Hip pain is a common problem, and it can be confusing for you because there are many causes. It is important to make an accurate diagnosis of the cause of your symptoms so that appropriate treatment can be directed at the underlying problem.

HP is very common and can result from numerous different causes. Pain tends to occur commonly in certain age groups - the young (from 0 to 15 years) and older population (45 years of age).

In 1990, researchers estimated that the number of hip fractures would exceed 500,000 by the year 2040 (Cummings et al)Women sustain about 80% of all hip fractures (Stevens et al. 2000).

Hip pain treatment must be directed at the specific cause of your problem. Some signs that you should be seen by a doctor include:

* Your inability to walk comfortably on the affected side of your body
* Injury that causes deformity around your hip joint
* HP that occurs at night or while your resting
* HP that persists beyond a few days
* Your inability to bend at your hip
* Swelling of your hip or in the thigh area
* Signs of a hip infection, including fever, redness, warmth
* Any other unusual symptoms in your hip

Hip pain can have many causes and can happen at all ages, though for very different reasons.

One of the most common causes of pain if you are elderly is arthritis. Most often this is in the form of osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis, traumatic arthritis, and many other forms of lesser-known types of arthritis can also cause HP.

The second most common cause of hip pain among the elderly is due to fractures from falls. In fact, osteoarthritis actually causes many of the falls that result in hip fractures. Often the pain is due to fractures must be treated with hip replacement surgery to relieve severe chronic hip pain.

Hip pain may also be caused by bursitis, synovitis, or tendonitis. These conditions are most often seen in those involved in athletic activities.

Muscle strains and sprains within the muscles adjoined to the hip can also cause pain and may involve microtears. These causes of HP effectively treated with physical therapy. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications are also used as over the counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or can involve prescribed medications that are either taken orally or injected into the hip area to relieve your pain.

Long-term use of cortisone injections for treatment can cause hip pain. This is due to avascular necrosis. This occurs when there is a loss of blood supply to the bone. The bone then begins to deteriorate. This condition can also be caused by a transplant or from Perthes disease. This disease is a cause of hip pain in children that primarily affects boys between the ages of 5-10. In most cases avascular necrosis, however caused, results in hip replacement surgery.

Another reason for hip pain in children is from congenital dislocation of the hip. This can usually be corrected without the need for surgery. Another cause, in children or adults, is viral illness. HP may also be caused by various malignancies, though this is rarer.

Hip pain may also be caused by Pagets disease, which occurs in adults.

Due to the varying causes of hip pain, it is important to take your personal history into account and consult with your doctor, as well as, the use of surgery, physical therapy, and medications, walking aids may also be appropriate and necessary depending on the cause of your pain.