How-to-Tell-if-Your-Pain-Is-Coming-From-Your-Hip-Joint

How to Tell if Your Pain Is Coming From Your Hip Joint

Have you noticed that lying on your side wakes you up every night? Are you struggling to walk and climb stairs due to pain in the outer part of your hip? At Synergy Therapeutic Group in Carbondale, our physical therapists can help you identify the problem and, more importantly, the solution to your pain! Knowing the root of your pain is the key to successfully treating it.

It is prevalent for people outside the medical world to think of their hip joint as the part of the body used to describe where we pull our pants up, but this is the pelvis. The hip joint is located in the region most people call the groin. The bump you feel outside your leg is not the hip joint. It is part of the thigh bone (femur).

If you are describing pain in the buttock or outer leg (pelvis) region, the issue is likely due to muscle or bursa, not the joint. When talking to a medical practitioner, it is crucial to avoid describing the outer aspect of your upper leg as a hip, as it can lead you down the wrong road for a solution. Pointing to the region can help steer you in the right direction.

Fortunately, at Synergy Therapeutic Group in Carbondale, our physical therapists can interpret what you are saying and identify the real source of your issues. We will help guide you to the solutions you need for relief and make sure you understand the root of your condition.

Request an appointment today and let one of our physical therapists help you find relief!

Why your symptom location matters

The location of your symptoms is an integral part of identifying the source of your problem; unfortunately, the terms we use in everyday life can be misleading. It is pervasive for people to describe their condition as hip pain while pointing to their buttock or outer thigh region. These areas are not typically the hip joint at all.

Problems within the hip joint tend to be felt in the groin, inner thigh, and occasionally deep in the inner buttock area (back part of the groin). Hip pain outside your hip, upper thigh, or outer buttock is usually caused by problems with muscles, tendons, and/or bursa. (not the joint).

The type of symptom(s) your experience will point towards the condition you are dealing with. Hip injuries are felt in the groin. The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint that connects the leg to the trunk of the body, in which the head of the thigh bone (femur) fits into the socket of the pelvis (ilium).

Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI): This is a condition in the hip joint where an extra bone grows on one or both bones that form the hip joint. This leads to an irregular shape and dysfunction of the hip joint itself.

The main symptoms are often pain or stiffness in the groin and/or front of the thigh. Usually, the pain and stiffness are made worse by bending at the waist, such as tying shoes or sitting for long periods.

Hip labral tear: The hip labrum is a specialized type of cartilage that runs along the socket’s rim and provides suction to seal and improve the stability of the hip joint. It also helps to absorb shock and distribute pressure during hip motion.

Deep groin pain or pain in the profound aspect of the buttocks are the most common symptoms. Clicking or catching sensations are sometimes felt or heard, especially when the hip is rotating.

Hip degeneration/arthritis: Hip degeneration is where the cartilage breaks down, resulting in joint changes on radiographic tests (i.e., X-ray, MRI, CT scan). Degeneration is often called osteoarthritis (OA), although different types of arthritis can cause a joint breakdown.

When the cartilage wears down unevenly or particular movements place stress on the damaged area, pain and stiffness result. With hip degeneration/arthritis, pain is mainly felt in the groin and often leads to a restriction in range of motion and pain with prolonged weight-bearing.

Hip Fracture: A break in the upper aspect of the thigh bone (femur) near the hip joint is the most common location of a hip fracture. A hip fracture can cause life-threatening complications and almost always requires surgery.

Symptoms include severe pain in your hip or groin. The inability to move the joint and put weight on your leg are common symptoms. Also, there is typically bruising and swelling in and around your hip area, and some may notice the leg is shorter on the injured side.

Our Synergy Therapeutic Group team will identify the source of your problem and guide you through treatments to resolve your pain and restore your function so you can get back to doing what you love!

Request an appointment at Synergy Therapeutic Group today!

Our Carbondale physical therapists will perform a comprehensive evaluation to determine your limitations and weaknesses causing you pain and dysfunction. We will then prescribe a personalized exercise routine that aligns with your goals.

Our skilled physical therapy team, full of movement experts, can prescribe you healthy exercises and help you improve your overall health and well-being.

Don’t hesitate to improve your health; contact Synergy Therapeutic Group today!

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