Top 8 Causes of Hip Pain and How to Relief Without Addictive Pain Meds

Pierre Van ZylHeal, Health Awareness, Move, Pain Management, Pain Relief

Share www.GetCollagen.co.za

Hip replacements or general hip pain is a condition typically thought to impact older adults. And while this population is certainly at a higher risk of hip issues, even young people (especially athletes) can suffer from hip pain.

Hip pain affects each person a bit differently, causing symptoms like aching or weakness on either the outside of the hips, the upper thighs, the outer buttock, or near the hip flexors. And depending on the cause of the pain, it’s possible for only one hip to be affected or both.

There are many different underlying reasons that can cause hip pain to develop, usually having to do with some type of wear-and-tear or irritation of the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and/or other soft tissues that surround the hip joints. (1) Here’s a look at some of the most common:

  • Bursitis—Bursitis of the hips is considered one of the leading causes of hip pain, according to experts. Specifically, the term bursitis describes inflammation of bursa, which are fluid-filled sacs that help with gliding in order to reduce friction between tissues while moving.
  • Obesity—Your hips and knees both bear most of your body’s weight, so they are typically the first to start aching when faced with the added strain and pressure of excess pounds.
  • Sciatica—This condition is caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve and is characterized by pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness that originates in the lower back and travels through to the hips, buttocks and back of the thighs.
  • Arthritis, osteoarthritis, and degenerative joint diseases—About 15% of people over the age of 25 and 35% over the age of 65 suffer from arthritis and other degenerative joint diseases, which are most likely to affect your neck, knees, hips and hands. These progressive disorders wear down the body’s cartilage, which is the tissue that covers up the end of bones and meets the joints.
  • Repetitive movements—These can include running, stair-climbing, or sports that involve jumping, sprinting, kicking, etc. Runners, as well as soccer, football, ice hockey, and rugby players all seem to be most prone to developing injuries of the hips/hip flexors. (2)
  • Poor posture—Spending many hours per day hunching over, or working out with poor form, can cause a weak core, low back pain and tight hips. Restoring posture is an important step in correcting harmful adaptations in the body and asymmetrical patterns that can damage joints and muscles over time.
  • Sedentary lifestyle—Too much sitting and too little physical activity can cause hips to become tight and limited in their range of motion. This makes it difficult to squat, bend, and walk with fast speed or on even surfaces. It can also increase the risk for falling and becoming injured. This can lead to a vicious cycle, because hip pain can then cause muscular compensations and a number of physical deficits due to loss of flexibility.
  • Other injuries— Accidents, trauma and injuries that can lead to hip pain include tendinitis, hip fracture, dislocation, and a labral tear (a labral helps hold the ball at the top of your thighbone securely within your hip socket).

5 All-Natural Ways to Ease Hip Pain

It’s understandable why you might reach for over-the-counter and/or prescription painkillers when you’re experiencing ongoing pain—you may even visit your doctor for regular cortisone injections that are used to treat local inflammation. However, many experts will agree that use of pain-killers is not the answer to solving hip pain for good. Negative health effects that are associated with long-term use of these drugs can include: digestion problems such as diarrhea and nausea, acid reflux, and higher risk of suffering from ulcers, gastritis, bleeding of the bowels, and even cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) diseases. (3, 4)

On top of how they can impact your health, painkillers don’t actually don’t solve the underlying issue that’s causing your pain. For example, pills and injections won’t be able to reverse autoimmune responses, bad form or posture, obesity, or injuries due to overuse and repetitive movements.

So what are some natural solutions that can help ease hip pain? First and foremost, you want to be clear about the exact part of your affected hip that is bothering you and identify any contributing causes. Talking to your doctor about the precise location of your hip pain and when it started can give your doctor the necessary information to point you in the direction of the appropriate treatment.

Below are my top all-natural tips for keeping your hips healthy and overcoming stiffness, swelling, and aches:

1) Ice and rest

First things first: Stop any activity that causes pain to give yourself time to heal and try icing the painful area for 20 minutes every 3 to 4 hours, for 2 to 3 days. You can do this by wrapping an ice pack in a clean cloth first, then gently pressing against your skin. Also consider applying essential oils that reduce pain, such as peppermint oil.

2) Regular exercise

To prevent stiffness and support good posture, it’s important to keep your joints in motion and your muscles strong. Low-impact activities that are suitable for people with hip pain include swimming, biking, using an elliptical trainer, and brisk walking.

3) Gentle stretching

Stretching and strengthening your legs, core and hip flexors can help prevent injury. In addition to getting enough physical activity, I recommend performing these stretches as part of your weekly or even daily routine: front hip flexor stretch, seated butterfly stretch, quad stretch, seated supine hip flexor stretch, and various lunges. You can also use a foam roller or a small ball like a baseball, golf ball, or tennis ball to gently massage and stimulate achy areas.

4) Anti-inflammatory diet

Aim to eat a nutrient-dense diet that helps you maintain a healthy weight and also fights inflammation and autoimmune responses, supports muscle and bone repair, and prevents deficiencies. Eat plenty of fresh vegetables (all kinds); whole pieces of fruit; herbs; spices and teas; probiotic foods like yogurt or cultured veggies; wild-caught fish; cage-free eggs; grass-fed/pasture-raised meats; bone broth; and healthy fats like grass-fed butter; coconut oil; extra virgin olive oil; and nuts and seeds. Additionally, be sure to avoid or limit processed ingredients like refined vegetable oils (including canola, corn and soybean oils); common allergens like dairy or gluten (especially if they cause you symptoms); conventional meat; poultry and eggs; refined carbohydrates/processed grain products; and added sugars.

5) Complementary treatments

For further help improving your posture, fixing your form and overcoming the effects of physical/mental stress, I recommend visiting a chiropractor, physical therapist, and/or acupuncturist. Acupuncture has been shown to help lower symptoms of leg, back, and neck pain, as well as muscle aches and joint stiffness. (5) Chiropractic treatments or a professional massage can help restore spinal alignment, improve circulation, bring blood to sensitive areas, relax the mind and lower stress. And physical therapy can restore flexibility and reduce pressure that causes inflammation in the hip joints by strengthening and stretching the surrounding muscles.

This fantastic article is written by Dr. Josh Axe. Check out his website or follow him on Facebook for more great information!

The post Top 8 Causes of Hip Pain and How to Relief Without Addictive Pain Meds appeared first on The Hearty Soul.