Several maladies can cause excruciating hip pain. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, hip joints are extremely stable and it takes a significant amount of force to cause hip damage. However, hip pain can be caused by repetitive overuse injuries, trauma, and certain medical conditions or diseases. The severity of a person's hip pain largely depends on the cause of the pain.
Hip Fracture
A hip fracture can cause excruciating hip pain. According to the Mayo Clinic website, a person can break his hip at any age, although most hip fractures occur in people older than age 65. Over time, bone loses minerals and becomes less dense. A reduced bone mineral density causes bones to weaken and predisposes an individual to a hip fracture. The Mayo Clinic website notes that hip fractures can be extremely debilitating and can lead to life-threatening complications in some people. Common signs and symptoms associated with a hip fracture include severe groin or hip pain, hip immobility after a fall, inability to bear weight on the affected side, stiffness, bruising and swelling in the involved area and a shorter, turned-out leg on the injured side. According to the Mayo Clinic, surgical intervention for hip fractures is usually effective, although rehabilitation from the injury and surgery can be slow.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases or NIAMS--a division of the National Institutes of Health--states that rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic inflammatory disorder that causes joint pain, swelling, stiffness and reduced range of motion. According to the NIAMS, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when a person's immune system attacks a joint's membranous lining. Common signs and symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis include warm, swollen joints that are tender to the touch, bilateral joint pain or joint pain in similar locations on both sides of the body, fatigue, periodic fevers and morning pain and stiffness that lasts for more than 30 minutes. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect many joints, including the wrist and finger joints and the joints of the neck, shoulders, elbow, hips, knees, ankles and feet.
Hip Dislocation
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons or AAOS, a hip dislocation occurs when the head of the femur or thigh bone slides out of its socket in the pelvis. The AAOS states that about 90 percent of hip dislocations involve a posterior dislocation or a dislocation in which the head of the femur moves toward the back of body. A posterior hip dislocation causes the hip to be in a flexed position. Hip dislocations are usually extremely painful, and most people with a hip dislocation are unable to move their leg. Some people also experience hip dislocation-related nerve damage, which can cause a loss of sensation in the foot or ankle. Common causes of a posterior hip dislocation include motor vehicle accidents, falling from a ladder or other tall object, and industrial accidents. According to the AAOS, hip dislocations are often accompanied by pelvic fractures, and back and head injuries.
