Your hips are the largest joint in your body and provide support and stability both for your spine and upper body as well as your legs. If you suffer from hip pain, contact Diagnostic Pain & Treatment Center in Tomball and The Woodlands, Texas. Raka Gohel, MD, a double board-certified pain management expert, offers expert diagnosis and treatment for hip pain to reduce your discomfort and restore your quality of life.
Your hip is a ball-and-socket joint, with the head of your femur (upper leg bone) nestling into your pelvic bone. It’s supported by your hip flexors, labrum, hamstrings, and quadriceps. With so many contributing parts, pain can result from a wide range of injuries and degenerative conditions.
For example, osteoarthritis is a common cause of hip pain. When the smooth cartilage that cushions and protects your bones wears away, your bones rub together, creating friction when you move, which causes irritation, pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Additionally, inflammatory conditions such as tendonitis and bursitis can cause hip pain as well as muscle tightness and strains in your lower back, buttocks, and thighs. You may also sustain a painful injury such as a fracture or labrum tear.
You should seek professional medical treatment for hip pain if you develop sudden and severe hip pain, especially if it follows a fall or other type of physical trauma. Other signs that you need immediate medical attention include:
You should also make an appointment if you have hip pain that doesn’t go away after a few days of rest and at-home therapies such as over-the-counter pain relievers, ice packs, or heating pads.
Dr. Gohel provides customized treatment plans to alleviate your hip pain. Your treatment will depend on the issue causing your pain, so Dr. Gohel begins with a comprehensive exam to diagnose the cause of your pain.
During your physical exam, she may perform the FABER (flexion, abduction, and external rotation) test to identify issues such as osteoarthritis, labral tears or nerve impingement. In addition to a physical exam, Dr. Gohel may use diagnostic imaging tests including X-rays and MRIs to examine your hips for signs of injury or disease.
Once Dr. Gohel diagnoses the cause of your pain, she tailors a treatment plan to relieve your pain and restore your quality of life. She often combines therapies to maximize your pain relief by approaching it in different ways. For example, your pain management program may include:
If you’re living with hip pain that’s getting in the way of your regular activities, call Diagnostic Pain & Treatment Center or schedule a consultation online today.
