Hip injuries are a very common problem among people of all ages and become even more prevalent after the age of 50. They are most likely to occur in very active people from hard use, or very inactive ones, due to deterioration in bones and muscles. Hips are in constant use, only resting when you’re lying down, so pain management can be challenging, often requiring the combination of a number of treatments to keep the hip fairly comfortable as it heals.  

Hip injuries are a very common problem among people of all ages and become even more prevalent after the age of 50. They are most likely to occur in very active people from hard use, or very inactive ones, due to deterioration in bones and muscles. Hips are in constant use, only resting when you’re lying down, so pain management can be challenging, often requiring the combination of a number of treatments to keep the hip fairly comfortable as it heals.

Medical Evaluation is Crucial

While many minor hip injuries can be treated at home, having hip pain evaluated by a doctor is very important to ensure that you know exactly what you’re dealing with. Issues that seem minor can often be more serious then they appear, and even minor injuries can develop into serious hip problems if they aren’t treated properly. Hip problems are a leading cause of disability in adults and lead to more than 450,000 hip replacement implant surgeries a year in the United States. Fortunately, these procedures are able to restore mobility in many with disabling hip problems, but they do have risks. Faulty implants, for instance, have been a problem over the past few years, causing several hip replacement systems to be recalled and a lot of lawsuits.

Metal-on-metal implants have been troublesome, such as the popular DePuy ASR hip replacement systems, which were recalled by the manufacturer after being found to have high failure and complication rates. Metallosis is one of the most serious complications seen with these devices, which is caused by accumulation of metallic implant debris in the soft tissues around the hip, causing intense pain and inflammation, and in some cases, tissue death and bone loss. So, take good care of those hip injuries, since a visit or two to the doctor is surely preferable to the potential consequences of neglect.

Medications

Anti-inflammatory medications are often the first line of treatment doctors suggest for joint pain, and can be effective for injuries most common injuries, including strains, sprains, overuse injuries and arthritis. Typically, NSAIDS, like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen are the first to be tried. If they aren’t enough to manage the pain, corticosteroid medications are often used, either taken orally or injected into the injured area. Topical pain relief ointments also be helpful.

Exercise

While a period of rest after joint injury is usually necessary, generally 24 to 48 hours, too much rest can make matters worse, increasing stiffness and pain, as well as allowing muscles to weaken and range of motion to be lost. Gentle exercise and stretching, preferably under the supervision of a physical therapist, can maintain or improve strength and range of motion, which often reduces pain and speeds the healing process.

Nutrition

Eating well during the healing process is important to ensure that your body has an ample supply of nutrients it needs to repair damaged tissues. Make sure you’re eating a balanced diet, with plenty of lean proteins, dairy products, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables. Supplementing that healthy diet with a good multivitamin with minerals can provide extra insurance against deficiencies.

Guest Blog written by Elizabeth Carrollton. Elizabeth writes about defective medical devices and dangerous drugs for Drugwatch.com.