Page 94 - (DK) Home Doctor: Providing practical advice on home treatments

92 COMMON CONDITIONS: HEAD, BACK, AND LIMB PROBLEMS

Hip pain

The most common cause of pain and stiffness in the hip is wear
and tear due to arthritis. This condition usually affects older WARNING
people; if you have it, you may feel pain in your thigh, buttock, Seek immediate medical help if:
or groin as well as in your hip. Another cause is bursitis, in ● You develop hip pain after an
accident or fall
which the fluid-filled sac that cushions the hip joint becomes
● Walking is difficult, or you cannot
inflamed because of overuse or injury. Bursitis causes pain on put weight on the affected leg
the outside of the thigh, close to the hip, that gets worse when ● You have a fever with hip pain
you climb stairs or lie on the affected side.

See your doctor first
DRUG REMEDIES
Make an appointment to see your doctor if you
have hip pain to establish the cause. Analgesics include acetaminophen (see
p.177) and ibuprofen (see p.185), which also has an
anti-inflammatory effect.
What you can do yourself Counterirritants (see p.181) are creams
and gels that produce a tingling sensation, which
If you have an episode of hip pain, try the following soothes pain temporarily. Some products have a
measures to help relieve the discomfort. warming effect; others have a cooling effect.
● Take an analgesic; massaging the hip with a
counterirritant can also be soothing (see DRUG
REMEDIES, right). NATURAL REMEDIES
● Try to keep moving gently, resting your hip and
Glucosamine and chondroitin
leg whenever you can. Avoid activity that brings
on pain or makes it worse. (see p.183) occur naturally in joint cartilage. Taking
a supplement of either, or both combined, may reduce
● If you have bursitis, try applying an ice pack (such pain and stiffness and slow the progress of arthritis.
as a bag of frozen peas or crushed ice wrapped in
a wet towel). Hold in place for about 10 minutes.
Reapply 2–3 times a day for the first 48 hours.
PREVENTION
● If you have arthritis, hold a covered hot-water
bottle or a heating pad on your hip. Avoiding hip pain Once the pain has
● Sleep on a firm mattress. Try not to lie on the hip. subsided, take these steps to help prevent recurrences.
● Lose any excess weight,
● For arthritis, try a supplement of glucosamine
since it puts extra
and/or chondroitin (see NATURAL REMEDIES, right).
pressure on your hip.
● Cycle or swim
regularly to build the
Seek further medical advice muscles that support
your hip joint.
Arrange to see your doctor if:
Safe swimming
● Your hip is not improving after a week, Avoid doing the
or is getting worse breaststroke since it
● You develop pain in other joints can strain your hip.