The hip is one of the most frequently injured joints in the body. Hip injuries make up around half the injuries experienced by athletes. More than 40% of athletes have a deformity of the femoral head that triggers femoroacetabular impingement. Around 10% of adults are expected to develop osteoarthritis of the hip. And hip replacement costs in the United States are higher than $13 billion annually. That’s why many doctors should be trained to assess hip pain, even if they are not a specialist.
The hip joint comprises the ball of the femur (thigh bone), the acetabulum (hip socket), and the pelvis. The hip joint is the main joint of the lower extremities. It allows the leg to rotate and move forward, backward, and side to side. The hip joint is the largest and strongest joint in the human body and is designed to be a constant weight-bearing joint.
If you’re experiencing hip pain, you may wonder what caused it. There are many possible causes, but one of the most common reasons is a slipped disc. A slipped disc occurs when a piece of your spinal column or vertebrae (the bones that make up the spinal column) slips out of place, causing pressure on your sciatic nerve. If you have sciatica, you’ll know that this can cause pain down the back of your leg and sometimes even into your foot.
Hip pain is a common problem in adults. It’s one of the leading causes of disability among adults. The pain can be due to injury, arthritis, or other health problems.
Anterior hip pain and groin pain
Hip pain can be felt around the superior part of your thigh and your groin. In some cases, this type of pain is not associated with hip problems. In others, it is related to the joint underneath.
When we are experiencing anterior hip pain, doctors rule out different diagnoses, such as:
Hip fractures
They typically occur in older people with a weakened bone structure. These fractures can be triggered by a fall that causes the bone to break or by a blow to the side of the hip. The fracture may also occur after surgery for osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. People who have had hip fractures experience pain and stiffness in the hip and thigh, particularly when they move, which can be very severe. In most cases, patients are entirely unable to walk, and the fracture can be the start of a life-threatening condition in older adults with frailty or severe comorbidities. Thus, medical help is required immediately to avoid complications.