Category: Our Blog

Sports activities are one of the easiest ways to get exercise. Often, your doctor or physical therapist may even suggest picking up a new sport. One activity that is popular for men and women of all ages is tennis. Tennis players may start as children or pick up the sport even during their retirement years. Tennis helps with cardio and conditioning, but it may also cause joint pain later. Many have heard of the painful disorder known as tennis elbow. However, “tennis hip” exists as well. Since this hip injury is like tennis elbow, the hip joint will suffer from familiar chronic pain symptoms.

 

Range of Motion

Tennis is not a contact sport, but tennis players are always moving. Back and forth, left to right or jumping up and down are some of the normal movements for serious tennis players. The constant motion and patterns do have benefits like weight loss and heart health. Tennis keeps people moving. Eventually, these same movements may be the cause of chronic pain though. Tennis hip is a common hip injury that results when there is major stress to the joint from turning and pivoting moves seen in this sport. If players do not pivot or move their hips as much, the injury will quickly affect the shoulder and elbow instead.

 

Tennis Hip Symptoms

Tennis elbow is a common injury for this sport. If a player’s elbow begins to hurt, it is easy to assume that the disorder may be tennis elbow. Tennis hip has its own symptoms too. Not only will tennis players begin feeling chronic hip pain, the joint will feel stiff. The stiffness may even keep players from moving in certain directions. For example, tennis hip is a common hip injury that makes side to side motions more difficult for patients. Similar conditions that affect the hip are tendonitis and snapping hip. These injuries are mainly due to the overuse of the hip muscles.

 

Remember to Stretch!

Stretching before a tennis game is extremely important. Stretching allows for the body to loosen and relax before intense activity. It is just as important to stretch afterward too. Tennis players may be tired, but stretching the hips will help with the player’s cool down. Hip stretches will calm the body, muscles, and heart. Remember to always stretch before and after to avoid a common hip injury. Simple hip stretches can make a big difference when it comes to chronic hip pain and tennis hip symptoms.

 

If you believe you have tennis hip symptoms, tennis elbow or other conditions that relate to your sport, contact Houston Physicians’ Hospital. We have a sports medicine program as well as physical therapy that can help you get back in the game.

Have you ever been in so much pain that it is difficult to describe? Some patients can describe their symptoms perfectly, but other times, the overall pain can be overwhelming. This is a common case for the center portion of the body. Hip, groin and lower back pain often seem the same. So, before diagnosing yourself with hip failure, a groin injury or lower back pain, recognize which part of your body is causing the pain. The waist area contains the hips, groin and lower back close together so this is a common problem for many people. The pain may grow into each of these parts although it usually starts in a single point of the body. Learn more about your hip, groin and lower back pain.

 

Is It Hip Pain?

First, understand that the hips are ball-and-socket joints made up of two main bones. The femur and pelvic bone hold the hips together with surrounding muscles and cartilage. With hip pain, people recognize that one of their hips are more sensitive than the other. There are conditions where both hips hurt at the same time though. Anyways, if your pain is mostly toward the left or mostly toward the right, this is a true sign of hip problems. Another big symptom of hip pain is limping. Since one hip will be stronger than the other, people develop a limp so there is less pressure on one side. Limping is a temporary fix for the hip since continuous limping can cause the opposite side to ache. Other clues that reveal hip pain are:

• Stiffness around the waist, left side or right side of the body
• Walking is difficult even for short distances
• There is occasional pain in the knee or knees as well

 

Is It Groin Pain?

The groin is a minor region, but it can feel major pain. The groin area is exactly where the upper and lower portions of the body come together. People may complain of pelvic pain when referring to their groin. There are muscles covering this area and these same muscles extend into the legs. So, when patients believe the groin is their main cause of pain, this type of injury commonly relates to the muscles. A groin injury can be extremely painful. Athletes might even miss games or practices due to intense groin injuries. Since the groin in right in the center of the body, patients mistake groin pain as hips problems and vice versa. If you are suffering from a groin injury, your symptoms will look something like these:

• Pain toward the inner thighs near the pubic region
•  Sharp pain extends into the legs as well
• Symptoms occur after a game or sporting event

 

Is It Lower Back Pain?

