5 Causes of Women's Hip Pain

You might not be shaking your hips the same way people do in music videos, but hip pain can still thwart women's everyday lives—whether you're dancing, gardening or just walking.

While you might think you're too young to be concerned about hHip pain is common for women of all ages, and it's important to see your healthcare provider to ensure it is, in fact, hip pain you're feeling rather than thigh, buttock or lower back pain.

If it is hip pain you're battling, it may be caused by one of the following conditions:

Arthritis. Osteoarthritis, or "wear-and-tear" arthritis, is a degenerative joint disease that affects joints and cartilage, causing pain, stiffness and decreased range of motion. In some cases, arthritis may cause bone spurs on the edges of the joints, further increasing pain and limiting the range of motion.

Bursitis. When bursae, the small fluid-filled sacs between joints, become inflamed, it can cause joint pain that often worsens when sitting or during physical activity. Bursitis is caused by falls, overuse or trauma to the joint, and medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and lupus.

Hip Fractures and Misalignment. Falls, sports injuries, or medical conditions like osteoporosis or arthritis can cause fractures—the symptoms of which are pain, tenderness, swelling, and bearing weight on the affected leg. In addition, if the hip joint is misaligned, bones can grind against each other, causing pain and inflammation. People with misaligned hips may experience difficulty walking, limited range of motion in the hips, and pain that gets worse with activity.

Pregnancy. During pregnancy, a woman's body produces the hormone relaxin, which loosens joints and muscles to prepare for childbirth. This also can cause hip instability, leading to pain and discomfort. This chronic hip pain can last long after your baby is born if it's left untreated.

Sciatica. This condition is caused by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down the back of the leg. Several factors, including herniated discs, spinal stenosis and pregnancy, can cause sciatica. The main symptom of sciatica is a sharp, shooting pain that runs from the lower back down to the buttocks or leg and numbness or tingling in the leg or foot. '

Depending on your condition, your healthcare provider may recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), exercise, physical therapy, weight loss, heat and cold treatment or rest. Be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking any medications. Surgery, such as hip replacement or resurfacing, may be needed to realign and stabilize the hip joint if your condition is severe.

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