No, It’s Not Normal for Your Hips to Sound Like That…

Every one of us has had the experience of moving in a certain way that incites a loud pop or crunching noise from our knee or hip joints, and typically that sound is just the release of air bubbles within the cushioning joint fluid. Unfortunately for some, hip joints are regularly “noisy,” and when these popping, clicking, or grinding noises are paired with hip pain, it’s indicative of a problem that needs attention. It can be hard to identify the source of your pain when it comes to your hips, so it’s important to seek the most experienced and qualified pain management doctors in Chicago for support. How can MAPS Centers for Pain Control help?

Anatomy of the Hip Joint

There is some confusion around exactly where the hips are and having a better understanding of the joint can help when talking with your medical team. While we often identify the “hips” as being at the bottom of the waistline (think of resting a box or bag on your “hip” while you carry it), the hip joint is actually much lower in the torso, at the juncture of the top of the leg and the pelvis. A good way to find the location on your body is to sit in a chair and follow the leg bone all the way up to the crease where it meets the body. If you experience the sensation of grinding, excess noise, or pain deep within this space when walking, your hip joint may need attention.

What Happens to Hips?

The hip joints not only bear the weight of the entire upper body, but because of it’s “ball and socket” shape, it can move the legs in every direction and is subject to the pressure and torque of some of the most powerful muscle groups in the body. It’s also a synovial joint, meaning that it contains a lubricating fluid that cushions the joint but also provides for smooth movement of the bones across cartilage. When we experience an awkward or forceful movement between the leg and the body, we may sustain an injury to the structures or soft tissues of the joint, which are hard to heal on their own. Another common issue within the joint that can lead to hip pain is the wear and tear of use and aging. Not only can the fluid within the joint diminish, the smooth cartilage surfaces can wear down, creating a grinding sensation that can lead to inflammation and pain.

“Back of the Hip” Pain

In some cases of low back pain, the “back of the hips” is identified by patients as the source of pain, when it’s not actually the hip joints but the sacral joints. The structure of the pelvis is made of three bones, and the sacrum, or the fused discs at the bottom of the spine, sit in the space created at the back of the pelvis. Many mistaken sources of “hip pain” can be attributed to strain or disfunction at this Sacro-Iliac joint, or “SI” joint. No matter the source of the popping noises and discomfort, what effective hip pain treatments are available?

Hip Pain Treatment without Surgery

Recommendations for surgery should always be the last option, and at MAPS Centers for Pain Control in Chicago, our double board-certified physicians are dedicated to providing our clients with the most effective non-surgical options for lasting hip pain relief. After close examination to identify the underlying cause of the issue, an appropriate treatment plan is created, which could include medication management, physical therapy, acupuncture, and an injection-based protocol to address pain and inflammation, re-lubricate the joints, and to encourage the body’s natural healing abilities.

Trust the Best for Fast Relief

MAPS Centers for Pain Control in Chicago are the Midwest’s leaders in providing the highest level of medical care in pain medicine through our dedication to a comprehensive, balance approach to pain relief. With the most cutting edge, non-surgical and FDA-approved treatments combined with holistic alternative modalities, we can provide our patients with lasting relief and a quick return to the active lifestyles they enjoy. Contact us today to learn more about your hip pain relief treatment options!