By Dr. Brandon C. Maisel
Hip pain tends to be a reoccurring common complaint in Orthopeadic offices across the country. Here at Gelb Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center we aim to correctly diagnose the source of the pain, develop an appropriate treatment plan, and get you back to performing your favorite activities pain free.
“Doc, my hip started hurting out of the blue,” is a common statement heard by Dr. Brandon Maisel in the office. What may be the underlying cause of such pain? The hip joint is a mobile ball and socket joint surrounded by strong musculature such as the quadriceps and glutes. In general, the source of pain is either intra-articular (inside the joint) or extra-articular (outside of the joint). When you come to our office, we will begin with x-ray imaging that allows us to gather more information about the hip joint. We can see if you are suffering from osteoarthritic changes inside the joint or potentially other ailments such as greater trochanteric bursitis or gluteal tendonitis outside of the joint. Next, Dr. Maisel will perform a thorough examination to further develop a cause of your pain.
“What can we do about it?” is the next question we get and depending on the condition we have several treatment options we may offer. In general treatment options may include, but not limited to, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, corticosteroid injections and platelet rich plasma injections. Platelet rich plasma otherwise known as “PRP” is a type of orthobiologic treatment that allows the body to naturally heal itself. Dr. Maisel performs these injections under ultrasound guidance to ensure precision needle placement into the problem area. In addition, here in our office we offer top-notch physical therapy services led by Dr. Jay Itzkowitz, who may assist in your recovery.
Occasionally, certain injuries or hip “problems” will require further interventions. In order to further evaluate in these situations, Dr. Maisel will order magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to get a three-dimensional image of the hip joint, muscles, and soft tissues. This will allow us to create a more detailed treatment plan to heal your pain!
Ultimately, there are many causes of hip pain that will not require surgery! Book an appointment today at Gelb Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center to learn more about your non-surgical options for hip pain.