Hip Pain

Overview

Hip pain is a common complaint that can significantly affect daily activities such as walking, climbing stairs, and sitting comfortably. The hip is a ball-and-socket joint, one of the largest weight-bearing joints in the body, and pain can originate from the joint itself or from surrounding structures including muscles, tendons, and bursae. In Lahore's orthopaedic practice, hip pain is frequently seen in both elderly patients with degenerative changes and younger patients with sports-related injuries.

Common Causes

• Osteoarthritis — wearing down of the cartilage in the hip joint, causing pain and stiffness
• Labral tears — damage to the ring of cartilage (labrum) that follows the outside rim of the hip socket
• Hip fractures — particularly common in older adults following a fall
• Bursitis — inflammation of the bursae that cushion the hip joint
• Tendinitis — inflammation of the tendons attaching muscles to the hip bone
• Developmental dysplasia — a condition where the hip socket does not fully cover the ball of the thigh bone

When to Seek Evaluation

Persistent hip pain that affects your ability to walk, pain that worsens with activity, difficulty putting on shoes or crossing your legs, a limp that develops gradually, or hip pain following a fall should all prompt orthopaedic evaluation. Hip fractures in particular require urgent assessment, as delays in treatment can lead to serious complications including avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

Treatment Approach

Dr. Hannan takes a systematic approach to hip pain, beginning with a thorough clinical examination and appropriate imaging. Non-surgical management including physiotherapy, lifestyle modification, and injections is recommended where appropriate. For advanced arthritis or fractures, surgical options including total hip replacement are discussed in detail with each patient, including expected recovery timelines and outcomes.