Hip Pain Treatment in West Omaha, NE

Digital X-rays

The body is intricately designed, and misalignments in the spine often contribute to hip pain. However, as the largest ball and socket joint in the body, the hip joint can be subluxated (misaligned) and cause hip pain. When a misalignment occurs, there may be restriction in the hip joint’s movement and interference with the muscle tissue in that area of the body. A doctor may order X-rays during a new patient exam to visualize the hip joints and rule out any other pathology that may be causing your hip pain.

Chiropractic Adjustments for Hip Pain

The doctor will utilize the information gained from all the testing to determine the best course of action to relieve your hip pain and restore function to the hip joint. By establishing what areas of the spine and hips are experiencing joint restriction, the doctor can perform specific chiropractic adjustments to correct joint alignment and restore proper movement.

Custom Exercise Plan

Chiropractic adjustments for the spine and hips are only one component of corrective care in our office for a patient with hip pain. Depending on the patient’s specific situation, the doctor may have the patient implement a series of at-home exercises to help correct muscle weakness or imbalance as the spine moves into a more optimal position. Unfortunately, many people spend excessive time sitting, and this lack of motion counteracts glute and hip flexor strength and makes a person more likely to experience hip pain. By adding exercises between your series of spinal adjustments, patients can find increased stability and mobility.

Bursitis

Bursitis is inflammation of the bursa, a small sac of fluid that acts as a cushion and reduces friction between a joint’s bones and soft tissues. Two major bursae in the hip joint are often responsible for hip pain. The first covers the bony point of the hip bone, and the other is located on the inside of the hip joint. When either of these bursae becomes inflamed, it can cause hip pain at the point of the hip or in the groin area. The pain can extend out from the hip or groin toward the thigh area. If left untreated, the pain will spread across a larger area of the hip.

Patients with bursitis often report that the pain is worse at night, when lying on the affected side, when getting up from a lying or seated position, or after prolonged activity. Hip bursitis is most common in women and older adults.

Several risk factors for developing hip pain due to bursitis include:

• Repetitive overuse of the hip joint (e.g., running or standing for extended periods)
• Hip injury due to a fall
• Spinal conditions, including scoliosis and chronic arthritis of the lumbar spine
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Previous hip surgery or hip replacement surgery
• Leg length inequality, commonly caused by pelvic misalignments

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes severe pain, stiffness, and swelling in the lining of the joints. This condition results from the immune system mistakenly attacking healthy tissue. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect joints throughout the body, including hip joints. When RA affects the hip joints, it is responsible for varying levels of discomfort due to joint inflammation. Hip pain is the most common symptom when this condition develops in the hip joint. When your hip pain is due to inflammation caused by RA, you may experience other symptoms, including warmth in the affected area, pain or stiffness in the morning, or an ache that can range from dull to sharp pain. People with rheumatoid arthritis will often develop symptoms in the same joint on both sides of the body.

Degenerative Arthritis

Degenerative arthritis, also known as osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease, is the most common type of arthritis caused by a lifetime of wear and tear on joints. The lower back and hip joints are some of the most common areas of the body to develop osteoarthritis, and a patient with arthritis will likely experience pain in both the lower back and hip joints. Degenerative arthritis causes difficulty getting out of bed in the morning and can cause decreased range of motion experienced in the lower back and hip joints.

IT Band Syndrome

When the IT band becomes too tight, it causes friction at the top of your hip or near your knee, resulting in swelling and pain. This is known as IT Band Syndrome. IT Band Syndrome relates to hip bursitis because a tight IT band puts pressure on the bursae of the hip joint, resulting in swelling and pain in the hip. The most common causes of IT Band Syndrome include pelvic misalignment, sacroiliac dysfunction, and a sedentary lifestyle. People with IT Band Syndrome most often experience pain on the outside of the knee that increases with repetitive knee joint movement, as well as a feeling of popping, clicking, or snapping on the outside of the knee.