Hip Pain At Night Faqs
How do I know if my hip pain is serious?
If your hip is deformed, you are in severe pain, you cant move your leg or hip, or you cant bear weight on your leg, you need to seek urgent medical attention. You should also do this if you have signs of infection ie a fever, chills or redness in your hip area.
What are the first signs of hip problems?
Early signs of hip problems include hip pain on movement or after sitting for long periods of time, as well as a reduced range of movement.
Is walking good for hip arthritis?
Yes, walking is good for hip arthritis. It can reduce stiffness and strengthen your hip muscles, which helps stabilise your joint and reduce the strain on your hips. However, it is important not to overdo it. If you are in pain when walking, take a break.
What Are The Risk Factors For Developing Low Back Pain
Anyone can have back pain. Factors that can increase the risk for low back pain include:
Age: The first attack of low back pain typically occurs between the ages of 30 and 50, and back pain becomes more common with advancing age. Loss of bone strength from osteoporosis can lead to fractures, and at the same time, muscle elasticity and tone decrease. The intervertebral discs begin to lose fluid and flexibility with age, which decreases their ability to cushion the vertebrae. The risk of spinal stenosis also increases with age.
Fitness level: Back pain is more common among people who are not physically fit. Weak back and abdominal muscles may not properly support the spine. Weekend warriorspeople who go out and exercise a lot after being inactive all weekare more likely to suffer painful back injuries than people who make moderate physical activity a daily habit. Studies show that low-impact aerobic exercise can help maintain the integrity of intervertebral discs.
Weight gain: Being overweight, obese, or quickly gaining significant amounts of weight can put stress on the back and lead to low back pain.
Genetics: Some causes of back pain, such as ankylosing spondylitis , have a genetic component.
Smoking: It can restrict blood flow and oxygen to the discs, causing them to degenerate faster.
Backpack overload in children: A backpack overloaded with schoolbooks and supplies can strain the back and cause muscle fatigue.
When Should I See My Doctor
You should talk to your doctor or physiotherapist about your hip pain immediately if:
- the pain is sudden or intense
- the result of an injury or a fall
- you can’t move your hip or leg
- you can’t put weight on the affected leg
- you notice swelling or bleeding
- you notice any sign of an infection, like a fever
If your child has pain in the hip, talk to your doctor.
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How To Tell The Difference Between Hip And Lower Back Pain
Orthopedic treatment of hip and lower back pain is not black and white. As a practicing spine surgeon for the last fifteen years, Ive found that determining the root issue of someones pain in these areas is often grey and filled with ambiguities. The anatomy of the hip and back is comprised of numerous parts that can be injured or wear out, and many problems that occur in this area can display the exact same symptoms or pathology.
To put it plainly, sometimes hip pain comes from the hip, but a lot of times hip pain comes from the back. Sometimes back pain comes from the back, but a lot of times back pain comes from the hip. Eighty to ninety percent of the population develops a debilitating back or hip pain at some point in their life, and this issue is the second most common reason for missed work behind the common cold.
Fortunately, our bodies typically take care of the issue on their own. When a flare up of symptoms occur in our hips or lower back, usually a combination of rest, activity modification, anti-inflammatories, and exercises calms the pain down.
To Relieve Hip Pain Try Thesefirst:
- See your primary care doctor. He or she will likely prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to see if hip pain improves.
- Lose weight. Shedding extra pounds is critical in relieving hip pain. Losing weight often reduces symptoms to the point where surgery is not necessary, says Dr. Murray. It also increases your chances of a successful outcome if surgery is one day warranted.
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Can Hip Pain Cause Back Pain
The short answer is yes, hip pain can cause back pain and vice versa. Hip injuries sometimes come from the hip, but many times come from the back. This is the same with back pain. Sometimes the pain comes from the back, but it often comes from the hip. Your hip joints sit near your spine, and because of that, the pain often manifests itself in your lower back.
To narrow down the source of your pain, analyze it. If the pain starts in the hip and groin area and radiates down to your knee, its most likely a hip issue. However, if the pain starts in the buttocks region and radiates down your leg, its most likely a spine issue. Come visit one of our Dallas orthopedic specialists to be extra sure.
When To See A Specialist For Lower Back Pain
If you’re experiencing lower back pain that’s not responding to rest and self-care, it’s time to consider seeing a spine specialist.
“A spine specialist will likely perform a physical exam as well as one or more imaging scans to diagnose the root cause of your lower back pain. Depending on your diagnosis, he or she will then design a treatment plan aimed at alleviating your pain and preventing it from disrupting the everyday activities you enjoy,” says Dr. Palmer.
