The hip bears the most weight in the body. Constant wear and tear may cause the hip to weaken or deteriorate, leading to pain. Hip pain can significantly affect your life, from troubled sleep to difficulty walking. Getting to know the root cause of your hip pain is essential. The most common cause of hip pain is arthritis. However, other medical conditions can cause hip pain.
Leaving your hip pain untreated may lead to physical compensation, leading to additional leg and back pain. Non-surgical treatments are the first option before considering invasive treatment options like surgery.

If the troublesome pain affects your ability to perform your daily tasks, it is time to seek medical assistance from a specialist. Our highly experienced team of specialists at Tarpon Interventional Pain & Spine Care specializes in minimally invasive treatments. We help you overcome hip pain through customized treatment plans.

How to Manage Hip Pain Without Surgery

Below are some of the several treatment options that can manage hip pain. 

• Exercise

Regular exercises minimize hip pain. An exercise regimen improves flexibility by strengthening the muscles around the hip, which reduces pain and helps the hip gain better function.  

 It is recommended to modify exercises to those that are less stressful to your joints. The exercises include walking on the treadmill or a flat trail, and simple yoga poses that do not exert or extend the hip joint. Aerobic exercises in a recreational pool or shallow water are also fun ways to exercise the hip safely.

However, some medical conditions like advanced arthritis may worsen hip pain for patients. It is recommended that they consult with their doctors before starting an exercise routine. 

• Medication

Medication is used as the first line of treatment for hip pain. Over-the-counter pain medication and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are recommended for mild to moderate hip pain. Muscle rubs (analgesics) may be applied topically for temporary pain relief.

NSAIDs minimize inflammation in the joints and muscles, making a patient feel better. Inflammation may occur due to arthritis, muscle tears, tendonitis, labral tears, or synovitis. 

Anti-inflammatory medications are affordable and readily available; however, prolonged use of NSAIDs has been linked to causing liver and stomach issues. Patients are advised to consult their doctors if they plan to take them for long durations. 

• Injections

Injections diagnose the direct cause of hip pain. If pain persists and oral medications are not proving to be effective, a doctor may prescribe a corticosteroid injection or hyaluronic acid (viscosupplementation) into your hip joint. Corticosteroids minimize inflammation while hyaluronic acid improves lubrication in the hip joint. 

• PRP Injections

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy injections are gaining popularity as regenerative medicine for healing and repairing musculoskeletal problems.  PRP injections use the patient’s own concentrated platelets to accelerate the healing of injured muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments. 

PRP injections can minimize the use of anti-inflammatories and strong pain medications and are key in the body’s natural healing process. Patients can consult their doctors to check if they are suitable candidates for PRP injections.

• Nutraceuticals 

Nutraceuticals are dietary or herbal supplements that minimize hip pain. Additionally, the supplements also strengthen and improve the overall health of bones and soft tissues.

• Weight Loss

The hips and knees are the main weight-bearing joints of the body. Being overweight burdens the joints by straining them and causing inflammation and pain. Studies indicate that losing weight can minimize hip pain and inflammation.

Consuming a balanced healthy diet and an exercise routine can help lose weight. Avoid diets high in fat and processed foods and instead, consume a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean meats and take lots of water. 

Patients who cannot exercise due to pain can perform simple aerobic activities like walking, and water exercises severally in a week.

• Physical and Occupational Therapy

Physical therapy is a critical component in hip pain management.  It is a non-invasive treatment approach whereby surgery is not indicated. Physical therapy aims to get to the underlying cause of hip pain to treat it effectively. Physiotherapists formulate a customized treatment plan to reduce pain and minimize inflammation.

Exercise and rehabilitative medicine strengthen muscles, improve flexibility and range of joint motion, decrease inflammation and improve hip function. Physical therapy also includes electrical stimulation therapy, which is ideal for hip arthritis and prevents disability.

• Physical Aids

Physical aids like braces, canes or crutches, orthopedic insoles, and walkers reduce hip stress. They minimize a considerable amount of hip pain. They are ideal for patients who might lose balance and fall when walking. Walking aids are customized to suit your needs and may take regular use to get accustomed to using them.

Surgery may be the last call for you if other minimally invasive treatments fail to work. Wondering about which treatment options are suitable for you?  Please schedule an appointment with us at Tarpon Interventional Pain & Spine Care to learn more.