Hip Pain

Hip pain can be disabling and hard to manage. If you have severe or long-lasting hip pain, visit board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist George Drakes, MD, and his team at Metro Spine PC. The practice has offices in Clinton,  Takoma Park, and Oxon Hill, Maryland, offering conservative and advanced treatments for hip conditions like arthritis, bursitis, and tendinitis. Call your nearest Metro Spine PC office today or schedule a consultation online for relief from hip pain.

What causes hip pain?

Hip pain’s most likely causes include:

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a common cause of long-term hip pain, especially as you age. This kind of arthritis is caused by gradual wear-and-tear that removes the protective cartilage covering the bones in your joints. The exposed bones become inflamed from rubbing together, causing pain, tenderness, stiffness, and loss of function.

Bursitis

The bursae are fluid-filled sacs in your joints that protect bones, tendons, and muscles from damage. Bursitis develops when pressure or joint overuse causes bursae inflammation.

Tendinitis

Tendons connect your muscles to your bones. Injury and repetitive strain can irritate and inflame tendons, causing tendinitis.

Labral tears

The labrum cartilage ring lines the socket in your pelvis where the upper femur (thigh bone) sits to form your hip joint. The labrum cushions the joint and helps to keep the ball-shaped femur secure in the socket. Labral tears are caused by injuries or overuse.

Hip pain is often particularly disabling because this large central joint is difficult to rest.

What can I do about hip pain?

If you have mild hip pain, take as much weight off the leg as possible, avoid activities that aggravate the pain, and take anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen.

If your hip pain is severe or doesn’t improve after a few days, it’s best to get a proper diagnosis. You might need X-rays, a CT scan, or another diagnostic imaging and a physical exam for an accurate evaluation.

In many cases, physical therapy reduces hip pain and improves mobility. Your Metro Spine PC physical therapist offers active and passive treatments, including therapeutic massage, joint mobilization, and home exercise programs.

What treatments help with severe or long-term hip pain?

If your hip pain doesn’t improve with physical therapy, rest, and medication, the Metro Spine PC team offers several in-office procedures that might help. These include:

Restorative medicine

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and prolotherapy encourage tissue repair and growth.

Steroid injections

Steroids are long-acting anti-inflammatory drugs. Your doctor uses ultrasound image guidance for accurate and effective injections.

Radiofrequency ablation

Radiofrequency ablation uses heat to destroy nerve endings in the joint. This offers long-lasting pain reduction, but the nerves can regenerate in time.

Neuromodulation (peripheral nerve stimulation) might be an option for the most severe, treatment-resistant hip pain.

Call Metro Spine PC today or book an appointment online for expert help with hip pain.