When you experience hip pain that affects your daily life it can be troublesome. A chiropractic orthopedist in Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania can help. We will go over common causes of a “hip out” explaining how it happens and possible treatment for the condition. This can range from the most common, referred pain from the back, or the most severe, an acute hip dislocation.

What causes a hip to “go out”

In nearly all cases excluding severe trauma, a hip never goes out. But what we feel makes us believe it is out or at least out of alignment. Depending on who you see this may be the diagnosis. Or at least what is talked about during your first visit. Hip alignment is something that a chiropractor may use to tell whether they have identified and corrected a problem.

Hip alignment should not be used for this type of objective data. It is typically something that cant be fixed without building up the short legs shoe. Hip alignment, or misalignment is very common and should be used as a diagnosis with caution or not at all. This is because most people seeing a chiropractor will see hip pain relief, with no change in “hip alignment”. Manipulation or “adjustment” is aiming to correct a joint dysfunction. While the hip is a joint, most manipulations a chiropractor uses, focuses on the back joints.

Is it a leg length problem?

A chiropractic orthopedist can determine whether or not leg length is actually contributing to the hip pain. They will also evaluate the hip joint itself to determine if the pain is of hip origin. They do this through a detailed examination that may require x-ray images performed on site. A conservative chiropractic orthopedist in Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania uses these tools daily. They are trained to find the pain at the source and work to correct the pain source, not alignment.

When using leg length as a way to gauge improvement or healing of the condition, it is very unreliable. Most hip or leg length discrepancies are structural, meaning you actually have a short leg. You didn’t develop with exactly the same length of lower or upper leg bones on both sides. This appears more often than most people think and is usually minor. The only way to fix this problem would be to build a custom sole into the shoe that corrects the length discrepancy.

There have been no studies to show that manipulation affects the leg length discrepancies. Pain that ends up in the hip is typically from referred pain from a painful structure in the back. A chiropractic orthopedist will be able to identify the pain source through careful evaluation and physical exam. They will also be able to perform x-rays that will tell the chiropractic orthopedist whether the hip pain is truly from the joint.

Hip degeneration evaluated by chiropractic orthopedist.

Without any signs of degeneration of the hip on x-ray, the painful structure likely causing the pain is less likely to be the hip itself but the back. The back joints called facet joints are pain sensitive, meaning when they get injured they have the ability to create pain to keep an individual from further injury. This can make you feel as if you are walking crooked or that your stride or hips are just “off.”

A chiropractic orthopedist will assess all areas that may be contributing to the pain and this means not just the hip but the low back as well. See a chiropractic orthopedist in Spotsylvania/Fredericksburg today.

What is the most common cause of hip pain?

Most common cause of hip pain is referred pain from the lower back facet joints. These are injured by repetitive motions like lifting and twisting that causes them to jam and injure. When this happens referral pattern from the back into the hip or pain just in the hip can be felt.

This is called a sclerotogenous referral pattern and relates to bone structures like joints as well as muscular structures like tendons. This type of pain is not well localized meaning that it isn’t well located by the patient just that it hurts in the entire area. This pain also tends to be very deep like in the hip socket, as well as a very dull achiness that can go to a sharp pain when a certain motion is performed. This may be easily misdiagnosed as sciatica.

Are there any other conditions that create hip pain?

Another presentation that is commonly seen and makes an individual feel as if their hip is out, is a protruding disc. A protruding disc is a very painful condition. This is where the jelly filled spacers that fill the space between vertebrae, become injured. A disc is the compression absorber of the spine. It has a jelly center surrounded by many layers of strong fibrous rings. When the rings start to tear from heavy lifting or twisting, the integrity of the disc begins to be lost. Typically pain does not occur until enough of these layers tear to the point that over two thirds of them are torn, now there is excruciating pain and you may feel like your body locks itself into a position off to one side. This is called an antalgia. Its a lean that your body locks you into to avoid injuring the disc any further. You may also experience excruciating pain when trying to right yourself or place weight on the affected hip. A chiropractic orthopedist sees this condition frequently in daily practice, and have locations in Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania.

Why should you choose a chiropractic orthopedist in Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania?

A chiropractic orthopedist is a provider that has gone for additional education outside of the large scope of chiropractic to learn more specifically about orthopedic conditions. They also learn how to manage them effectively and conservatively. These chiropractic orthopedists commonly use diagnostic x-rays and advanced imaging, like MRI, to get a better look at your condition if necessary. They also have access to in house physical therapy modalities and rehabilitation that aid in healing.

The chiropractic orthopedist gives you the most options in conservative management. They also are well equipped to recognize a condition that may require surgery after initial management. This doesn’t happen often but when it does, they will be able to co-manage the condition with the additional specialty needed. The chiropractic orthopedist also follows your case very closely and are the main provider you see each visit, keeping a close eye on your progression and regressions, if they should arise. This may require additional imaging if regressions are seen, and they will be able to send you to the imaging center necessary for the specific advanced imaging in Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania.

What can you do?

When trying to find out what is causing your hip pain, you should always aim to get an answer in the form of proper diagnosis. This will allow you to research your condition and know what the probable outcome will be. A chiropractic orthopedist is a good place to start, and is usually the place where relief begins and stays. Not only will you receive the education you need to make sure it doesn’t come back, but treatment can start immediately.

When dealing with conservative management, you want to go to someone that is a leader in conservative healthcare and management. Someone who has seen and treated the condition conservatively with success. Diagnosis is key, treatment relies on it. Choose a chiropractic orthopedist in Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania today.

If you are experiencing hip pain, don’t wait get it evaluated today and get the relief you deserve. Call Stine Chiropractic Clinic today 540 898 4100.