Hip pain when sitting can be experienced in one or both hips. Usually, the pain travels in the joints, nerves, ligaments, and surrounding muscles. Our hips are the largest joints in our body that bear weight. Some people claim that jaw pain and hip pain are somewhat connected. Hence, relieving jaw pain by working on the hips might help. Find more advice on jaw pain here to see how this works. In the meantime, let’s check out the possible causes of hip pain.
Reasons for Hip Pain
There are a lot of reasons why you feel pain in your hips. Sometimes, the pain comes from a particular part. Knowing where it’s coming from will help you find pain relief effectively.
Poor posture
A poor posture can cause pain in the hips. Sitting without proper back support puts pressure on the hips and tendons. Even your posture while you are standing causes hip pain as well. When your back is strained, you get hip pain when sitting.
Leg crossing
Crossing your legs for an extended period can put pressure on your hip joint. Your sleeping position can also cause hip pain as you are pretty much in the same place for hours. Lying on the side is one of the reasons why you feel pain in the hips after waking up.
Sitting on an unstable surface.
We all know how comfortable it is to sit on cushions, sofas, and comfy beds. But if the furniture is too soft, it might cause you to sit in uneven positions. In this case, your body could lean on to one side, causing too much pressure on one side of your hips.
When this happens, only one side of your hips gets the weight of your body, thus, resulting in hip pain. This is the common reason why desk employees have pain in the hips when sitting due to prolonged sitting on a soft chair.
Arthritis
Arthritis is the leading cause of hip pain. You might experience pain when sitting, walking, or standing. There are different kinds of arthritis, but what it commonly does is break down the cartilage, which covers the hip joint for protection.
Arthritis results in a painful sensation when the hips are rubbed. It also leads to hip joint swelling. Here are the different types of arthritis that cause hip pain:
- Rheumatoid. This is the inflammation of both sides of the hips.
- Psoriatic arthritis. Much like rheumatoid, this causes pain in the hip joint accompanied by swelling.
- Ankylosing spondylitis. This directly affects the spine but also results in hip pain when sitting.
- Osteoarthritis. This happens through aging and results in hip pain on either side or both.
Pinched nerve
When a nerve in your back is damaged or pinched, there is a tendency for you to feel hip pain when sitting and standing. This is called sciatica, and it’s not just normal pain. It causes a sharp pain that starts from the buttock muscles and hip.
Tendinitis
Tendinitis is the inflammation of the hip joint. This typically happens when the person sits for a prolonged period without the proper support. It causes pain in different positions such as sitting, walking, and lying down.
Bursitis
Bursitis occurs when the bursa (the tiny fluid sacs that absorbs shock in the joints) is inflamed. When this takes place, the hip joint becomes swollen, stiff, and a little bit tender. The pain extends to the outside of the hip.
Lupus
Lupus is the result of a weak immune system. It targets the person’s immunity and joints, including hip joints. This usually results in losing balance.
Diagnosis
If you have been experiencing hip pain for quite a while now, we advice diagnosis or treatment. Your physician will most likely ask for several scans and tests to determine the root cause.
Physical check-up. In this procedure, the doctor will check your hip joint and see if it’s swollen or not. Along with this, your doctor will also review your medical history and the history of your family (if available). For confirmation, he might ask for:
Blood tests. To check for infection or underlying autoimmune disease.
MRI scan. This scan is used to check if there are injuries to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
X-ray. Before any tests, this is usually the first test that your doctor would require. It detects bone damages and fractures in the hip joint, lower back, and groin.
Gait test. To check your hip movements, especially when walking.
Patrick test. This test focuses on the movements of your hip joints.
Treatment
If the pain is causing you too much discomfort, correcting your posture and visiting a specialist would be the best choice. In some cases, getting back support solves the problem without professional help.
But for better results, you might want to visit a chiropractor or a physical therapist. These professionals can realign your hips and put them in the correct position.
Acupressure is also a good treatment alternative. In this treatment, the acupressurist will put pressure on particular parts of the body, precisely the points linked with your hips. This ancient method is used to relieve pain. Go to this page to see if acupressure could help; meanwhile, physical therapy is also a great option.
Physical therapy can also help you strengthen your lower back muscles. Treatments like this help relieve back pain and help reduce discomfort at the same time. It would help if you also focused on improving your core muscles to promote correct posture. The treatment for hip discomfort includes the following options:
- OTC pain medications including naproxen and ibuprofen
- prescribed pain medications
- muscle relaxation medicines
- heat therapy
- weight loss
- stretches
- exercise
- massage therapy
- knee brace
- back support
- surgery
In most cases, most kinds of body pains can be relieved by stretching regularly. Stretching should be a part of your daily routine to keep your bones and joints strong.
References:
Why You May Have Hip Pain When You’re Sitting (https://www.healthline.com/health/chronic-pain/hip-pain-when-sitting)
What can cause hip pain when sitting? (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hip-pain-when-sitting)
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