You don’t have to give up the activities you love because of hip pain. Whether it’s running, hiking or just keeping up with your kids, there are ways to get back to moving comfortably. From conservative care to advanced surgical options, understanding your choices early can make all the difference.
Contributed by: Jensen Kolaczko, MD
While many people can find relief through non-surgical treatments, others may benefit from a more advanced approach. MetroHealth orthopedic surgeon Jensen Kolaczko, MD, is trained in both sports medicine and hip preservation. If surgery is on the table, he said addressing the issue sooner rather than later can lead to better outcomes and a quicker return to the life you love.
What causes hip pain?
Common causes of hip pain include:
- Labrum tears. The labrum is the soft ring of tissue around the hip socket. It helps keep the hip joint stable. If it gets torn, it can cause pain and make it hard to move your hip.
- Hip impingement. This happens when the bones in your hip don’t fit together quite right. Sometimes, there’s too much bone, or the ball of the hip doesn’t have enough coverage. When the bones rub or bump into each other, it can hurt and make it hard to move.
You might feel pain on the sides of your hips, or possibly in your groin, buttocks or lower back, depending on the source of the problem, which could be general wear and tear or injury.
When should you see a specialist?
“Anytime pain is limiting your activity and keeping you from things that you want to do, seek care of a specialist,” says Dr. Kolaczko. Make an appointment with an orthopedist if:
- You have ongoing hip pain.
- Your hip pain gets in the way of daily living and affects your quality of life.
- You’ve tried conservative treatments. and they no longer work.
What treatments can I try before surgery?
Your doctor may recommend:
- Anti-inflammatory pain medication (such as Tylenol or Aleve).
- Physical therapy.
- Steroid injections.
- Platelet-rich plasma injections.
What are my surgical options?
Many people think the only treatment option for hip pain is a hip replacement. But at MetroHealth, we offer treatment and surgery for active individuals who have hip pain but don’t need a hip replacement.
- Arthroscopy. The surgeon goes into the hip joint with a camera and small surgical tools, shaving down excess bone and repairing or reconstructing the labrum so the hip and labrum stop rubbing against each other.
- Periacetabular osteotomy. This procedure is for hip dysplasia. It involves cutting the bone around the hip socket to provide more coverage over the femoral ball, which is the “ball” part of the “ball and socket” of your hip joint. When someone has hip dysplasia, we perform this procedure combined with a hip arthroscopy.
What can I expect after surgery?
Most people who’ve had hip preservation surgery report their pain level went from a D or F to an A/A-. The younger you are when you have the combination surgery, the better your long-term results.
“You’re less likely to need a total hip replacement if this is something that’s done younger compared to if you’re older,” says Dr. Kolaczko.
Got hip pain? Make an appointment with the MetroHealth orthopedic team by calling 216-778-4393
To learn more, view this “Save that Hip” health talk presented by orthopedic surgeons Nicholas Romeo, DO, and Jensen Kolaczko, MD
