An Overview of Back and Hip Pain
Back and Hip Pain- photo source: www.tlcmedical.co.uk
There are quite a number of patients who are afflicted with back and hip pain. Sometimes, the pain would begin in the lower back and radiate to the hip. In others, it is the hip pain that is more bothersome. Most of the time, however, the lower back and hip pains seem to occur simultaneously. What is Hip Pain? The term “hip” for most people refers to two bony prominences that jut out from the sides just a little below the lower spine. In fact, some erroneously refer to the pain arising from these regions as “back hip bone pain”. In truth, the pain does not originate from the hip bone, but from the true hip, which is anatomically called the sacroiliac joints. The sacroiliac joints are the sites where the leg attaches to the pelvis along the region of the groin. Because these joints do not have discs, they don’t have a protective cushion from the pressures and stresses that are imposed upon them. This causes the joints to tighten and swell, resulting in pain and tenderness.
Factors That Influence the Development of Lower Back and Hip Pain
There are four main factors that cause lower back pain and sacroiliac or hip pin to develop. These factors are muscle tightness, weak muscles, joint movements, and pelvic imbalance. Any or a combination of these factors in trauma and certain musculoskeletal conditions can lead to lower back and/or hip pain. The most common cause of back and hip pain is arthritis, resulting from inflammation of the sacroiliac joint. Other inflammatory conditions that manifest with hip pain are trochanteric bursitis and tendonitis. Hip pain may also be a referred symptom from a back or spine problem. Good examples of this are the referred pains of sciatica and herniated discs. Muscle strain, specifically groin pulls and hamstring strains, cause spasm and pain in the muscles along the pelvis and hip. One common cause of back hip pain, running and other high impact sports puts tremendous pressure upon the sacroiliac joints, which would lead to the development of stress fractures causing hip pain. Athletes who are particularly prone to developing stress fractures are long distance runners and marathon participants.
Back and Hip Pain Treatment Options
Treatments of Hip Pain. The treatments for hip pain are similar to that of lower back pain. But before instituting management, the cause of the pain should be identified first. Acute hip pain may be treated first with ice compresses during the first 24 hours followed by hot compresses for the next 48 hours. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen may also be given. Some cases of hip pain have benefited from complementary medicine techniques, such as acupressure, massage and spinal balancing. Persistent cases of hip pain may require epidural blocks with corticosteroid injections or surgery. Especially in the elderly who suffer from back and hip pain as a result of an accident or fall, hip replacement surgery may be necessary.
