Treatment remedies prescribed for hip pain will be highly dependent upon the cause of the pain. The hip joint is the second largest weight-bearing joint in the body, second only to the knee. It is a ball and socket joint, allowing motion in all directions. However, this motion also increases the instability of the joint and the potential for injury. Some common causes of pain in the hip include osteoarthritis, septic arthritis, hip fracture, muscle or tendon injuries and bursitis.
Rest and Ice
Bursitis of the trochanteric bursa is a more common injury in athletes, specifically runners. According to the Sports Injury Clinic, both rest and ice are treatments used to decrease the inflammation of the bursa and reduce pain and swelling of the joint. Athletes should stop training and ice the hip several times each day until the pain has disappeared. Once they start training again they should run only on flat surfaces until the hip has fully recovered, the clinic advises.
Reduced Weight Bearing
Most hip fractures are surgically treated because placing an aging patient on bed rest for eight to 12 weeks would have greater risk of serious complications than the surgery. However, according to orthopedic surgeons at eOrthopod, a computer-assisted educational program designed for patients, if the fracture is considered stable the surgeon may consider a non-surgical approach. If the patient is able to sit without displacing or moving the fractured bones, the physician may consider allowing the fracture to heal while the patient uses a wheelchair. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, those who suffer hip pain from bursitis or arthritis can sleep on the non-affected side with a pillow between the knees to keep the hips in alignment without placing additional weight on the joint.
Cane
According to the Hip and Knee Institute in Los Angeles, California, a cane is another option of reducing weight bearing on an arthritic hip and thus reducing pain and inflammation. The cane should be the correct length and held on the opposite side of the affected hip in order to reduce the potential for another injury related to the use of this mobility device.
Medication
Medication use will depend upon the cause of the pain. When pain originates from a type of arthritis, the Hip and Knee Institute recommends the use of methotrexate and cortisone injections. The Sports Injury Clinic also recommends the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen in the case of bursitis. And if pain originates from a fracture the physician will prescribe pain medications to help reduce the discomfort.
Physical Therapy
Gentle exercises and a physical therapy program will be used for individuals who have recovered from a hip fracture or are recovering from bursitis, osteoarthritis or muscle sprains and strains. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the goal of therapy is to improve function, strength and range of motion so the individual can resume activities.
