As you age, it is not uncommon to experience hip pain and discomfort. Joint pain can occur with aging because the general wear and tear on the joints over time can weaken or damage the cartilage that helps your joints move smoothly. Sports injuries and medical conditions like pregnancy can also impact the hips and cause pain and discomfort. The hips are the largest ball and socket joint in the body and the joint helps with motions like walking, sitting, running, and bending. If your hips ever feel like they are out of place then you might feel like you are unstable. When the hip joint isn’t functioning properly, it can sometimes take physiotherapy to help fully resolve any pain and issues you may have.
What an Out of Place Hip Feels Like
Sometimes the hip joint can feel like it is wobbly or out of place. You might feel like something isn’t quite right around the hip area or feel hesitant to take a step or put your full weight on that side of the body. Sometimes when your hip feels out of place it is also accompanied by pain and stiffness in the area. If the functioning of the hip joint is impaired then it can make simple movements like standing, sitting, or walking feel uncomfortable and even painful. It is possible for the hip to be slightly out of place and to make a cracking or popping sound as it resolves the issue itself. However, if this doesn’t happen then it is best to avoid trying to crack or pop your hip on your own and instead talk to a doctor.
Hip Instability vs. Hip Dislocation
You might feel hip instability after a sports injury that affected the functioning of this ball and socket joint. With an injury to the hip, it is possible for the tendons and supportive muscles to become inflamed, which can also cause pain and discomfort in the area. Hip instability can make it uncomfortable to walk or you might feel more tentative to perform movements that would typically be considered normal to you. On the other hand, if you were to dislocate your hip then the injury would leave you unable to move the joint at all. A full hip dislocation means the ball, or top of the leg bone, completely slips out of the socket part of the joint. When this happens, you won’t be able to move the leg at all and will likely experience excruciating pain.
How to Handle Hip Pain and Injuries
If you experience hip pain that won’t go away accompanied by your hip feeling out of place or unstable then you should contact your doctor. They may recommend taking over-the-counter pain medications to help with the discomfort. Anti-inflammatory medications can also help to reduce any swelling in the area. You should never try to crack or pop your hip joint on your own by wiggling your leg around or performing wild motions. Instead, your doctor can walk you through how to resolve a slight misalignment safely and carefully. An Atlanta chiropractor can help with any misalignment in the hip joint by performing gentle chiropractic adjustments to the joint. Your doctor may also recommend physiotherapy to address the current hip issue and also help to prevent hip instability in the future.
Treating a Hip That Is Out of Place
A physical therapist can work with you to practice stretches and exercises to help reduce pain in your hip joints. Certain stretches and exercises can also help strengthen the muscles that support your hips and provide more stability to the area. When your hip feels out of place it can sometimes impact your mobility in your hips. Stretches can help to improve the range of motion in your hips and keep them stable. If your hip feels out of place and is accompanied by pain and discomfort, then your doctor will want to look for the root cause as soon as possible. The root cause of a hip that feels out of place could be general wear and tear due to aging or an early sign of arthritis.
Don’t avoid your hip pain and instead see a doctor at AICA Orthopedics in Atlanta who can help. Our team of orthopedic doctors, chiropractors, and physiotherapy professionals can assess your hip joint and help find out the best way to resolve your pain and discomfort.