Hip pain can interfere with your daily activities. It may be just around the joint, or the pain might spread to other parts like the back, legs, and groin. Hip pain can come due to deformity, injury, or a disease. Whatever the reason is, you should know that hip pain can affect your life. How do you know it is time to see an arthroplasty surgeon? If you are experiencing the following, it is best to see an experienced orthopedic specialist for treatment.
- Swelling on the Affected Area
If you are experiencing tenderness or swelling, those are the signs of a hip issue. Swelling can be internal or you can see it on the surface of the skin. The main cause of the swelling is bursitis, a painful condition caused by the inflammation of the bursae. Therefore, if you notice that the hip is swelling, tenderness, or a bruise on your joint, consider seeing a doctor.
- Pain is Affecting your Physical Activities
Think of your daily activities like walking your dog, walking to work, playing sports, or any other thing you enjoy doing. Are you able to do everything with the pain? Have these activities been limited or become impossible due to hip pain? Wait until a week. If the pain does not go away, it is time to visit your doctor. The specialist might consider imaging to check for impingement. Hip impingement is a situation where the socket and the ball of the joint don’t fit. They will prescribe medication, but if the hip does not respond to the treatment, the specialist might advise you to go for surgery to correct the issue.
- You Experienced Pain After an Accident or Fall
If you fall or get involved in an accident, a lot can happen. It is crucial to see a doctor if you experience hip pain after falling or an accident. Remember, muscle mass and bone density decrease with age. Therefore, you might have a hip fracture that needs immediate medical attention. If the fracture is left untreated, it can cause problems like pneumonia, bedsores, blood clot in the lungs, and UTI. You may need an arthroscopy procedure to rectify the hip.
- Hip Stiffness or Persistent Pain
If you leave hip impingement untreated for long, you are at risk of getting arthritis or more pain on the groin, buttocks, and thigh. The pain might become severe such that you can no longer move or sleep properly. If the hip becomes stiff, the pain persists and you are not able to put weight on the hip, you need to see a doctor. The doctor will recommend medications or physical therapy to reduce the pain. If the issue has already advanced to arthritis, you will need surgery to treat the problem.
- Failed Treatment Alternatives
You can heal the hip with home remedies like exercising, using ice, heat, resting, and OTC pain killers. These are possible remedies for treating hip pain. However, if none of them has been successful, it means your issue needs serious attention. Therefore, see the orthopedic doctor as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Hip pain can lead to disability if not treated on time. Therefore, if you have the signs mentioned above, it is advisable to see an orthopedic specialist.