sleeper pillow to be recommended. In many cases, these trivial measures already help to eliminate the annoying hip pain when lying down.
At muscular hip pain mostly physical therapy and or Massages a suitable therapy option represent.
This creates a Decrease in muscular tensionwho in turn are a positive impact should have hip pain when lying down.
Also one Change of load, or training can help.
In the case of acute hip pain, it is important to have one for a certain period of time To take a break from training.
It can Taking painkillers how Paracetamol or ibuprofen also relieve hip pain when lying down, but this always is just treating the symptoms and not the root cause.
Hence, you should stop taking pain medication only after medical advice respectively.
Depending on the diagnosis still come further therapeutic measures for hip pain when lying down in question.
For more information, also check out our main article: Hip pain when lying down