Next Steps:
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Signs That Your Spine Is The Source Of Your Pain
Whereas groin pain is a telltale sign that the pain is linked to the hip, pain above the waistline that travels down the body typically indicates a low back issue. A low back problem may also be responsible for other types of lower body pain, including thigh, buttock, and below-the-knee pain.
Among the most common degenerative conditions that affect the lumbar spine are herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis. These conditions cause pain by irritating your low back nerves, resulting in pain that shoots down your legs , weakness, numbness, and reducing your range of motion.
The pattern of pain coming from the lumbar spine can be variable, depending of the specific issue causing the pain. Commonly, pain from arthritis of the spine occurs during transitions such as getting out of bed in the morning or raising up from sitting. It can often then improve after getting moving. In contrast, pain from spinal stenosis or nerve pressure is often worse with prolonged standing or walking and relieved with sitting.
Is The Pain Coming From Your Hip Or Back
Often people go to the doctor seeking help for hip pain. Sometimes, people try to treat it themselves. They are convinced there is something wrong with their hip and the treatments begin. However, one thing is for sure, hip pain is not always as it appears. Hip pain can be a result of a problem in the hip joint itself. However, it can also be a result of a back problem or a soft tissue problem around the hip region.
Obtaining an accurate diagnosis is the first step to resuming activities and living an active lifestyle. Let’s discuss the reasons for confusion and see if we can realize the causes and treatments for both hip and back pain. Some of a patient’s misunderstanding about the origin of the pain is due to not understanding hip and back anatomy. Sounds odd but it’s true. The hip joint lies just behind the groin area on each side of the body. At the same time, the spine runs from the base of the skull to the tip of the tailbone. The lumbar spine contains specific nerves that can influence the feelings in the region around the hip area.
Pain Originating in the Hip
When the pain originates in the hip from arthritis, motion of the hip is often limited. This limitation is often realized when attempting to get out of a chair or bed and standing up. Contrary to hip pain, pain coming from the back may worsen when sitting or lying down, depending on the origin of the back pain itself.
Pain Originating in the Back
Getting an Accurate Diagnosis
Treatment
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Hip Pain Vs Low Back Pain Summary
To summarize the information above, heres how to tell if you have hip or back pain.
- If the pain radiates from the hip and groin area and spreads down to your thigh and knee, then your hip is most likely the source of the pain.
- If the pain radiates from your low back, buttocks, hips, and hamstring, you are most likely dealing with a lower back or spinal problem.
Again, taking medication such as Advil for back pain and hip pain can be effective. However, getting a kind of care that addresses the root of the issue is better.
You may need upper cervical chiropractic care to correct the underlying cause of lower back pain, such as nerve and spinal issues. Your upper cervical spine is responsible for the balance of your head and neck. A misalignment in this topmost region of your spine can irritate your spinal nerves, leading to lower back pain issues. So, correcting upper cervical misalignment is the best way to prevent low back pain from recurring. After addressing this problem, you may experience long-term relief and complete recovery.
How To Tell If You Have A Hip Pain
Identifying the cause of your lower body pain is vital to finding the right treatment. One of the most common locations of pain in your lower body is your hip. Hip problems can cause pain and mobility issues, but when it is caught much earlier, you can preserve your quality of life.
Your hip joint is responsible for letting your legs move. With it, you can walk, run, and bend your legs freely and flexibly. Hip pain can root from the hip joint itself and radiate to the groin. In addition, when the pain is coming from your hips, you may feel a sharp pain on the outer part of your buttocks.
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When The Spine Is The Likely Culprit
Most lower spine problems are caused by a herniated disk that presses on nerves in the spinal column. This produces the pain known as sciatica, which can be felt in the hip. You may have a herniated disk if pain:
- Is limited to your back, buttocks or hip.
- Shoots down your leg.
- Worsens with sitting or bending.
- Improves when standing or walking.
If you have night sweats, ahistory of cancer, or pain that is not relieved by lying down ,see your doctor the problem may be more serious.
Some people develop whatDr. DeMicco calls a double whammy problems in both the hip and lower back.Its not surprising, since both osteoarthritis and spinal changes are morecommon with each passing decade, he explains.
What Can Cause Lower Back And Hip Pain
When it comes to causes of lower back and hip pain, each case or patient is unique. However, various health conditions or injuries can affect the nerves in the lower back and hip region. When a person experiences lower back and hip pain, the cause may be overuse of muscles, an injury, or symptoms of a medical condition.
