Overview

A hip injury and pain can make it hard to walk, go up and down stairs, squat, or sleep on the side that hurts. A clicking or snapping feeling or sound around your hip joint (snapping hip) may bother you or cause you to worry. But if your hip isn't painful, in many cases the click or snap is nothing to worry about. Home treatment may be all that's needed for minor hip symptoms.

To better understand hip injuries, it may be helpful to know how the hip works. It's the largest ball-and-socket joint in the body. The thighbone (femur) fits tightly into a cup-shaped socket (acetabulum) in the pelvis. The hip joint is tighter and more stable than the shoulder joint, but it doesn't move as freely. The hip joint is held together by muscles in the buttock, groin, and spine; tendons; ligaments; and a joint capsule. Several fluid-filled sacs (bursae) cushion and lubricate the hip joint and let the tendons and muscles glide and move smoothly. The largest nerve in the body (sciatic nerve) passes through the pelvis into the leg.

Hip injuries

Injuries are a common cause of hip problems. You may not remember a specific injury, especially if your symptoms began slowly or during everyday activities.

• Overuse injuries occur from doing the same activity over and over again. The repeated activity, such as running or biking long distances, stresses the hip joint and may cause irritation and inflammation. Examples of overuse injuries include irritation of the large sac (bursae) that cushions the bones of the hip joint (trochanteric bursitis), irritation of the tendons in the hip (tendinitis), muscle strain, and hairline cracks (stress fracture) in the neck of the thighbone (femur).
• A sudden (acute) injury may occur from a fall on the hip, a direct blow to the hip or knee, or abnormal twisting or bending of the leg. Examples of acute injuries that may cause hip pain include:
  • A broken hip (hip fracture) or pelvis (pelvic fracture), such as an avulsion fracture.
  • A dislocated hip or sprained hip.
  • Muscle strain in the groin or buttock.
  • Severe bruising (contusion).

Treatment may include first aid and using a brace, cast, harness, or traction. It may also include physical therapy and medicines. In some cases, surgery is needed. Treatment for a hip injury depends on:

• The location and type of injury, and how bad it is.
• Your age, general health, and activities (such as work, sports, hobbies).

Self-Care

Try the following tips to help relieve hip pain, swelling, and stiffness.

• Rest.

  Try to rest and protect an injured or sore area. Stop, change, or take a break from any activity that may be causing your pain or soreness.

• Sleep on the hip that isn't injured.

  Put a pillow between your knees. Or sleep on your back with pillows under your knees.

• Don't use aspirin for the first 24 hours after an injury.

  Aspirin may cause more bruising under the skin.

• Avoid more swelling.

  For the first 48 hours after an injury, avoid things that might increase swelling. These things include hot showers, hot tubs, hot packs, and drinks that contain alcohol.

• Apply heat.
  • After 2 or 3 days, you can try applying heat to the area that hurts. Types of heat therapy include microwavable packs and disposable heating patches.
  • Apply heat for 10 to 20 minutes at a time.
  • You might also try switching between cold and heat.
• Start normal activities and gentle stretching.

  After 48 to 72 hours, if swelling is gone, you can carefully start doing normal activities and gentle stretching, such as:

  • Prone buttocks squeeze. This strengthens the buttocks muscles. It supports your back and helps you lift with your legs.
  • Pelvic tilts. These stretch the lower back.
  • Hamstring stretch. It stretches the muscles in the back of the thigh.
  • Hip flexor stretch. It stretches the muscles in the hip that help the hip glide and work smoothly.
• Rub the area.

  Gently massage or rub your hip to relieve pain and encourage blood flow. Don't massage the injured area if it causes pain.

• Don't smoke or use other tobacco products.

  Smoking slows healing because it decreases blood supply and delays tissue repair.

When to call for help during self-care

Call a doctor if any of the following occur during self-care at home:

• New pain or swelling.
• New signs of infection, such as redness, warmth, or a fever.
• New numbness, tingling, or weakness.
• New pale, white, blue, or cold skin.
• Trouble bearing weight on the hip.
• Symptoms occur more often or are more severe.

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