Comprehensive Hip Pain Care in Orange County

At Placentia-Linda Hospital, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation services delivered by a team of orthopedic physicians, nurses and allied health professionals can help get you moving again. If you are experiencing hip pain due to illness or injury, our orthopedic specialists across Orange County are here to help you diagnose and treat your pain. There’s so much of life to enjoy. Don’t let a painful hip keep you on the sidelines.

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Hip Pain Causes

Hip pain is the pain in or around the hip joint. It can be pain in the hip, groin or thigh. There are several possible hip pain causes including:

• Hip bursitis
  Inflammation between thigh bones and tendons. Hip bursitis is the most common diagnosis when hip pain is experienced. However, hip pain symptoms may indicate other conditions.
• Injury
• Fractures
  Common in older adults, hip pain caused by hip fractures are sudden and severe. Hip fracture treatment usually involves surgery and physical therapy.
• Labral tear
  A tear in the cartilage around the socket of the joint, hip pain caused by a labral tear is weight-bearing pain.
• Tendinitis
  Inflammation of the tendons. Tendinitis is the most common cause of acute hip pain. It is commonly caused by too much exercise and can be very painful. Tendinitis usually resolves by itself after a few days.
• Hip arthritis
  Hip arthritis can cause stiffness, swelling and pain in the hips. The most common forms of arthritis that affect the hips are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Osteoarthritis
  Also known as “wear and tear” arthritis, this form of arthritis affects the cartilage that cushions the bones where they meet. Hip pain from osteoarthritis is felt in the groin area and in front of the thighs.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
  Occurs when the immune system doesn’t work properly and attacks the healthy joints. Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects both sides of the hip. Hip pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis can be felt in the hip, groin and thigh area.
• Tight hip and buttock muscles
  If the muscles around the hip area are too tight, they pull against the thighbone which causes pain.
• Spine problems
  Although spine problems don’t directly cause pain to the hips, the body sometimes mistakenly thinks that the pain originates in the hip when it can be caused by spine arthritis or spine bones rubbing together.
• Snapping hip syndrome
  Experienced mostly by dancers and athletes, the snapping hip syndrome is when a snapping sound or feeling is felt when walking or getting out of a chair. This is a symptom of a cartilage tear.
• Osteonecrosis
  A temporary or permanent condition when the blood does not reach the bones. The exact cause is still not determined but heavy use of steroids or alcohol and cancer treatments heighten the risk of having osteonecrosis.

Consult an Orange County Hip Specialist for Hip Pain

Hip pain often resolves on its own with rest or can be easily managed by over-the-counter drugs such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. However, here are some indicators that it’s time to consult a hip specialist:

• Still in pain after resting for a week
• Fever or rash
• You have sickle cell anemia and suddenly get hip pain
• Hip pain on both hips as well as joints

Call 911 or go to Placentia-Linda Hospital if you experience the following symptoms:

• Hip pain caused by a serious trauma
• Deformed legs, severe bruising or bleeding
• Unable to move hip or bear weight on the legs
• Hip pain with a fever and feels unwell

Hip Pain Diagnosis in Placentia-Linda Hospital

The most accurate diagnosis is one of the first steps in proper treatment for your hip. Placentia-Linda Hospital offers a wide range of tests and screenings. Our Orange County hip specialists are dedicated to helping you relieve pain from diagnosis to rehabilitation. There are several tests that can help determine if there’s something wrong with your hips:

• Imaging
• Radiography
• Radiography
• Computed tomography (CT)
• Open High Field Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
• Ultrasonography
• Bone Densitometry
• Nuclear Medicine Bone Scan
• Blood tests
• Physical examination
• Gait testing
• Hip range-of-motion testing
• Flexion, abduction, external rotation (FABER) test or Patrick test
• Flexion, adduction, internal rotation (FADIR) test or impingement test
• Log roll test
• Straight leg raise against resistance test or Stinchfield test
• Ober test

Hip Pain Treatment

Hip pain treatments vary depending on the damage and cause of damage to the joint. Our team is prepared to discuss your treatment options, focusing first on nonsurgical treatments such as medication. If indicated that surgery is needed, advanced minimally invasive procedures are available at Placentia-Linda Hospital. Move freely, with less pain.

• Drugs
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – may be over-the-counter or prescription drugs for pain relief.
  • Biosphonates – prescribed for treatment of Paget’s disease of the bone or osteoporosis for reduced risk of hip fractures.
• Physiotherapy – a physiotherapist will assist you in strengthening, stretching, massage and other techniques to help improve or relieve hip pain.
• Occupational therapy – if hip pain affects your daily activities or your work, Placentia-Linda Hospital has physical rehabilitation services to assist in rehab and recovery.

  Learn more about recovery through rehabilitation here.

• Steroid injections – used to treat inflammation in and around the hip. These are injected by a radiologist, who uses of X-ray, MRI or ultrasound to make sure the injection goes to the right place.
• Surgery – not all hip problems are treated with surgery, but hip fracture treatment almost always needs surgery. When drugs and therapy haven’t provided pain relief, our hip surgeons in Orange County may recommend the following surgeries:
  • Hip replacement surgery
    • Superpath Hip Replacement
    • Anterior Approach to Hip Replacement
  • Revision surgery
  • Acetabular labrum surgery
  • Impingement Procedures
  • Synovectomy
• Other treatment offered
• Acupuncture
• Seeing a chiropractor
• Hip Dysplasia Procedures
• Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation

Conditions Treated at Placentia-Linda Hospital

Placentia-Linda Hospital strives to stay up to date on the latest hip diseases and conditions. Here is information on common hip conditions that we may treat:

• Avascular Necrosis
• Bony Abnormalities
• Bursitis of the Hip
• Chondral Lesions or Injuries
• Detachment of the Hip Labrum
• Excessive Torsion
• Extra-Articular Disorders about the Hip
• Hip Dysplasia
• Hip Impingement
• Hip Osteoarthritis
• Hip Osteonecrosis
• Labral Tears and Chondral Lesions in the Hip
• Periarticular Muscle Irritations and Tendonitis
• Ruptured Ligament of the Hip
• Snapping Hip
• Synovitis
• Tendinopathies of the Hip

Hip Pain Management at Home

If you can’t see a hip specialist right away or your hip pain just started, here are ways to manage your hip pain:

1. Lose weight to minimize strain in your hips.
2. Wear flat shoes and avoid standing for a long time.
3. Take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.

And if your hip pain is related to overexercising, here are some tips to minimize or avoid hip pain:

1. Cut down exercise.
2. Warm up before exercising.
3. Try low-impact exercises.
4. Run on a smooth, soft surface.
5. Make sure your shoes fit well.

Comprehensive and Specialized Orthopedic Services in Orange County

If you’re experiencing pain other than hip pain, consult our other specialists.

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