Physical Therapy and Treatment for Hip Pain in New Jersey

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he hip is the largest ball and socket joint in the body. Its structure enables fluid movement, and its hefty construction delivers high durability. It is not indestructible, however. Hip pain is a common consequence of wear and tear to the cartilage, tendons, and other structures in and around the joint.

Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics (CNSO) is located in northern New Jersey, providing premier pain management services to patients struggling with pain. Using a variety of treatment options, which range from physical therapy to surgery, CNSO helps patients find lasting relief.

Causes of Hip Pain

Most hip pain arises from wear and tear. In some cases, this results in overuse injuries that create painful swelling around the joint. In others, tiny stress fractures may render the hip vulnerable to acute injury. Still, other patients lose mobility due to age-based or degenerative diseases. CNSO treats a full range of hip conditions, including the following common diagnoses:

Overuse Injuries

• Tendinitis
• Bursitis

Acute Injuries

• Sprains and strains
• Labral tears
• Bone fractures
• Subluxation (partial dislocation)
• Dislocated joint 

Nerve Conditions

• Pinched nerve
• Meralgia paresthetica (tingling, numbness, and burning pain in the outer thigh caused by compression of the nerve that provides feeling to the skin on the thigh)
• Sciatica

Arthritis

• Osteoarthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Septic arthritis
• Gout
• Sacroiliitis

Other Conditions

• Leukemia
• Osteoporosis
• Fibromyalgia
• Osteonecrosis (dead bone due to lost blood supply)

Risk Factors of Hip Pain

Hip pain may happen to anyone. Some lifestyle and health factors, however – including job and athletic involvement, alcohol intake, and age – are associated with a higher-than-average risk of experiencing a painful condition. Risk factors include:

• Sports: Certain athletic activities put stress on the hip joints. People who participate in soccer, horseback riding, gymnastics, cycling, dance, and other sports often complain of snapping hip syndrome – a sign of stress in the joint.
• Job responsibilities: Hip pain also frequently occurs in people who work in highly active careers. Jobs that require repeating the same bending, squatting, or lifting motions over and over may result in overuse or acute injuries.
• Previous injuries: A previous hip injury, especially a severe one, leaves the tissues weak even after the damage has healed completely. This weakness makes the hip more susceptible to re-injury, as well as other conditions that may cause pain.
• Being overweight: Obesity, which is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, puts high amounts of additional stress on weight-bearing joints. As a result, overweight individuals face a higher risk of hip and other joint conditions.
• Aging: The body experiences wear and tear as it ages. Over time, tiny amounts of accumulated damage can compound on the surface of a joint. This results in a painful degenerative condition like arthritis or sacroiliitis.

Diagnosis of Hip Pain

Effective pain treatments do not simply manage symptoms. Instead, they address pain at its source. When hip pain has many potential causes and complicating factors, correctly identifying the source can be challenging. Pain management physicians and certified physical therapists at CNSO employ a thorough testing and review process to ensure the correct diagnosis:

• Medical history assessment: First, the specialist will request and review the patient’s medical history. This preliminary step prepares orthopedic doctors with knowledge of any previous injuries, health conditions, or other factors that should influence their treatment strategy.
• Physical examination: The second step in diagnosis is a physical examination. The patient may be asked to move their legs, hips, and torso in certain ways to test for muscle weakness, range of motion, reduced reflexes, or other effects on joint function.
• Diagnostic imaging tests: If a diagnosis is not evident after a medical history review and physical exam, imaging tests may be requested. X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and computed tomography (CT) scans may reveal an issue that is not evident from the physical examination.

After performing each step in this process, the specialist will have formed a clearer understanding of the patient’s condition. They will then be ready to coordinate with other CNSO doctors and orthopedic spine surgeons to develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Non-Surgical Treatments for Hip Pain

Pain management physicians at CNSO follow a conservative treatment philosophy. This means they use non-invasive treatments whenever possible. Surgery is suggested only when it is absolutely necessary or when other methods have failed to provide relief.

At CNSO, treatment plans are developed and performed by a multi-specialty team of neurosurgeons, orthopedic spine surgeons, interventional pain management physicians, physiatrists, rehabilitation specialists, and certified physical therapists. They collaborate to design a comprehensive and fully custom care plan that prioritizes the patient’s needs for treatment. In many cases, the patient’s goals are achievable through conservative means such as:

Lifestyle Modifications

Pain management physicians may recommend changes to lifestyle and activity levels to facilitate healing. Some modifications will be temporary, only providing the hips with enough rest to recover. Others may be long-term to prevent conditions from recurring. Recommendations may include:

• Taking breaks when walking for long periods
• Losing weight and maintaining a balanced diet
• Wearing appropriate protective equipment during sports
• Stretching before working out and cooling down afterward
• Using a cane or walker for additional support
• Wearing appropriate footwear or orthotic inserts

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is CNSO’s preferred approach to hip pain management. Patients at CNSO receive a personalized therapy regimen combining multiple techniques including exercises, compression, heat and cold therapy, ultrasound, and others. These strategies are used to rebuild strength and flexibility, stabilize the joint, and restore function so the patient can move about comfortably. Physical therapy is available at CNSO locations in Wayne, Paramus, Morristown, and Jersey City, NJ.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Commonly called NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are medications taken orally to relieve inflammation and reduce pain. They provide short-term relief but cannot address pain at its origin. Instead, they help patients stay comfortable and functional while undergoing other, long-term treatments for hip pain like physical therapy. NSAIDs are available over the counter at pharmacies and retail locations and may be prescribed in larger doses by a pain management doctor.

Oral Corticosteroids

Oral corticosteroids are like NSAIDs as an oral medication that provides inflammation relief. They are most often prescribed in short courses lasting five to seven days. This may be followed by a longer course of NSAIDs. For more aggressive treatment, corticosteroids and NSAIDs may be prescribed simultaneously.

Steroid and Medication Injections

If patients are experiencing severe pain, NSAIDs and oral corticosteroids may not provide sufficient relief. In these cases, they might be prescribed epidural steroid injections or joint injections. As part of this treatment, medication is administered directly into the inflamed tissue. The focused dosage provides fast-acting, long-lasting relief that is more powerful than that offered by oral medications, helping the patient regain functionality.

Surgical Treatments for Hip Pain

Most cases of hip pain will respond to conservative treatments. In others, non-invasive approaches are insufficient, or the condition cannot be treated without surgery.

CNSO recommends surgery, such as sacroiliac joint fusion or total hip replacement, only when it is necessary or when other treatments fail. The patient’s physical therapist will coordinate their care with the appropriate surgical specialty to ensure the right treatment. After the procedure, physical therapy is used to help patients reach a full recovery.

Trust CNSO for Hip Pain Care

Hip pain is common and can have far-reaching effects on a patient’s life. At Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics (CNSO), patients are treated by an award-winning multi-disciplinary team who combine their expertise for comprehensive, customized care plans. Hip pain treatment is available at multiple convenient locations in Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Morris, and Hudson counties for patients across northern New Jersey. To learn more about hip pain treatments, contact the CNSO medical team today.