APRIL 8, 2021
3 Most Common
Causes of Hip Pain
The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint that allows you to stand, walk, run, and so much more. Without a fully-functioning hip, these activities would be difficult and even impossible in some circumstances. But what causes hip pain?
If you have nagging hip pain, you may have one of these common conditions. Always speak with your healthcare provider to determine an appropriate diagnosis.
Arthritis
Hip arthritis occurs when the cartilage in the hip joint wears away or is damaged. In a healthy hip, the ball-and-socket is covered by a layer called articular cartilage. This cartilage creates a cushion at the joint surface, allowing the bones to glide together smoothly. When this cartilage wears down or is damaged, it leaves the bone surfaces of the hip joint to grind against each other, causing inflammation, pain, stiffness, and range limitation.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and the hip joint is often affected. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage between each bone within the joint breaks down and wears away over time, resulting in bone rubbing against bone.
Rheumatoid arthritis is another common form of arthritis that affects the hip joint. This type of arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissue, causing joint pain and damage throughout the body.
Bursitis
Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs throughout the body that reduce friction caused by the muscles and tendons moving against skin and bones. When the bursa becomes inflamed, it is known as bursitis. Bursitis commonly occurs due to repeated overuse or stress of the hip, gout, injury of the hip, spine problems, or bone spurs on the hip.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
The primary role of the SI (sacroiliac) joint is to provide stability for the pelvis and to bear the load of the upper body when you stand or walk and shift that load to your legs. Common problems of the sacroiliac joint are often called sacroiliac joint dysfunction. However, your physician may also refer to sacroiliac joint pain by other terms, including:
- Sacroiliitis
- SI joint degeneration
- SI joint inflammation
- SI joint strain and arthritis
There are several reasons why your SI joint may become inflamed, including hypermobility (too much movement, which means the joint is too loose) and hypomobility (too little movement). Hypermobility may occur due to injury or degeneration over time, allowing the joint to have excessive motion. Whereas hypomobility is often caused by arthritis, which triggers the bones to rub against one another, creating extreme pain and inhibiting mobility. Common symptoms of sacroiliac joint dysfunction often include buttock pain or radiating pain, numbness, or tingling in the hips, groin or legs.
Treatment for SI Joint Pain
If sacroiliac joint dysfunction is the cause of your hip pain, PainTEQ’s LinQ SI Joint Stabilization System may help you move freely again. The LinQ SI Joint Stabilization System may help patients with SI joint dysfunction regain joint stability during an efficient, minimally-invasive procedure with less downtime than traditional surgeries.
Please contact us today if you would like to learn more about our breakthrough treatment.
