1. Physical Therapy and Hip Joint Pain
Physical therapists are trained professionals that know how the body moves, and so they can help you overcome hip joint pain. Frequently hip joint pain comes from improper movement. Improper movement and muscle tone may cause injury, damaging the bursa, and physical therapy can help you relearn movements to alleviate pain. Other causes of hip joint pain, such as arthritis and tendonitis, can also be treated through physical therapy. A qualified physical therapist and your doctor can help you get on the path to pain-free hip movement.
2. Lose Weight and Try Acupuncture While You Shed It
Obesity is a common cause of wear and tear on all the joints. Grossly obese people tend to have more pressure put on the joints in the leg and hip, which can lead to hip pain. Losing weight is an effective method to reduce the pressure on the hip and thus reduce the pain. This is a long-term process, and while it gives long-term results, it is not an answer for immediate pain. For immediate results, many patients find that routine acupuncture helps tremendously. A controlled study of over 3500 patients with osteoarthritis found that those that used acupuncture in addition to normal treatment, improved far more than those that didn't use it.
3. Hot and Cold Packs for Hip Pain
If you find sudden acute hip pain hits you like a rock, ice it. Acute injuries need ice to slow swelling and ultimately control pain. If you have an old injury that hurts all the time, heat it. Heat pads and hot towels increase the blood flow and reduce the pain. A nice hot soak in the tub is just the thing for an existing chronic injury. A trip to a spa or a soak in a hot tub is another way to get heat treatment. Never use heat right after exercise or on an acute injury, though, because this treatment makes the pain worse.
4. Exercise for Hip Joint Pain
The stretching exercises of yoga increase the range of motion in the joints and alleviate the stiffness in the hip that comes with the pain. Besides the stretching exercises of yoga, tai chi offers equally good stretching exercises and gentle motion to aid in the reduction of pain. Work on strength and endurance in addition to yoga. A gentle way to do this is aquatic exercise. Light free weights, exercise bands and bicycling or walking are all good elements for your exercise plan; these exercises increase circulation and relieve the pain as they strengthen the muscles to aid in preventing future pain.
5. Get Pain Medication
Anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal medications traditionally reduce hip joint pain. Some of the over-the-counter nonsteroidal medications are ibuprofen, Aleve, and Motrin. Your doctor can assess your situation and recommend the type of medication that suits your situation best.
