Hip Impingement Treatment in Northern Indiana

What is Hip Impingement?

Hip impingement, also called femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), happens when the femoral head (the ball of the hip) pinches up against the cup of the hip. When this happens, the cartilage around the cup of the hip, called the labrum, can get damaged. This can cause stiffness and pain in the hip, and can cause arthritis.

hip impingement

Hip Impingement Symptoms

Some of the most common signs of FAI are:

  • Pain
  • Stiffness
  • A limp when you walk

Most of the time, pain is in the groin, but it can also be outside the hip. When you turn, twist, or squat, you might feel a sharp, burning pain. On the other hand, the pain can sometimes just be a small ache.

What Causes Hip Impingement?

FAI happens when the hip bones don't grow in the right way during childhood. The damage and pain in a joint are caused by a cam bone spur, a pincer bone spur, or both. When the hip bones are formed wrong, impingement begins and it may get worse with time.

Some people with FAI can live long, full lives and never have any trouble. When symptoms show up, on the other hand, it generally means that the cartilage or labrum is damaged and that the disease is likely to get worse.

Hip Impingement Treatment

There are so many treatments available to help you through the symptoms you are experiencing with hip impingement. Nonsurgical treatments include but are not limited to:

  • Changes in activity - You may need to change your daily routine and stop doing things that make your symptoms worse. For example, you could go for a swim instead of going for a jog to help relieve the stress on your hip
  • Medications - Medications like ibuprofen can be taken to help reduce pain and inflammation
  • Physical therapy - You can improve your hip's range of motion and build the muscles that support it by doing certain exercises. This can take some of the pressure off the labrum or cartilage that is injured

Hip surgery may be your next option if your condition causes significant joint damage and your pain is not relieved with nonsurgical treatment.

  • Hip arthroscopy - Arthroscopic treatment can help with a lot of FAI problems. Your surgeon can fix any damage to the labrum and joint cartilage or clean it out. He or she can fix FAI by cutting the bony rim of the hip socket and shaving down the bump on the femoral head
  • Hip replacement - If the damage caused by FAI is too severe, hip replacement is possible. In this procedure, the damaged joint is replaced with artificial parts that copy the function of a normal hip joint

Hip Impingement Care in Michiana

Here at OSMC, our physicians are dedicated to helping you achieve a pain-free lifestyle. If you are experiencing hip pain or any symptoms of hip impingement, give us a call at (574)241-0190 or set up an appointment online.