Don't Let Hip Pain Get you Down

You rely on your hips for everything from walking to kicking to bending. Obviously, it’s hard to get around if your hips ache. Here are some of the reasons you could be suffering from hip pain.Arthritis: Osteoarthritis (OA) is an inflammatory joint disease and a common cause of hip pain among older adults. It causes stiffness, swelling, joint degeneration, and progressive cartilage loss. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is another inflammatory disease that causes joint pain. Rather than being caused by wear and tear, RA is an autoimmune disorder where the body attacks healthy tissues as if they were foreign invaders.Other Types of Inflammation: Arthritis isn’t the only type of inflammation that can cause hip pain. Swelling can occur within the joint itself as a result of an injury or illness. Space is limited here, and if the joint fills with fluid or blood, you’ll experience pain.Small jelly-like sacs outside the hip joint, known as bursae, can also become inflamed. This condition, called bursitis, often results from overuse or minor joint trauma. Even inflammation located elsewhere in your body can cause referred pain in your hip.Sciatica: The sciatic nerve runs from your pelvic region down the back of your thigh all the way to your feet. Inflammation or irritation of the sciatic nerve results in sciatica. This condition results from any injury or pressure on the sciatic nerve, which can include bulging discs, spinal degeneration, herniated discs, or osteoarthritis. Sciatica can cause radiating pain in various places in your body, including your lower back, the backs of your legs, and your hips.Overuse: Athletes, dancers, and other physically active people experience hip pain as a result of overuse. The joint and surrounding muscles, tendons, and ligaments become inflamed and irritated, making it difficult to maintain an active lifestyle. Regular chiropractic treatment can help reduce inflammation and improve mobility to keep your hips healthy and strong.Trauma: While overuse injuries occur gradually, traumatic injuries aren’t so subtle. If you fracture or dislocate your hip, the pain can be immediate and severe. Even if you don’t break any bones, your ligaments and muscles may be strained, sprained, or bruised if you slip and fall.Fortunately, chiropractic care can help you heal faster. By helping to relax muscle spasms and strengthen weak joints, you can recover from your traumatic injury and get back on your feet faster than if you skip chiropractic treatments.