Hip Pain
Pain around the hip and groin area is one of the more common chronic or long-term conditions that we see at The Physiotherapy Place. This area is very complex and the source of pain can be from any number of structures including the hip, pelvis, or lower back. Chronic pain in this area can be seen in all ages of people such as footballers with chronic groin strains or pensioners with arthritis in the hip.
Location of Pain
The area of the pain gives a good hint at the structure that is causing the pain but it by no means confirms it. For instance pain in the buttock might be from a muscle tear in the area or could also be referred pain from the lower back.
Cause of Injury
The cause of injury also gives us a clue as to the likely structure that is causing the problem. For example pain on the outside of the hip caused by an increase in running training might suggest a bursitis, whereas pain shooting into the buttock after sitting for a long time might point towards a referred pain or a nerve coming from the lower back.
Unresolving Hip Pain
When hip pain doesn't resolve, it generally means that there is something there that is continuing to be irritated and therefore not allowing effective healing to happen. Degeneration of the hip joint or a tear in the labrum protecting the joint may cause pain and stiffness in the front and side of the hip and this might show up on x-ray.
Hypersensitivity of the bone on the outside of the hip when lying on that side is a common complaint often becoming more prominent in bed at night which can disturb your sleep. The primary suspects for this type of pain are the bursa or the tendons of the gluteal muscles that attach onto the bone on the outside of the hip. If these are overly taught then they can become inflamed and create a chronic pain that can be difficult to shift.
Chronic pain in the buttock is often wrongly attributed to a hip problem. In fact it is most often referred pain coming from the lower back. The main nerves that come out from the lower back go into the buttock and supply the muscles there so an irritation or stiffness in the back can commonly give people a dull, tight, sensitive feeling in the buttock that just doesn't go away. In many cases of long-term hip pain, recognising this and treating the lower back usually gets the problem solved reasonably quickly.
How We Can Help
All of these conditions can effectively be treated with different physio techniques such as manipulation, soft tissue release, or dry needling. If there is a nerve element to the pain - that is a deep dull pain or tightness in the hip and buttock muscles - then I find that Gunn IMS is a great way to resolve this quickly. The key is identifying what is actually causing your pain so assessing the whole of the lower back, hip and pelvis is essential. Once the cause has been established and treatment has begun on all of the contributing areas, relief from your pain is often quick.
FREE Physio E-Book - 8 Top Tips for Hip Pain
Hip pain and stiffness is a common problem and one that can often linger on for a long time. Some who seek help from their GP will be prescribed rest and painkillers, but most of the time this will not solve the problem. Here, you'll find our top 8 tips on reducing hip pain and keeping the tissues in your hip strong and healthy. Our FREE e-book will help you to:
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Make small changes in your life to relax and support your hips
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Even if you’ve suffered for months or years and thought nothing could be done, our tips will help you to eradicate your hip pain and teach you how to maintain healthy hips once and for all.