Finally, when the pain is not from the hips or groin, it is most of the time due to the lower back. The lower back is made up of the lumbar spine. This is the lowest part of the spine that rests directly between the two hips. So, lower back pain can be from muscle pulls, but it can also be from spine injuries. The spine itself contains vertebrae and cartilage that form the upper, middle and lower back. Injuries to the discs cause severe lower back pain and chronic conditions. If the lower back pain grows, the pain may feel like a groin or hip condition. However, true lumbar spine and lower back pain resemble these symptoms:

• Pain extending to the middle back or buttocks
•  Deep pressure when sitting down
• Unable to stand up straight or standing straight is painful

 

All three of these pains should not be taken lightly. Whether the pain traces to the lower back, groin or hip, look for options that will address the symptoms and causes. If you have questions or need clarification about lower back, groin and hip pain, contact an orthopedic physician in your area.

Bruises happen to everyone. Bruising usually shows on the skin with dark purple markings. Small bruises are common for athletes or anytime a person accidentally trips, falls or runs into something. Some people tend to bruise more easily than others. Normal bruises are not too much of a concern. Whenever bruising is severe or reaches the bone, that is when patients may need to rest or seek treatment. The hip has surrounding muscles and bones that make up this joint. Particularly, the pelvic bone is a large part of the body that connects to the femur and the rest of the leg. Bruises to the hip may be more severe than a bruise on other bones. Hipbone bruises can lead to chronic pain symptoms that seem to last over time.

 

Hip Bone Contusions

Bone bruises, or bone contusions, are from an injury to the bone surface. Bone contusions do not cause breaks or fractures, but they can lead to chronic pain problems. With the hips, if a strong impact hits the hip bone, blood will begin to cover the pelvis and swell with pain. The swelling comes from the blood buildup around the hips. Severe hip bone bruising can last several months. Someone in a traumatic event may suffer from bone contusions due to a large fall or strong hit to the body. Even if the bone does not break, it is important to find professional help. Even though blood vessels breaking around the joints is common for bone bruises, patients do not want to experience blood clots and more chronic pain.

 

Practice Bone Health

Bone bruises should naturally heal with rest and elevation but always monitor a bone contusion injury. Numerous hip bruises can weaken the bone. Repetitive bone bruises may also be a sign of other problems. With hip osteoarthritis, cartilage begins to deteriorate so the bones rubbing together can cause bruising. Chronic pain conditions that cause intense levels of pain need attention. So, patients should care for all their bones that way they can prevent further injury. Weak hip bones can turn into osteoporosis or a total fracture. Hipbone bruises are painful, so try to prevent this injury while learning how to heal if it does happen.

Doctors usually recommend rest, ice and elevation to the initial injury. An anti-inflammatory medication may help with any swelling. Make sure you are getting enough calcium in your diet to strengthen the bones. Strong bones are less likely to bruise. Muscles can protect the bones as well. Build up muscles around the hips to prevent chronic hip bone bruising.

Each year, America celebrates February 14 as Valentine’s Day. This fun holiday is full of love, but February 14 is also National Donor Day for the United States. For donor day, America honors the organ, tissue and blood donors throughout the country. Since 1998, America celebrates National Donor Day with educational events that promote organ donations and bring awareness to this national cause. Organ donations truly save lives for thousands of people each year. There is often confusion about how organ donations work so follow along and learn more about National Donor Day 2017.

 

Organs, Blood and Tissues

Donors can serve in various ways. Donations help every time of year. It is common to see more promotions for blood drives after a natural disaster or traumatic event. However, there are always people in need of donations. Donations include blood, platelets, plasma, bone marrow and other tissues. So, it is beneficial when people take the time to donate after serious events, but remember to donate regularly as well. There are time constraints from one donation to another so contact a local blood bank for more details on donations for your area.

