Why does my hip hurt?
What is hip bursitis?
How do I alleviate hip bursitis pain?
If you’ve been experiencing a pain along the outside or front of your hip it may be due to an inflamed bursa sac, otherwise known as bursitis. Okay, but what is a bursa sac you ask? Well, it’s a sac filled with a jelly-like substance that creates a buffer between your bones and the overlying soft tissues. Bursa sacs are present around most joints and work to reduce frictional rub and irritation when you move; however when these sacs are over-compressed (by the trauma of falling on your hip or repetitive use), they can become a great source of pain. While hip pain can be caused by a number of structures other than the bursa, including the joint, labrum, or nerves for example, bursitis pain typically presents as point tenderness along the outside of the hip.
To help alleviate hip bursitis pain, avoid repetitive activities that seem to produce your pain. Start a stretching routine for the hip muscles. You can stretch the outside of your hip by lying on your non-painful side and dropping your painful leg back behind you over the edge of a bed. You can stretch the front of your hip by lying on your back at the edge of your bed, allowing your painful leg to dangle over the edge of the bed. (Be sure to keep your non-painful leg on the bed with your knee bent for comfort). To stretch the back of the hip, lie on your back and use your hands to pull your knee toward your opposite shoulder. Hold the stretches for 20-30 seconds and repeat each one 3-4 times. It’s also important to strengthen the hip musculature. To do so, perform straight leg lifts on your back (with opposite knee bent and the foot on the bed to protect your low back), your sides (keep toes pointing forward), and on your stomach (being careful not to over-arch your back). Try 10 repetitions, then rest and repeat.
You may also want to consider using a cane to lessen the weight on the painful joint. (Carry the cane in the hand opposite your painful hip). After exercise or activity try icing the painful area to reduce the inflammation and soreness. If your pain persists, contact your physician or local physical therapist for an evaluation to better determine the source of your pain and appropriate treatment for it.
~K. Collins
My left side of my laps is paining me ,I find it difficult to walk working
I would need more information to give you any direction or advice. Thank you
I went for a strenuous walk 9 weeks ago and my hip was very painful. Since riding a bycycle was not painful l started cycling every day for half-an-hour, but had a mild fall landing on my hip. Although it not very painful now, l cannot walk comfortably.
Walking and cycling are different activities and stress different muscles. If you fell and landed directly onto your hip you may have only contused the soft tissues (i.e. bursa, tendons, fascia, muscle) or may have created a joint derangement or more serious pathology such as a fracture. Walking requires more activation of the gluteal muscles to support your body weight while transitioning to one leg during the gait cycle while cycling is much less because your seated. Walking also produces more load on the hip joint itself. If your pain is persisting with walking beyond 10-14 days, I would consult a PT.