Hip Pain Treatment
Many of the patients, who came to Miracle Physical Therapy had been suffering from pain in the hip for a long time. They had been waking up in the morning hardly been able to get out of bed after having difficulty to find a position to sleep and turning all night because of pain. It was difficult for them to get in and out of the car, take a walk or climb a set of stairs. They had been suffering for months and years, just hoping that their hip pain will disappear on its own. However, years later the pain was still persistent and only getting worse.
Common conditions that cause hip pain.
Arthritis of the hip joint
This is most common reason for a chronic hip pain. Usually, you will wake up in the morning with stiffness and pain, difficulty to walk and stand. Pain will remain during the day and will get worse with activities. With time the movement of the hip will become restricted and even simple action like getting in and out if the car is challenging.
Trochanteric bursitis
Inflammation of the synovial fluid on the outer part of the thigh because of the sport activity, muscle tightness, or trauma will cause pain while walking and standing. Rest will usually eliminate the pain, but it will return with motion.
Tear of the labrum
Hip labrum is a chondral structure that is attached to the hip joint. Trauma, sport injury, or overuse of the joint can cause partial or full tear and sometimes will cause the labrum to detach from the bone. Pain will appear with motion and will go away at rest.
Hip fracture
Probably the most common fracture over the age of 65. Although the acute pain will subside with the bone healing itself, some chronic pain might develop and remain for a long period of time. As a result of surgery or long period of immobility can cause severe motion restrictions and muscle weakness.
Hip impingement
Bone deformity either on the femur or the pelvis will cause pain and range of motion restrictions of the hip joint. Symptoms will increase in certain movements, and positions.
Avascular necrosis
This condition is a result of the reduced blood flow to the head of the femur. Pain will become progressively worse, and joint arthritis will develop much sooner.
Stress fracture of the femur
Microscopic fracture in the neck of head of the femur. This condition usually affects younger patients, with high levels of sport activities. Gymnastics, martial arts, dancing, are common to put increase load on the bone and cause repetitive trauma.
All those conditions are well known to cause pain, difficulty to move, inability to go to work, play golf, ride a bike, take a walk in the nature, and enjoy life in general. If you are suffering from low back or neck pain, we invite contact our clinic for a free consultation to learn how we can help you feel better today.
How to diagnose a hip problem
Hip pain can occur without warning and will become constant, causing the patients to reduce mobility and give up on the activities they like to do. Over the time, the pain last longer and will get severe. As a result, it will start limiting even simple daily activities.
Unfortunately, most of the family physicians know very little about specific hip problems. Most of them will recommend an x-ray, and prescribe some pain medications, without being able to find the exact diagnosis.
Being evaluated by a Physical therapist
Comprehensive examination by a trained physical therapist is the first logical step in diagnosing hip pian. They are trained clinicians, who will collect the necessary information and perform specific test to identify your problem. If needed, the therapist will recommend additional tests or will refer you to the specialist.
X-ray imaging
The simplest way to obtain the image of the hip and evaluate any structural changes and alternations. It is quick, simple, safe, and widely accessible, and is enough in most cases.
Getting an MRI or CT scan
Those are advanced imaging techniques that can create a high-quality image of the hip structure and reveal changes in the in the cartilage, labrum, nerves, and muscles. If combined with professional clinical examination those scans are useful in confirming the diagnosis.
Physical therapy for hip pain
Physical therapy is a safest and easiest way to treat your hip problem. It is based on restoring natural motion in the joint, improving flexibility, and muscle strength. All those are important to improve stability of the hip and reduce pressure on the damaged structures. Unlike pain medications and injections, that provide only temporary relief, hip pain treatment with physical therapy has no side effects and will eliminate pain for long period of time.
Without proper treatment hip pain is known to cause disability to work, play sports, go for a walk, meet with friends, and trigger depression and unhappiness. Modern medicine has two main approaches to treat hip pain: non- surgical and surgical.
Physical therapy before and after hip surgery.
Hip replacement is a most common joint replacement surgery performed today. Although, this surgery can significantly improve quality of life and eliminate pain, it should not be taken lightly. This is a major surgery with possible complications and long recovery period. Physical therapy is an integral part both in the preparation and recovery from hip replacement surgery. Proper physical therapy will improve outcome form the surgery and will significantly shorten the recovery period.
Physical therapy prior to the surgery.
Most of the patients will decide on a surgical procedure after suffering from the hip pain for a long time. During this time, their ability to move had significantly decreases, muscle strength reduced, and range of motion limited. Physical therapy before surgery will help to reduce pain, improve muscle strength, and mobility, which is important for the post-surgical rehabilitation
Physical therapy after spinal surgery
Recovery from the hip replacement is a multi-stage process. Physical therapist will instruct you and will help you to reach the best outcome after surgery. 1. Immediately after surgery the physical therapy will help to reduce pain and swelling, regain initial mobility and range of motion. This is critical at this stage, because the soft tissue is healing and if not treated can create adhesions and restrictions to movement. 2. At this stage physical therapy will focus on restoring the proper motion pattern in walking and improve muscle strength and endurance. 3. At this point the physical therapy will concentrate in improving the quality the movement and improving performance. The therapist will work with you to make sure you are able to perform tasks you want maybe return to golfing or playing tennis, hiking or any other activity.
