Almost everyone suffers from hip or back pain at some time in their lives. Rush Medical Center states that 70 to 85 percent of all people complain of back pain at some point, and that back pain is the most frequent cause of activity limitation in people under the age of 45. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that in 2006, 7 percent of the people surveyed reported hip pain in the previous month.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative joint disease. The Arthritis Foundation cites osteoarthritis as the most common type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the breakdown of the cartilage in the joints. This causes bones to rub together, resulting in pain and stiffness in the joint. According to Mount Nittany Medical Center, osteoarthritis can affect any joint, but it is more common in the neck, lower back, hip, fingers, knees and toes.
Bursitis
Bursitis is the inflammation of the fluid-filled sac, or bursa, near a joint. A bursa will lie between a tendon and the skin or a bone to reduce friction between moving parts. When the bursa is swollen, there is an increased pressure on the joints. This prevents smooth motion.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a back problem that may result in pain in the hip. The sciatic nerves begin in the spine and continue down the back of each leg. Compression of this nerve can cause numbness, tingling and pain. Many conditions can lead to this compression of the sciatic nerve, including a slipped disc, degenerative disc disease or injury.
Disc Disease
The spine is made up of many bones, called vertebrae, stacked on top of one another to form a column. Between these bones are inter-vertebrae discs that act as shock absorbers. These discs may deteriorate and cause the vertebrae to rub together and press on nerves, causing pain in the back, hips and extremities.
Avascular Necrosis of the Hip
Avascular necrosis, sometimes known as osteonecrosis, is when bone tissue dies due to lack of blood supply. Blood supply to the bone can be interrupted due to fracture, dislocation, alcohol consumption or steroid use, according to MayoClinic.com.
Injury
Back and hip injuries can cause pain. Muscle strains, dislocations and fractures are some of the more common injuries resulting in discomfort. Certain diseases can make the bones of the back and hips more prone to injury, such as osteoporosis, which weakens the bones.
Tendinitis
Medline Plus, a service of the National Library of Medicine, lists tendinitis as a cause of hip pain. Tendinitis is the inflammation of the tendon, which connects muscle to bone. Causes of tendinitis can include overuse, advancing age and injury.
References
- Rush Medical Center: Spine, Shoulder and Pelvis Disorders
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Adults Reporting Joint Pain or Stiffness in the Past 30 Days: 2006
- Arthritis Foundation: All About Osteoarthritis
- Mount Nittany Medical Center: Osteoarthritis: Common Sites
- Mayo Clinic: Avascular Necrosis
