Hip injuries

Explore hip injuries you can receive urgent care for at Montage Orthopedic and Sports Medicine in Monterey, California.

Arthritis

Cartilage cushions your joints and helps them move easily. When this soft tissue in your hip wears down, your bones rub painfully against each other. This type of hip arthritis is called osteoarthritis, and it worsens over time. Learn more about arthritis.

Treatments

You may need to change your lifestyle and activities to help prevent your arthritis from worsening. Other treatments include:

• Medication to manage pain and swelling
• Physical therapy to increase range of motion
• Injections to reduce swelling or improve flexibility

If your arthritis gets worse, you may need surgery to replace your hip.

Bursitis

Your bursa protects tendons and muscles in your hip from rubbing against bone. If your bursa becomes irritated from overuse or an injury, it can swell and become painful. This is called hip bursitis. Learn more about bursitis.

Diagnosis and treatment

Your provider will examine you and order imaging tests to diagnose bursitis.

Treatment might include:

• Ice to reduce swelling
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain and swelling
• Physical therapy to help you move better
• Strengthening exercises and stretches
• Steroid injections if pain persists

Growth plate fractures

The growth plate is a type of cartilage that helps the ends of long bones grow in children and teenagers. Once growth stops, these plates turn into solid bone.

The growth plate is at the end of the thigh bone in the hip area. It’s soft and more fragile than bone, making any fracture serious. You’ll need immediate medical attention to ensure healing and to prevent future problems.

Treatment

If treated properly, growth plate fractures will likely heal with no issues. Your child may need to wear a splint or cast to limit hip movement. If the damage is more severe, your child could need surgery.

Labral tear

Your hip joint socket has a ring of cartilage on its outside rim, called the labrum. It keeps the hip ball at the top of the thigh bone in place. You can experience a labral tear from:

• Gradual wearing down
• Repeat motion
• Traumatic injury

When you have a labral tear, you may feel:

• Pain in the groin or the buttock area of the hip
• Stiffness or a sense of the hip locking when moving

Diagnosis and treatment

Your provider may order magnetic resonance imaging to diagnose a labral tear.

Treatment depends on the severity of the tear. If you have mild pain, physical therapy could help. If the tear is more severe, you might need surgery.

Strain

A hip strain happens when the muscles or tendons around the hip stretch or tear. It can range from mild to severe. Hip strains can result from sudden movements, overuse, repetitive stress, falls, or other injuries. Symptoms may include pain, tenderness, swelling, muscle weakness, and limited range of motion.

Diagnosis and treatment

Your provider can usually diagnose a hip strain with a physical exam. An X-ray may help rule out fractures or other bone issues, but a hip strain doesn’t show up on an X-ray.

Depending on the strain's severity, your provider may recommend rest and physical therapy. Serious strains may need surgery to reconnect the tendon to the bone.