Hip pain usually affects elderly people


A great variety of conditions can be held responsible for hip pain, something that becomes more likely while you get older. Here, I list an array of some of the more important causes. Bear in mind that hip problems often appear with pain in the groin or knee rather than in the hip itself:

Arthritis: 'Wear and tear' to joints (referred to as osteoarthritis) is common in later life, whereas rheumatoid arthritis often affects people in a younger age. Pain that's often worse when getting out of bed after resting may be the main manifestation of osteoarthritis, and walking can become difficult. See your doctor if your pain doesn't get better with over-the-counter painkillers for example paracetamol and ibuprofen, or if walking becomes difficult.

Overuse of the joints: Whenever you play more sport or walk more than you're accustomed to, overuse of your hips could possibly be the cause of your pain. Overuse pain is typical and often gets better alone with rest and painkillers. Consult your doctor if your symptoms don't improve.

Spine problems: Hip symptoms may be due to issues with the lower spine, particularly if you also have back pain. See your doctor for further assessment.

Trochanteric bursitis: The inflammation of a fluid-filled cushion within the hip bone (referred to as trochanteric bursitis) can cause hip pain, which may settle by itself with rest. In trochanteric bursitis, the sides of your hips become painful and tender to the touch, but usually there's not much else to determine. Anti-inflammatory gels or tablets offered by your pharmacist could also help. See your doctor if your symptoms don't begin to improve after a few days. See your doctor for more assessment if you notice the following signs:

The following symptoms might point to a hip fracture, particularly if you belong to an older age group, so either talk to your doctor or call '999' to have an ambulance if you can't walk:

Some people with ongoing hip problems wrongly believe that nothing can be done about hip pain, that they need to avoid exercise or that surgery is definitely successful. In fact, a lot can be achieved about your hip pain, so consult your doctor to go over appropriate treatment options, which frequently initially involve adequate pain alleviation and physiotherapy.

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