Hip Pain Treatment

Because we use our hips for walking, running, sitting, and squatting, hip pain can be pretty common. At Virtua Orthopedics & Spine, our hip specialists can help relieve pain, manage symptoms, and get you moving again.

Signs and Symptoms of Hip Conditions

Whether you injured your hip during a round of golf or your discomfort is from normal wear and tear, hip pain can happen to anyone. Many hip conditions typically develop over a long period of time (arthritis and overuse injuries, for example), but pain caused by trauma or acute injury is also possible. Whatever the cause, when you notice your hip is starting to give you issues, it's important to recognize when to get it checked out.

If you've been experiencing any of the following symptoms, it might be time to connect with a hip doctor:

• Joint pain felt in the front of the hip, along the outside of the hip, in the groin, or over the buttock area
• Swelling, redness, or warmth around your hip
• Discomfort and swelling in the thigh and knee
• Joint inflammation or muscle spasms in the hip (especially if causing fluid buildup in the hip joint)
• Hip pain after an accident or fall
• Popping noise in your hip when you walk
• Severe, persistent pain
• Limping or an inability to walk comfortably on the affected side
• Difficulty bearing weight on your hip or walking without pain
• Hip is deformed or visibly injured
• Toes turn blue or feel numb
• Soreness or a throbbing sensation while sleeping or resting
• Inability to bend or rotate the hip without pain

Please seek immediate treatment if you develop a fever, or if the area on or around your hip becomes red or warm, as these may be signs of an infection.

Types of Hip Conditions

Hip pain can arise when you least expect it, and the causes aren't always immediately obvious. Generally, hip pain can range from mild to debilitating, preventing you from doing the things you love. It does not typically go away on its own, which makes it important to work with a hip doctor to discover your needs for treatment. Here are some common hip conditions that our team can evaluate, diagnose, and treat:

• Dislocation
• Fractures and sprains
• Labral tear (involving the cartilage outside the hip socket)
• Avascular necrosis (also called osteonecrosis, caused from lack of blood supply)
• Tendinitis
• Bursitis
• Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease that affects your joints
• Pinched nerves
• Hip impingement (occurs when ball of the hip joint pinches against the cup of the hip)
• Hip Dysplasia (partial dislocation of the hip)

Our Approach to Hip Pain

We know how frustrating hip pain can be. That's why our team sets out to diagnose your condition as quickly and accurately as possible.

Our specialists will perform a thorough physical exam of your hip. We'll inspect the area for pain, swelling, tenderness, and visible bruising. We'll measure your range of motion and gauge the integrity of your hips.

From there, we might recommend additional testing to confirm a diagnosis, including:

• X-ray: This common test captures images of your bones and joints. We typically use them to confirm the presence of arthritis.
• CT scan: This test allows us to capture clear images of bones, muscles, and fat in your hip. CT scans are helpful in detecting severe hip injuries, like bone fractures, dislocations, and other serious conditions.
• MRI: Here, we use large magnets and radio frequencies to capture images of your tendons, ligaments, vessels, and nerves in your hip. MRIs can help us detect injuries and abnormalities in these soft tissues.
• Ultrasound: We might order an ultrasound to see how your blood is flowing through your hip. They are also used for evaluating and diagnosing soft tissue injuries.

Hip Pain Treatment

When it comes to treating hip pain, you have options. And at Virtua, we develop personalized treatment plans focused on your individual lifestyle. Our team of specialists (including sports medicine specialists, joint replacement surgeons, pain management specialists, sports medicine surgeons, and more) make your goals the top priority, listening to your needs and working with you to determine the best path forward.

Depending on your needs, here's how we might approach your care: 

• Medication: Anti-inflammatory medications and corticosteroid injections could help ease swelling and arthritis-related symptoms in your hips. We can also help manage and modify prescriptions as needed.
• Physical therapy: Our team of therapists will work closely with you to develop a therapy regimen designed to build strength, improve motion, and help with pain. We also offer hip preservation services to avoid or postpone surgery.
• Arthroscopic hip surgery: From injured ligaments and tendons to cartilage and labral damage, surgery might be the best option, mainly if conservative treatments are no longer effective. At Virtua, our sports medicine surgeons specialize in minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures to address your unique needs and get you back in the game.
• Hip replacement: Commonly used for the treatment of hip arthritis, if your hip pain is unresponsive to conservative treatment methods, hip replacement surgery might be the best option. At Virtua, our surgeons provide various hip replacement options - including minimally invasive and robotic-assisted options - to help you feel your best again. In fact, Virtua joint replacement surgeons are among the top in the nation for robotic-assisted surgical procedures, ensuring that your hip pain treatment is safe and effective.
• Hip Preservation - Hip preservation surgery treats conditions like impingement and dysplasia to correct structural issues, relieve pain, and prevent arthritis by preserving the natural joint and improving hip function.