Common Causes & Treatments For Hip Pain in Austin

Are you experiencing hip pain in Austin? 

Hip pain is a common problem for many people, one with both a dizzying array of known causes and symptoms, as well as many potential treatment options. In this informative post, learn more about a few of each of them, so that you’ll have a better idea of what’s causing your hip pain, and what you can do about it. 

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Common Causes of Hip Pain

Hip pain can occur from a medical condition, such as a disorder or syndrome, as well from injuries, such as strains or fractures. Read more about the many common causes of hip pain below. 

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Medical Conditions that Cause Hip Pain

Arthritis: Arthritis is one of the most common causes of hip pain, as it often affects the hip joint. For this reason, hip arthritis is predominantly felt in the groin, and occasionally in the outer thigh and upper buttocks. 

Trochanteric bursitis: Trochanteric bursitis is an extremely common cause of inflammation of the bursa (a small, fluid-filled sac) just outside the hip joint. 

Tendonitis: Tendonitis is another common cause of hip pain, as it can occur in any of the tendons surrounding the hip joint, causing pain or discomfort. 

Osteonecrosis: Osteonecrosis is a condition that occurs when blood flow to an area of bone is restricted. If an inadequate amount of blood reaches the cells in the bone, they can die and the bone may collapse. This has been known to occur in the hip joint, causing pain.

Nerve & Spine Conditions: Many nerve and spine problems cause pain in the buttocks and hip region. The most common of these conditions are sciatica and herniated discs.

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Common Hip Pain Injuries 

Muscle Strains: Groin pulls and hamstring strains are a common cause of pain and spasms around the hip and pelvis. 

Hip Fractures: Hip fractures often occur among elderly patients with osteoporosis, a medical condition in which the bones become brittle and fragile. 

Stress Fractures: Athletes who participate in high-impact sports, such as long-distance runners, are at risk for experiencing stress fractures of the hip. This common cause of hip pain is caused from an injury to the area near the ball of the “ball-and-socket” hip joint, often from overuse. 

Labrum Tears: Labrum is the cartilage that surrounds the hip joint, which easily tear—often as result of a car accident or sports-related injury. This can cause pain, discomfort, or stiffness in the joint. 

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Not sure when to visit a hip pain doctor? 

Generally speaking, you should visit a hip pain specialist in Austin if you’re experiencing hip pain that has lasted for longer than a few weeks after resting. Check out our blog How Do I Know If My Hip Pain is Serious? to learn more. 

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Common Treatment Options for Hip Pain

There are many potential treatments for hip pain. Learn about a few of them below: 

Rest: Rest is often the go-to treatment for most conditions that cause hip pain. Why? Ceasing movement gives the hip time to heal, allowing inflammation to subside, which relieves pain.

Hot & Cold Therapy Ice packs and heat pads are another common treatment for minor hip inflammation. Ice can be used for acute pain while heat is generally used to relieve stiffness, however some people find relief in alternating between the two.

Stretching: Stretching the muscles and tendons that surround the hip joint can often help relieve some causes of hip pain. You can talk to a hip pain specialist in Austin for specific stretching exercises to follow based on your condition.

Anti-Inflammatory Medication: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) can help relieve hip pain caused by arthritis, bursitis, and tendonitis, and other common conditions. 

Minimally Invasive Procedures: Minimally invasive procedures—such as Joint Injections and Nerve Stimulation—may be recommended for certain types of hip pain conditions, especially for patients who have already tried other treatment options and are still experiencing discomfort. You can talk to a hip pain specialist at the Greater Austin Pain Center to see if one of our non-surgical treatments for hip pain in Austin is right for you.

Keep in mind: If you are unsure of your diagnosis or the severity of your condition, you should always seek expert medical advice before beginning any treatment plan. While the treatments listed here are common, they may not be appropriate for every condition, or helpful for your unique situation.

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Get Hip Pain Relief in Austin, Texas!

Proper treatment for hip pain should always be based on the cause of the underlying problem, not just the symptoms you’re experiencing. If it isn’t, treatment can sometimes facilitate more severe injuries (and more debilitating pain) in the future. That's why it's so important to see a hip pain specialist who can properly diagnose the cause of your hip pain before recommending treatment. 

At Greater Austin Pain Center, our expert Austin pain doctors will diagnose the severity of your hip pain based on the cause of the condition that is causing it, as well as your symptoms. From there, we’ll recommend one of the treatment options mentioned above, or a mix of several. Even if no known condition or cause exists, we can recommend a viable treatment plan designed with you in mind—to make your pain go away completely or your symptoms more manageable. 

Schedule an appointment today to relieve your hip pain in Austin!