Easing Hip Pain

Get relief from hip pain with these remedies.

The largest joint in the body, your hips allow your legs to move and bend. When all parts of the hip joint are working properly, you experience painless, enjoyable range of motion. Unfortunately, many people deal with hip pain that may be caused by injury, normal wear and tear, arthritis, tendinitis, bursitis, tendon or muscle strain, or other health conditions. Discomfort and pain may be felt inside or outside the hip, down the thigh, in the groin, or in the buttock area. The pain may be mild or severe and may be felt 24/7 or only during activity. But hip pain doesn’t have to stop you in your tracks.

If you deal with chronic hip pain, visit your physician before worsening the damage. With a variety of treatment options available, there is bound to be one to help you. Here are a few of them.

Medications

As with other types of pain, hip pain may be relieved with over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like naproxen or ibuprofen. Just be sure to take as directed. Have arthritis? Your physician may prescribe corticosteroid medications to ease your pain.

Lighten the Load

Your joints bear the brunt of carrying extra weight. Whether you’re toting heavy bags of groceries into the house, picking up the grandkids, or carrying a heavy purse around, you can relieve the pressure on your hip joints by lightening the load. Ask for help with the groceries or babysitting until your hip recovers.

Lose Excess Weight

While it’s easier said than done, losing weight is one of the best ways to relieve many types of hip pain. After all, being just 10 pounds overweight places an extra 50 pounds of pressure on lower body joints. So if you’re lugging around extra pounds in your midsection and elsewhere, make the necessary diet and lifestyle changes today to lose weight tomorrow.

Low-Impact Exercise

While you may have played a lot of contact sports previously, follow your doctor’s orders when it comes to exercising with hip pain. Injuries may require rest until the joint is healed, while other causes of hip pain may find relief with the right types of exercise. In these cases, exercise is recommended to strengthen the muscles surrounding the joint, increase range of motion, and aid weight loss for joint health. Talk with your doctor, physical therapist, or trainer about the best workouts for your condition. Remember, always stop exercising if you feel pain.

And if you suffer from joint pain, it’s best to avoid high-impact exercises that include jumping or running. So you’ll want to skip the jogging, basketball, and kickboxing workouts and take up joint-friendly workouts such as swimming, walking, stationary cycling, or appropriate strength training. Water workouts, yoga, and tai chi are some of the best exercises for those with hip pain.

Heat and Cold Treatments

Applying ice to an injured or inflamed area is one way to reduce inflammation and bring pain relief. Several times a day, place ice on your affected hip for 15 minutes. Heat, on the other hand, brings extra blood flow to the area, which can speed healing. Use a heating pad, apply a hot compress, or take a warm bath. Alternate between hot and cold treatments as your hip heals.

Rest

Painful as it is to stay still, some causes of hip pain are best relieved by rest. In these cases, avoid unnecessary activity, sitting for extended periods of time, sleeping on your painful side, heavy lifting, or bending at your hip. If necessary, use a cane or crutches to help you get around.

Surgery

Sometimes, lifestyle changes, medication, and home remedies aren’t enough to overcome ongoing hip pain. Severe arthritis, fractures, pinched nerves, and other hip conditions may require surgery or hip replacement. If surgical intervention is recommended, don’t hesitate to get a second opinion, research the suggested procedures, and find the surgeon with the best outcomes.