Hip Pain

Hip pain can diminish your quality of life, preventing you from walking, working, or exercising the way you want. At Advanced Pain Institute in Arcadia, Encino, and Pasadena, California, interventional pain specialist Isaac Michael MineHart, MD, can restore your hip function and improve your mobility with physical therapy, injections, and other pain-relieving treatments. Call Advanced Pain Institute today or schedule an appointment to learn more about hip pain.

What causes hip pain?

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint that supports the upper body and provides movement for the legs. Damage to either of the two hip joints can destabilize your body and cause chronic pain. Because the joints require support from surrounding muscles and ligaments, any part of the hip can lead to long-term pain. 

Common causes of hip pain include:

Arthritis

Arthritis is an inflammatory disorder that causes the joints to swell and stiffen. Untreated arthritis can cause permanent damage to the hip joints. Early intervention is essential to preserve the hip joint’s function and reduce the need for surgical treatment.

Bursitis

The bursae are fluid-filled sacs that allow the joints to move without grating against surrounding structures. When the bursae become inflamed, the joints can swell and prevent movement in the hip.

Tendonitis

Tendons are soft tissues that help support the hip joint. Overuse from repetitive activities or dealing with excess weight or poor conditioning can cause inflammation in the tendons around the hip.

Fractures

Hip fractures are bone breaks that can severely damage your hip joints. They typically occur from a sports injury, overuse, or conditions that threaten your bone health, like osteoporosis.

Referred Pain

Leakage from an annular rupture could cause pain in the sacroiliac (SI) joint, located near your lower back and hips. This usually originates in the L1 or L2 lumbar vertebrae and can go unnoticed without proper diagnostic procedures.

How is hip pain diagnosed?

If you have chronic hip pain, Dr. MineHart performs a comprehensive physical exam at Advanced Pain Institute. He may ask questions about your symptoms and instruct you to perform certain movements to uncover the cause of your pain.

Next, Dr. MineHart may order imaging scans to view your hip and the structures that support it. X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the most common types of imaging scans to diagnose hip pain.

What are the treatments for hip pain?

Experienced in interventional pain and sports medicine care, Dr. MineHart can create a treatment plan that helps you return to the activities you enjoy. Some of the most common treatments for hip pain include:

• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Corticosteroid injections
• Activity modifications
• Heat and ice therapy
• Physical therapy
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy

If nonsurgical treatments don’t deliver the relief you need, Dr. MineHart can perform total joint replacement surgery to restore function to your hip joint.

Dr. MineHart offers reasonable pricing for all patients, and serves both lien patients and personal injury patients. Call Advanced Pain Institute today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about hip pain.