As the body ages, the weight bearing joints begin to break down because of the natural processes of the body and age. With this break down, the cartilage in the joints will begin to deteriorate, making that particular joint far more susceptible to breaking. The hip is a common joint that fractures or develops chronic pain in the geriatric age groups. This is due to a variety of factors, some of which are arthritis, obesity, trauma, or simply due to weakness in the joint. At The Pain Center of Arizona, the pain management doctors are able to provide a variety of treatments and alternative therapies that can help with chronic hip pain.

The hip is classified as a ball and joint socket, due to the head of the femur or thighbone fitting into the socket of the pelvis. The joint is supported by a network of ligaments, muscles and tendons that allow the hip to move and rotate, but not hyper extend past the normal extension point. Chronic pain of the hip can be caused by conditions like arthritis but can also be due to trauma like hip dislocation or a fracture that did not heal properly. Severe obesity can also hip pain that eventually may become chronic.

Osteoarthritis, characterized by swelling, redness, tenderness, stiffness and pain, is the most common form of arthritis. It is often difficult to determine that osteoarthritis is localized in the hip because the pain is often radiated into the knees. Early signs of hip osteoarthritis include extreme stiffness upon waking, pain or inability to perform tasks like bending to pick up something off the floor, and characteristic pain, swelling, redness, localized heat and stiffness.  When treating hip pain, the pain management doctors at The Pain Center of Arizona will assess the severity and frequency of pain in addition to the medical history and any other factors that need to be taken into consideration. Depending on the nature of the chronic hip pain and the severity, medications may be beneficial to those with chronic hip pain. These medications may include prescription pain medications or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and aspirin. If the patient has difficulty with walking or mobility, the pain specialists at The Pain Center of Arizona may recommend that the patient use a cane or a walker for assistance with getting around. Localized joint injections consisting of long-acting corticosteroids can help with pain relief, and can be administered in the office. Physical therapy or occupational therapy may also help the hip pain patient with gaining back quality of life and function. If the degeneration or pain is too severe, the pain experts at The Pain Center of Arizona may recommend that a full hip replacement be performed and will work with an orthopedic surgeon to determine whether that is the proper course of action.

If chronic hip pain is causing you difficulty when moving or is decreasing your quality of life, it is important to make an appointment at a comprehensive pain management clinic like The Pain Center of Arizona as soon as possible. Left untreated, hip pain can gradually get worse, causing complete degeneration and eventual disability.

If you suffer from chronic pain due to any condition or injury, find hope at The Pain Center of Arizona! Our dedicated team of board certified pain management physicians will work with you to treat your pain, increase your functionality and quality of life, and get you back into life! We have locations across Arizona, including Phoenix, Anthem, Surprise, Mesa, Gilbert, Deer Valley, Paradise Valley and the Biltmore area. We take multiple insurance plans; click here to see if we take yours! To make an appointment and take the first step toward getting back into life, call us today at 1-888-PAINCENTER. We hope to see you soon!

The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.

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