Unfortunately, many of us think that tolerating pain is the best way to deal with the hip problem; and only if we can suffer it a little longer, it will disappear on its own. This approach leads to an entirely opposite outcome and will cause minor conditions to get worse and turn into a chronic and difficult to treat condition. Asking for professional help is an important step in solving hip pain. Doing it earlier rather than later improves the outcome of the treatment and shortens the period of discomfort and suffering.
What should you expect at physical therapy treatment for the hip pain?
Physical therapy offers a comprehensive solution that has been proven over the years as able to reduce pain and restore quality of life, without harmful side effects of medications and surgery. Therapy is able not only to help during the acute pain episodes but can also prevent the recurrence of the acute pain periods and allow patients to resume their normal activities and hobbies.
You will start feeling better in a matter of days and not months.
In a few short treatment sessions you will have less pian, more energy and better mobility. The treatment will not only decrease the symptoms but will also improve the everyday function, mood, and reduce anxiety.
Your therapist will diagnose the problem on your first visit.
You should be able to understand the issues and the way it should be treated. If necessary, you might be recommended to have an imaging test done to confirm the diagnosis.
You will be able to prevent the problem from happening again.
Unlike pain medications and injections, physical therapy will treat not only pain, but also the underlaying reason for it. This will prevent the back pain form happening again and again and is as important as reducing it right now.
Hip fracture
This is a most common fracture for the people over 65. It can result in long period of immobilization 6-12 weeks, or even require surgical repair. Either the treatment was conservative or surgical physical therapy is necessary to reduce pain and stiffness, improve range of motion and regain muscle strength. Exercises should be adjusted over the period of time, to address different stages of healing, electrical stimulation, massage and manual therapy will help to reduce pain and stiffness
Labrum tears
Physical therapy will address the abnormal loading on the damaged structure, will improve limitation in mobility and help to decrease pain. In addition, the therapist will explain how to prevent the condition from deteriorating over time.
Treatment for muscle tears
Both front and rear muscles of the hip can suffer tears during sport activities. Physical therapy will help to reduce the initial pain and swelling. Electrical stimulation, manual massage and gentle stretching are applied at the first stage. Gradual strength exercises should start later to rebuild muscle and allow proper healing.
Hip arthritis
Medical massage and manual therapy in combination with electrical stimulation are very effective in reducing pain and stiffness, and inflammation. In addition, specific stretching and strengthening exercises to restore the normal motion in the spinal joints and facilitate the regeneration of the tissue.
Trochanteric bursitis
Local ultrasound, iontophoresis, and Interferential(IF) current combined with heat will target the initial inflammation. After the pain is reduced it is important to treat the reason for the inflammation. Usually stretching of the TFL ligament, and muscle strengthening around the hip joint will improve the mechanics of the movement and prevent the condition form repeating in the future.
Miracle PT and massage center.
At Miracle Physical Therapy we can help you to get on the right track and start the journey. You can call us to schedule a free no obligation consultation with a therapist in person or over the phone. If you feel ready to start some real physical therapy for lower back pain, we can schedule your appointment in the next 24 hours.
Starting physical therapy in our Warren or Farmington Hills location will allow you to feel better in the next days and not years.
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In the small number of sessions, we will help you to reduce stiffness and pain and start feeling better.
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We will diagnose your real problem on your first visit, and together we will build the treatment plan to get rid of pain and other symptoms you are suffering from.
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You will be able to get rid of the pain medications and enjoy life without relying on harmful substances with severe side effects and complications.
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Proper treatment will help you to avoid major surgery with long recovery and severe risks every surgery has.
Is your problem acute or chronic?
At Miracle Physical Therapy and Massage Center we specialize in treating both chronic and acute low back pain conditions and helping hundreds of patients every year to enjoy their life without pain. We are using scientifically proven treatment approach, which helps to restore mobility, improve strength, and decrease pain without harmful side effects of addictive pain medications and invasive surgeries. We are operating two clinics in Farmington hills and Warren Michigan.
Long lasting results!
At Miracle Physical Therapy and Massage Center we believe that it is not only important to get rid of the pain today, but also to prevent it from coming back repeatedly. By addressing the source of the condition that is causing pain, we can improve quality of life and allow our patients to enjoy it fully.
Learning and understanding the problem each specific patient is suffering from, goes a long way in treating it.
It is not a magic trick, but science, knowledge and experience we accumulated over the last 20 years that make Miracle Physical Therapy and Massage Center the best place to treat low back problems.
Call us today for more information or to schedule the beginning of your therapy.