Hip Joint Pain Causes and Treatments - Part 1 - Causes

There are many possible causes of hip joint pain, which means that it important to consult your doctor and together work through your symptoms, and history so that you can identify the real cause of your pain and take appropriate action. Some causes a relatively minor and can be treated with some over-the-counter medication or simple rest and immobilization while others are serious medical conditions that may ultimately lead to surgery.

In Part 2 of this article I will cover the common treatments for hip joint pain , but now in part 1 we look at the common causes.

Typical causes

* Arthritis, in its many forms is probably the number one cause of joint pain.

* Osteoarthritis, which is commonly known as the degenerative joint disease, may be the most common kind to cause a campaign. This is particularly relevant as a person grows older the cartilage that coats both the ball and socket of the hip joint and acts as a shock absorber starts to wear away. When the cartilage wears out, in extreme cases, the two ends of the bones rub together, if this list left untreated it can cause serious pain and damage to the joints.

* Rheumatoid arthritis, the joint pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis is a result of inflammation in both sides of the joint. Some people believe that this kind of arthritis is triggered by a virus (or bacteria) that attacks the joint.

* Gout is one of the most painful forms of arthritis. It occurs when your body produces an excess of uric acid that builds up in the joints (typically the big toe but often the hip). The uric acid is deposited as extremely sharp crystals that cause intense pain.

* Bursitis, this is where the membrane around your hip (the bursa) becomes swollen and inflamed.

* Tendonitis, the tendons around your hip joint become swollen and inflamed.

* Dysplasia. It is also possible that your hip joint pain is something that you have had since childhood. Children are susceptible to a something called dysplasia, which is a condition that usually occurs due to some form of birth trauma where the hips are dislocated. The child may or may not have difficulty walking as a youngster but even if they have no problems as a child, it is highly likely that they will develop arthritis as an adult

* Sports. Many sports, in particular, soccer and basketball place significant emphasis on running and jumping. This activity can create significant stress in the muscles around the hips. These muscular strains can lead to hip joint pain.