Hip Pain Specialist

Hip Anatomy

Your hip is the joint where your thigh bone and pelvis meet. Hips are called ball-and-socket joints because the ball-like top of your thigh bone moves within a cup-like space in your pelvis. Your hips are usually very stable, and it takes a great deal of force to hurt them. Playing sports, running, overuse or falling can lead to hip injuries.

Certain diseases also lead to hip injuries or problems. Osteoarthritis can cause pain and limited motion. Osteoporosis of the hip causes weak bones that break easily. Both of these are common in older people

Orthopedic Specialists diagnoses and treats all types of hip conditions, from acute injuries such as fractures to chronic, long-term degenerative issues.   We offer a variety of surgical and non-surgical treatment options that we individualize for your specific needs. 

Hip pain

Hip pain involves any pain in or around the hip joint. You may not feel pain from your hip directly over the hip area. You may feel it in your buttocks, groin or pain in your thigh or knee.

Some of the Hip Conditions We Treat

We treat all acute and chronic hip conditions, including:

• Hip strains occur with repeated activities that can put stress on the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support the hips. When they become inflamed due to overuse, they can cause pain and prevent the hip from working normally.
• Tendonitis is when the tendons, which are the thick bands of tissue that attach bones to muscles, are inflamed. This is usually caused by repetitive stress from overuse.
• Hip dysplasia means that the bones of the hip joint are not aligned properly which prevents the hip joint from working properly and the joint wears out much faster than normal. This condition also allows the hip joint to partially or completely dislocate more easily causing cartilage tears or early arthritis. Most people with hip dysplasia are born with the condition.
• Arthritis of the hip (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis) is inflammation of the hip joint and the breakdown of the cartilage that cushions your hip bones. The pain gradually gets worse. People with arthritis also feel stiffness and have reduced range of motion in the hip.
• Avascular necrosis is a condition the occurs when blood flow to the hip bone slows and the bone tissue dies. Although it can affect other bones, avascular necrosis most often happens in the hip. It can be caused by a hip fracture or dislocation, or from the long-term use of high-dose steroids (such as prednisone), among other causes.
• Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI), also called hip impingement, is a condition in which extra bone grows along one or both of the bones that form the hip joint.  The extra bones create an irregular shape that creates premature contact inside the hip joint and can lead to labral tears.
• Labral tear is a tear that occurs to the labrum which is the cartilage in the hip socket. The labrum provides not only cushioning to the hip joint; it helps to hold the femoral head (ball) securely within your hip socket. Athletes and people who perform repetitive twisting movements are at higher risk of developing this problem.
• Hip bursitis is when the bursae sacs are inflamed.  Bursae are sacs of liquid found between tissues such as bone, muscles, and tendons. They ease the friction from these tissues rubbing together. Inflammation of bursae is usually due to repetitive activities that overwork or irritate the hip joint. 
• Hip dislocation occurs when the head of the thighbone (femur) is forced out of its socket in the hip.  The hip joint is very stable, secured by both bone and soft tissue; dislocation typically requires significant force such as from a motor vehicle collision or from a fall.
• Hip fracture is when the upper portion of the femur (thighbone) breaks. The most common hip fractures occur in elderly patients when bones have become weakened by osteoporosis. When a hip fracture occurs in a younger patient, it is typically due to a high-impact injury.

DIAGNOSING HIP CONDITIONS

The diagnosis of hip conditions is made by:

• a complete medical history, 
• a thorough physical examination,
• and an X-ray evaluation.
• Sometimes other types of imaging, such as a magnetic resonance arthrogram (MRA) may be required to make an accurate diagnosis.  X-ray evaluation provides a high quality image of the boney structures of the hip where a MRA provides an image of the soft structures contained inside the hip joint.   

TREATING HIP INJURIES AND CONDITIONS

Treatment varies widely, depending on the problem. Treatment for hip disorders may include rest, steroid injections, oral medicines, physical therapy or surgery.

SURGERY FOR HIP INJURIES AND CONDITIONS

If we are able to effectively treat you without surgery, we will. But if you’ve already been treated without a good outcome, or you have a severe issue, we will discuss your surgical options and help you decide which option is best for you.

We have fellowship trained specialists that perform hundreds of hip surgeries each year, including hip arthroscopies and hip replacements, so you feel confident in your choice of surgeon.

Contact Us / Make an Appointment

Your health is an important decision, don’t trust that to just anyone.  Let our years of experience diagnosing and treating hip conditions help you.  Call Orthopedic Specialists today.