The hip joint is where the thigh bone meets the pelvis. The joint is shaped like a ball and a socket. The thigh bone fits like a ball inside the cup-shaped hole in the pelvis, similar to how a baseball fits inside a glove. The hip joint glides seamlessly and without issue within the socket. However, when the cartilage within the joint gets damaged, there is an interference with the smooth motion in the joint, which is called hip impingement.
Symptoms
Hip impingement is typically not painful in the beginning. Most people do not realize they have a hip impingement until much later when symptoms become prominent. The most common symptom of hip impingement is a pain in the groin. The pain is most common when you walk or flex the hip. A lot of people also experience a decreased range of motion in the affected hip.
While at first, you may feel pain only after a long day of hiking or running, as the condition worsens, your symptoms are likely to get worse. Later on, you may be unable to walk, run, or climb a hill as the condition progresses.
Diagnosis
Doctors typically diagnose patients with hip impingements based on three things:
- Physical exam – Your doctor will physically exam the hip, review your range of motion, and understand when and where you feel pain.
- Discussion of symptoms – Your doctor will ask you for details on your symptoms. This will include when you feel pain, the type of activities you do when the pain comes, and the intensity of the pain you feel.
- Imaging results – Your doctor may also ask for imaging tests to see the hip joint. This could be in the form of an x-ray, MRI, or CT scan.
Using information collected from these three steps, your doctor will determine if you have a hip impingement.
Treatment
Hip impingement is commonly treated by resting the affected hip. Patients are also advised to modify their activities so the joint isn’t overused. Your doctor may also recommend physical therapy exercises to strengthen the hip muscles, which will help take the pressure off the joint. Finally, doctors often prescribe anti-inflammatory medications and painkillers to help with pain symptoms.
Hip Impingement Treatment in North Dakota
At The Bone & Joint Center, our orthopedic surgeons specialize in treating conditions that affect the bones and joints, including the hips and knees. If you are suffering from hip impingement pain, allow us to provide relief and rehabilitation to your hip bones and joints.
Our goal is to get you back to the life you love. We are the largest orthopedic practice in North Dakota, with surgeons, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and hand therapists working out of 9 locations.
If you have any questions about our services and procedures, please call The Bone & Joint Center at (800) 424-2663 or request an appointment now. Our compassionate team of physicians is happy to serve you in our Bone and Joint Center locations across North Dakota.
