Many people have hip problems and can suffer quite dramatically with it, however the cause of the problem is not the same for everyone. Causes of chronic hip pain are variable and the symptoms experienced can vary too from patient to patient and from month to month, sometimes mild and sometimes quite severe and disabling. It might be connected with muscle problems, or inflammation in the body’s circulatory system, or restricted to the joints or all of these at once.

The most common cause of hip pain

The most common cause of pain in the hip is arthritis and this can be either degenerative osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. The first of these is usually called ‘wear and tear’ because that’s just what it is, the wear and tear of the joints and cartilage around them over time. This may be a gradual progression with age and being overweight can make it worse. The symptoms can be a bit up and down and sufferers often report having good or bad days, weeks or even months at a time. Often peole who are sporty and use the joints excessively, for example a lot of running or jumping, can add to the general wear and tear and lead to earlier development of this condition. Muscles, ligaments and tendons that keep the joints flexible and responsive may become inflamed if over-exerted due to the extra stress in this area.

Chronic hip pain may also come about because of an accident that leads to damage in the hip area such as a fracture in or around the joint. Arthritic pain and stiffness is felt most often when getting up from a sitting or lying position after a period of rest and when changing positions in bed at night. Walking can also be difficult through stiffness or sharp pains and this can result in limping and subsequently also back problems as the spine changes its alignment to compensate.

Generally, taking joint supportive supplements like glucosamine and drugs that work to reduce inflammation alongside a regime of physiotherapy will suffice to manage the symptoms. however sometimes surgery may be necessary when the condition becomes more severe. degenerative arthritis, when it reaches the end stages may require hip replacement surgery, which is nevertheless very successful and can re-establish mobility with no more pain.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition that not only affects the joint membranes, eating away at the cartilage but can also affect the whole body. It is often experienced as stiffness and swelling of the joints and can often make you feel tired and may also be associated with difficulty in sleeping and sweating. Flare ups of pain are quite common with periods of no pain or only slight discomfort in between. Joints can develop deformities over time. Treatment is usually restricted to approriate medicines and a regime of specially tailored exercise and some rest.

Other common causes of hip pain:

* inflammation of the fluid filled protective sacs around the joints, or bursae, otherwise known as bursitis

* whatever causes an inflammatory response in the body such as certain virus strains

* a side effect of taking corticosteroid medications

* sleep problems, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia

* pain that is referred from another injury or area such as from a herniated disc, which travels down the nerve paths to the hip area

* referred pain from sciatica, or irritation of the sciatic nerve

To find out more about hip pain causes and symptoms and for informative reviews of the various treatment options available, both conventional and alternative, click on this link www.causeofchronichippain.com