Hip Bone Pain

Hip bone pain is quite common in people all across the globe. People of all ages can fall prey to this severe problem of hip pain due to several different reasons. Although it is not one of the top three pains- headache, lower back pain and neck pain, the agonizing pain can make everyday tasks like walking up and down the stairs, sitting, getting in and out of a car nearly impossible. Managing pain in the hips can become a difficult job as it worsens with age. Coping with aching hips becomes easier if you understand the anatomy of hip well. Let us have a look at it.

Anatomy of Hip
The hip is made up of bones, cartilage, muscles and ligaments. It is the largest ball and socket joint in the body and is made of two different bones, the pelvis and the femur. The rounded end of the femur, also known as the thigh bone, forms the 'ball', and the 'socket' is a concave depression, known as acetabulum, in the lower side of the pelvis. The head of the femur fits into this depression and forms the hip joint. The joint is held in position by extremely strong ligaments that protect it from dislocation. It allows a great deal of flexibility and motion within the joint like walking, running and climbing.

Extreme pain down the thigh commonly occurs due to trauma or abnormality in your hip, however, there can be several other causes of hip pain. Several structures which form part of the hip joint as well as those that surround the hip can be responsible for causing pain. Any source of inflammation in the hip or the surrounding area can also lead to intense pain. Swelling, warmth and redness are some of the symptoms along with the unbearable pain.

Causes
Some of the common causes of hip bone pain are as follows:

• Hip bone fracture
• Osteoporosis
• Hip Bursitis
• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Aseptic necrosis
• Osteomyelitis
• Toxic Synovitis
• Tendinitis
• Pain in the lower back
• Infection
• Strain or sprain
• Bone spurs or other abnormalities in the hip
• Hip dysplasia

Hip Pain During Pregnancy
Most women experience sharp pain in the hips during pregnancy especially in the last trimester. It is a very common and uncomfortable side effect of pregnancy. During pregnancy, particularly in the last trimester, the body releases a hormone known as relaxin. This hormone relaxes and loosens the joints and muscles in the pelvic area, preparing the body for labor and delivery. The muscles and ligaments respond differently to relaxin and may result in hp pain. The change in the posture during pregnancy may also be held responsible for pain in the hip. Using a pillow between the legs and under the abdomen while sleeping can relieve the hip pain to some extent.

Aching hips is a common complaint of many runners. There are several factors that can lead to pain while running, including the type of surface you run on, length of your running stride and the type of footwear. However, hip bone pain in runners mainly occurs due to injury. Inflammation of the joint can also lead to pain and discomfort when sitting or running.

To conclude, I would say, get your hip pain treated as soon as you see the symptoms, as it gets worse with age and becomes difficult to treat effectively. Take care!