Hip Pain When Walking

There are many people all over the world who frequently complain of hip pain when walking, running, changing position while on bed and even while sitting still for sometime. They suffer from the problem of hip pain on a daily basis. There can be a number of reasons behind pain in the hips. A right diagnosis of the cause is a must for proper evaluation and treatment of hip pain. Mentioned below, is a brief description of the various possible causes for hip pain, followed by some ways that can be effectively used to reduce the pain in the hips.

Causes of Hip Pain When Walking

• Arthritis: Inflammation of joints or arthritis is one of the major causes of hip pain while walking. Fortunately, there are a number of treatments available for arthritis. But, if treatments through medicines and physical exercises fail, then hip replacement surgery is done to cure arthritis of hip joints.
• Hip Bone Fracture: Hip bone may get fractured due to accidents, osteoporosis or exerting strain on the hips frequently. The possibility of the latter increases in case of athletes, specially those who are long distance runners. The best way to avoid hip pain while walking due to stress fracture of hip bone is to stop the activity itself, that can be responsible for a negative impact like hip joint pain when walking.
• Inflammation of Bursa: A direct fall on the sides of the hip, repetitive movements, prolonged or excessive pressure on the hip area, differences in leg length and underlying surgical wire, scar tissue or implants in the hip area may lead to inflammation of the bursa, called trochanteric bursitis, over the hip joint's side. This is another major cause of hip joint pain when walking.
• Strain on the Muscles: The muscle and tendons around the hip and pelvis may get strained due to overstretching. Sportspeople are at a greater risk of developing muscle strain or muscle pull. However, muscle pull is not restricted to athletes only, as it can happen while doing everyday tasks as well.
• Dislocation of the Hips: The hip joint may not develop properly, if the hips are dislocated or out of position in early stages of growth and development or infancy. This condition is called developmental dysplasia. It may not be painful during childhood, but may lead to arthritis, and thus hip pain when walking.
• Inflammation of Tendons: Injury and repetitive strain on the tendons surrounding the hip joint may cause inflammation of tendons. This condition is medically termed as tendonitis. It can affect all parts of the body and can be quite enfeebling when symptoms get in the way of daily activities. Tendonitis may produce moderate to severe pain in hip when walking.
• Improper Blood Flow: Inadequate amount of blood flow to the area of bones is called osteonecrosis. The main causes of osteonecrosis are steroid medications, alcohol use, injury and increase in the pressure inside the bones. Chemotherapy and organ transplantation increase the risk of osteonecrosis. Hip joint is one of the most common places of osteonecrosis occurrence, and is another cause for hip joint pain when walking.

Treatment for Hip Pain When Walking

• Take some rest and allow the acute inflammation of the hip joint to subside. This is one of the very effective treatments for hip pain while walking.
• Sleep well and give your body an opportunity to heal. Avoid sleeping on the painful hip. It will be good if you use a foam egg crate mattress for sleeping.
• If there is severe hip pain while walking, use a crutch or a cane while walking. It will provide you some comfort from pain in hip when walking.
• Wear comfortable walking, cross-training or running shoes, as they are extra light and specially designed to enhance the stability of the foot. Wear arch-support shoe if you have flat feet.
• Keeping ice pads or heat pads on the hip for 20-25 minutes proves to be a great relief in reducing the pain.
• Try to lose weight in case you are over weight. This will reduce the pressure exerted on your hips while walking.
• Stretching the muscles and tendons surrounding the joint on a regular basis can relieve hip pain when walking.
• Take help of physical therapy. Physiotherapists use different modals to increase strength of the bones. By regularly performing the exercises, targeting the hip joints, patients regain mobility and pre-injury level of any physical activity.
• Perform some stretching exercises. Avoid weight bearing exercises, as they may make the situation even worse.

In case you do not get much relief from the remedies, or you have a sudden pain, you must call the emergency services and/or contact your health care provider. You may be asked to have an X-ray done and the dose of medication may also be increased. In cases of osteonecrosis, chronic arthritis or multiple fracture, you may be asked to undergo the surgery for hip replacement.

Hip joint is responsible for bearing body weight. Any disorder in the hip joint may disturb your daily physical chores. If you are suffering from hip pain while walking, you should see your health care provider as early as possible to rule out the possibility of any further complications. Following a healthy lifestyle is the key to keep hip pain at bay.