Lower back pain is the most common cause of activity limitation and people not going to work, which imposes a substantial economic burden on families and individuals. According to the Health Policy Institute, lower back and hip pain healthcare and indirect costs are over $12 billion annually.¹
In this article, we will be looking at what can cause lower back and hip pain.
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What Is Sacroiliac Joint Pain
The SI joints are located between the iliac bones and the sacrum, connecting the spine to the hips. The two joints provide support and stability, and play a major role in absorbing impact when walking and lifting. From the back, the SI joints are located below the waist where two dimples are visible.
Strong ligaments and muscles support the SI joints. There is a very small amount of motion in the joint for normal body flexibility. As we age our bones become arthritic and ligaments stiffen. When the cartilage wears down, the bones may rub together causing pain . The SI joint is a synovial joint filled with fluid. This type of joint has free nerve endings that can cause chronic pain if the joint degenerates or does not move properly.
Sacroiliac joint pain ranges from mild to severe depending on the extent and cause of injury. Acute SI joint pain occurs suddenly and usually heals within several days to weeks. Chronic SI joint pain persists for more than three months it may be felt all the time or worsen with certain activities.
Other terms for SI joint pain include: SI joint dysfunction, SI joint syndrome, SI joint strain and SI joint inflammation.
Other Causes Of Back Or Hip Pain
Sometimes back and hip pain may not be coming from that area at all. Referred pain from abdominal or pelvic organs such as the colon, kidney, ureter, bladder, or uterus may be the cause, Dr. Jain says. If your doctor suspects that the pain is coming from elsewhere in your body, he or she will likely order additional tests to track down the source.
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What Causes Lower Back And Hip Pain
Back and hip pain can range in intensity. Some people experience a dull, constant ache, while others have sharp, shooting pain. But what causes these aches and pains? It could be a hip pointer, a pulled muscle, sciatic nerve pain, cervical spinal stenosis, lumbar stenosis, lumbar spondylosis, or something much more sinister. Thats where the orthopedic experts at SPORT come in.
Iliac Crest Apophysis Avulsion
Avulsion fractures of the apophyses of the pelvis are rare injuries. This injury occurs mainly in young persons, between the ages of 8 and 14, before they’ve fully grown. That is because fusion of these bones does not occur until between the ages of 15 and 17 years. The cause is typically a contraction of muscles during extreme sports activity. Treatment includes rest and physical therapy as well as pain medications.
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Is It Back Pain Or Hip Pain Getting To The Root Of The Problem
If you have pain in your low back, hips, and other areas in your lower body, the source isnt always easy to pinpoint. Your pain may originate in your lumbar spine or your hipor bothand its important that your doctor identifies the source of the problem, so you receive the right treatment.
Because the hips and lower spine are located so closely together, its easy to mistake back pain for hip pain . Regardless of the origin, most low back pain and hip pain share a common cause: normal wear and tear on the body due to aging or triggered by overuse injuries . Lumbar sprains and strains, osteoarthritis, and herniated discs are common degenerative culprits behind low back and hip pain.
Determining if pain is back or hip related can be difficult to distinguish because the lower back and hips are close to each other. Photo Source: 123RF.com.
How Is Low Back Pain Treated
Treatment may include:
- A prevention program
- Assistive devices
Rehabilitation is often a part of treatment for low back pain. Generally, there are 3 phases of low back pain rehab.
- Acute phase. During this initial phase, the physiatrist and treatment team develop a plan to reduce the initial low back pain and source of inflammation. This may include using ultrasound, electrical stimulation, or specialized injections.
- Recovery phase. Once the initial pain and inflammation are better managed, the rehab team focuses on helping you return to normal daily activities while starting a specialized exercise program to regain flexibility and strength.
- Maintenance phase. In this phase, you will learn ways to prevent further injury and strain to the back. You will also learn how to start a fitness program to help further increase strength and endurance.
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What Research Is Being Done
The mission of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke is to seek fundamental knowledge of the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease. NINDS is a component of the National Institutes of Health , the leading supporter of biomedical research in the world.
As a primary supporter of research on pain and pain mechanisms, NINDS is a member of the NIH Pain Consortium, which was established to promote collaboration among the many NIH Institutes and Centers with research programs and activities addressing pain. On an even broader scale, NIH participates in the Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee, a federal advisory committee that coordinates research across other U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agencies as well as the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.
