When Your Hips Don’t Lie: A Quick Guide on Hip Pain in Young Women

A creak in the knee, a twinge in the back – these are the aches and pains we often associate with ageing. But what about hip pain? Surely, that's a concern reserved for our parents' generation, right? Not necessarily.

Hip pain refers to any discomfort experienced in or near the hip joint. This joint, a ball-and-socket type, links the thigh bone (femur) with the pelvis. It supports various movements, including walking, running, squatting, and twisting.

But can hip pain in young women indicate a more serious condition? Yes! Hip joint pain isn't a diagnosis but a symptom of an underlying issue. This type of pain can appear in various forms, ranging from mild discomfort to severe, piercing pain, often accompanied by stiffness.

The location of the pain can also offer clues — sometimes, it's centred in the hip itself, while other times, it radiates to the groin, buttock, or even down the thigh and knee.

The severity of hip joint pain in young women can range from a mild annoyance to a debilitating condition that significantly limits your mobility and daily activities. It might also be accompanied by:

• Difficulty moving the leg
• Stiffness in the hip joint
• Reduced range of motion
• Weakness in the leg
• Bruising or swelling around the hip
• Limping
• Change in gait

Here, we explore the surprising prevalence of hip pain in young women by answering five FAQs that will help you get back on your feet pain-free.

While hip pain is often associated with the wear and tear of ageing, young women are surprisingly susceptible to this condition, too. Hip pain causes include:

Sometimes, the very structure of the hip joint can contribute to pain. Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) happens when the ball at the top of the femur (thigh bone) and the socket in the pelvis do not align properly.

This misalignment can irritate the surrounding tissues and cause hip joint pain.

If the hip socket is too shallow to hold the ball of the thigh bone properly, it causes pain, instability, and an increased risk of joint damage. If untreated, this may lead to arthritis or other hip complications over time. It's most common in teens aged 14-18. The condition is diagnosed in female patients at a rate twice as high as in males.

These types of hernias can cause hip pain at the front, particularly in women. Due to increased pressure in the abdomen, pregnant women face a higher risk.

Endometriosis is an ailment where tissue resembling the uterus' lining develops outside the uterus, resulting in pelvic tenderness that can feel like hip pain.

Sciatica, a pinched nerve, can cause lower back and hip pain that extends to the hip and legs. This pain typically affects either hip on one side of the body.

Activities that involve repetitive hip movements, such as running, jumping, or dancing, can put stress on the joint and surrounding tissues. This can cause different overuse injuries such as tendonitis, muscle sprains, bursitis (inflammation of a fluid-filled sac near the joint), or Iliotibial (IT) band syndrome, where the IT band — a thick band of fibrous tissue starting from the hip to the knee — rubs against the outer edge of the femur.

Hip pain symptoms can offer valuable clues about the underlying cause. So, when should you see a doctor for hip pain? Here's a breakdown of some common signs to watch out for:

The intensity of pain may differ from a dull ache or stiffness in the hip joint to a sharp, stabbing pain that limits your ability to move freely. You might experience difficulty walking, running, squatting, or performing other activities that require good hip mobility.

Inflammation around the hip joint can cause swelling, making the area appear puffy or warm.  Touching or applying pressure to the affected area might also elicit tenderness.

Hip pain can sometimes travel beyond the joint itself, radiating down the front of the thigh towards the knee or even into the lower back or buttocks. This can make it challenging to pinpoint the exact source of the discomfort.

A tendon catching on a bone prominence, loose cartilage fragments, or muscle imbalances can lead to a clicking sensation in the joint.

Believe it or not, that popping or clicking sound you sometimes hear from your hip joint is called crepitus, which happens when gas bubbles get trapped inside the synovial fluid, the lubricant that keeps your joints smooth. When you move your hip, those bubbles can burst, creating a snapping sound. But if your snapping hip is accompanied by pain, weakness, or limited mobility, it may indicate more serious underlying conditions.

Hip pain might sometimes be accompanied by numbness or tingling down the leg. This could indicate nerve impingement, a more serious condition requiring medical attention.

The nature of your hip pain can sometimes shed light on the underlying issue:

• Hip dysplasia causes a dull ache or groin pain.
• Femoroacetabular impingement manifests as pain in the front of the hip, particularly with activities that involve hip flexion (bending the hip forward), squatting, and sitting cross-legged.
• Muscle strains typically present as pain in the buttock or the outer thigh.

By understanding these symptoms, you can be more proactive in seeking medical attention and discussing your concerns with your doctor.

Ignoring hip pain won't make it disappear. Here's how doctors typically diagnose hip pain in young adults:

The first step often involves a comprehensive discussion about your medical history and current condition. Your doctor will want to know detailed answers to questions such as the following: 

• The location, nature, and severity of your pain
• When did the pain start, and what activities made it worse?
• Any injuries or accidents you've experienced
• Your level of physical activity
• Any medications you're taking

Following the collection of this data, your doctor will physically examine your hip to assess your condition.

This may involve:

• Observing your gait and posture
• Checking for swelling, tenderness, or redness around the hip
• Testing your range of motion in the hip joint
• Assessing for muscle strength and flexibility

Your doctor may prescribe a series of imaging tests to further identify any abnormalities, such as fractures, arthritis, tendinitis, or ligament problems.

The good news is that most cases of hip pain in young women respond well to treatment. The specific management of hip pain will depend on the underlying cause and severity. Here's a breakdown of the different hip pain treatment options available:

These non-invasive strategies are often the first line of defence for hip joint relief:

• Physical therapy with hip pain exercises is crucial in managing hip pain. It strengthens the muscles around the hip joint, improves flexibility, and corrects any muscle imbalances contributing to the pain.
• Taking a break from activities aggravating your pain can heal your hip. Your physician or physical therapist can instruct you on how to adjust your activities and slowly resume your usual routine as your pain decreases.
• Discomfort and inflammation can be managed by doctor-prescribed medications.
• Using warm packs on the sore spot can help loosen up your muscles and make things less stiff, and putting on some ice packs can dial down the swelling and take the edge off the pain.

Surgery is typically considered for severe hip pain cases that conservative treatments fail to alleviate. Your doctor will guide you on the appropriate measures to take.

Here are some proactive steps you can take to minimise your risk of hip joint pain:

1. Maintain a healthy weight: Excess weight stresses your hip joints. Even modest weight loss can significantly improve hip health.
2. Move it or lose it: Regular exercise [3] strengthens the muscles that support your hips and improves flexibility. Focus on low-impact activities like swimming, cycling, or yoga to keep your joints happy.
3. Posture power: Maintain a proper posture while seated, upright, and during lifting activities to prevent unnecessary stress on your hips. Take breaks from prolonged sitting and ensure an ergonomic setup at work and home.
4. Core strength is key: Strong core muscles provide stability and support for your entire body, including your hips. Include core-strengthening exercises in your workout routine.
5. Stretch it out: Regularly stretching your hip flexors, hamstrings, and glutes can improve flexibility and reduce your risk of injury. Yoga is a great way to incorporate stretching into your routine.
6. Don't skip check-ups: Make sure to have regular appointments with your doctor to monitor your general health and catch any potential hip problems early. Catching and addressing issues early is crucial to stopping a minor problem from escalating.

By following these simple tips, you can take charge of your hip health and keep those joints moving freely for years to come!