By Landon Agoado AP, DOM – (AP1704) – Acupuncture for Hip Pain – Palm Beach Gardens, Florida – An inordinate amount of Americans across the country experience hip pain from time to time in their lives. Among the millions who have to cope with this pain on a daily basis is a large percentage of women rather than men.
Fortunately, acupuncture can be used to treat this kind of pain effectively and get the sufferer back to their daily routine in no time. Here, we talk about hip pain, its causes and symptoms, conventional treatments, and how at Palm Beach Gardens Acupuncture, we treat it holistically.
The hip joint is durable, but not indestructible. With aging and overuse, hip joint cartilage can wear down and degrade. Muscles and tendons in the hip can get overused. Bones in the hip can break during a fall or other injury. Any of these conditions can lead to hip pain. If your hips are sore, here is a rundown of what might be causing your discomfort and how to get hip pain relief.
Hip fracture – The condition affects aging women the most because bone density declines as a person ages. This makes the bones susceptible to fracturing, and a small degree of pressure on the bones can easily break them. Hip fractures usually cause pain when walking, stretching or standing. Hip fractures also cause the toes to face outwards. The abnormal positioning of the toes is one of the first red flags doctors check when treating this kind of pain.
Tendonitis and bursitis – The hip joint is connected to the muscles around it by tendons. These tendons usually get overused and thus inflamed. One common cause of hip pain runners usually experience is iliotibial band syndrome, also referred to as IT Band. This is a thick strip of tissue running from the outer pelvis to the side of the knee.
Arthritis – People with osteoarthritis often have to cope with such pain. The ball and socket joint at the hip wears out with time and is affected by arthritis as the person ages. The condition causes severe pain which can be felt at the groin (as the joint swells and becomes stiff) or front of the thigh.
Hernia – It can also be referred to as a sports hernia. It is a medical condition that causes chronic pain at the front of the hip in women. An inguinal hernia is the most common type of hip pain expectant women may experience. It is caused by overstretching of the abdominal walls.
Gynecological issues – Hip pain can also be as a result of a condition affecting women known as endometriosis which occurs when the uterine lining grows abnormally.
Symptoms of hip injury or pain
The hip joint is one of the complete joints in the body consisting of bone, cartilage, ligament, muscle and lubricating fluid. Hip pain is difficult to describe as most patients just know they have a problem with their hips. The cause of the pain determines the frequency, intensity and location. The pain can be felt over the trochanter, at the groin or in the buttocks area. The pain can also move down to the knees. A lot of patients complain of:
- Limping
- Stiff muscles
- Stabbing, throbbing or aching pain which can sometimes reach the lower back, groin and legs
- Spasm
- Severe pain in the morning or when sitting or walking for extended spans of time
- Stiffness at the hip joint which causes difficulty in moving the joint
Western Medical treatments for Hip Pain
The doctor examines hip pain starting with a thorough physical examination. The examination can be carried out using the following methods:
- X-ray
- Arthrogram
- Bone scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging MRI
Once the examination is done, the doctor can recommend one of the following treatments:
Physical therapy– This includes low impact exercises, stretching, core training and some yoga movements which promote better hip movement.
Medication- Steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication and pain killers such as opioids serve to reduce debilitating pain caused by joint conditions.
Surgery– It is a last resort that is only recommended for serious cases where all other avenues have been used without success.
Acupuncture for the treatment of hip pain
Apart from the conventional ways of treating hip pain, you should also consider alternative methods such as acupuncture, which is one of the oldest techniques when it comes to pain alleviation. Acupuncture needles are painless, and sterile and are placed at specific points just below the skin. These needles when placed encourage blood and lymph flow to certain areas which in turn enables the natural healing processes of the body. By encouraging flow of blood, acupuncture therapy reduces many forms of inflammation and pain.
If you have tried everything else to treat your pain without success, it is time you tried acupuncture. Patients considering surgery should first take some acupuncture therapy sessions before going for surgery. This may be the only way you avoid surgery. Our experienced, Palm Beach Gardens acupuncturists are offering free consultation which you should take advantage of. Reach out and get your consultation today by calling 561-529-5295 to see what good acupuncture can do for you.