 

Equal Healthcare

The small red heart toward the bottom of a driver’s license shows if someone is an organ donor. Until a person passes away, that little heart makes no difference to their life. There are superstitions that organ donors do not receive the same care as a non-organ donor. This is a false statement. All organ donors are given equal healthcare. Doctors take a Hippocratic oath so every patient will receive proper attention and care. The organ donor status is not relevant until a person passes.

 

Become a Donor

Anyone can be a donor. People of all ages benefit from the generosity of blood and organ donors. A single organ donor can go on to save eight lives total. For blood, every time a person denotes, they are saving three lives at a time. Look for upcoming blood drives near your school or workplace. Donors can also visit blood centers to see what they need most. Donors change lives so celebrate February 14 with love and donations. There are many blood drives in February and events where people can sign up to become an organ donor. Become a donor today!

The body is meant to handle normal wear and tear injuries. Small bruises or sprains are common for everyone, especially athletes. However, once people get into their retirement age, the body is prone to more injuries. One injury that can hurt the hips is a severe dislocation. If the hips suffer from this condition, the hip joint may physically pop out of place. If the hip dislocates, it can be very painful and stressful. What do you do next? Follow this information about what to do if your hip pops out of place.

 

How Does the Hip Pop Out?

To throw your hip out, this means that the ball and socket portion of the hip come apart. The ball falls out of its socket and this causes the hip to pop out of place. Unfortunately, once the hip pops out, there is usually a broken bone and serious hip pain. It takes great force for the hip to come out of its socket. If it does, an immediate pain will cover the hip and even extend to the leg. With a hip dislocation, the femur is left vulnerable since it is loose from the rest of the body.

 

What Should You Do After the Dislocation?

As soon as the hip pops out or dislocates, call for help or visit an emergency room. The hip will be experiencing chronic pain so an urgent care facility can treat the pain before the person receives actual treatment. Do not attempt to pop the hip back in place. After the injury, the entire hip will be sensitive. Attempting to fix the dislocation may cause even more damage. Too much pressure on the thighbone can lead to a hip fracture or permanent nerve damage. Do not walk or put any pressure on the hip either. See a physician who can immediately care for the hip dislocation.

 

Will the Hip Return to its Normal Position?

Yes, the hip may return to its normal position after much rest and rehabilitation. The treatment and recovery of a hip dislocation all depend on the injury, symptoms, and causes. If it is the first time the hip pops out, the damage may not be too severe. However, if the hip continuously falls out of place, this could be an early symptom of osteoporosis. Since bones lose their density and structure, hips with osteoporosis are easily hurt by dislocations. A physician will need to treat the hip injury, but also the weak bones and chronic hip pain.

Houston Physicians’ Hospital offers emergency care as well as advanced orthopedic services. A hip dislocation can happen quickly, but an expert diagnosis can reveal potential problems that may harm the hips.

Hips and knees are both major joints in the body. The hips carry much of the body’s weight while the knees are put under pressure with every step. These joints play major roles in normal functionality. Unfortunately, one chronic pain condition may lead to another. There are several cases of chronic hip pain causing painful knee problems. Hip pain can spread to the knees or lower back, but the pain mostly grows when the initial symptoms progress into a chronic disorder. Overusing the hip can cause sore muscles and inflammation. Symptoms like these may eventually lead to trauma to the knees as well.

 

Chronic Hip Pain

The hips carry body weight, but they must also carry the weight through a wide range of motions. Especially for athletes, the hips twist and turn in a variety of angles. Depending on the condition, the hip weakens over time. For example, with hip osteoporosis or hip osteonecrosis, patients may develop a limp. Limping is one way that the body may naturally cope with chronic hip pain. Limping or walking with a cane helps relieve the hip joint of extra pressure. Osteoporosis and osteonecrosis can both cause hip dislocations and fractures. Hip failure is more often seen in patients who are 50-years-old and above.

 

Hip Pain Results

If the hip begins to fail, there are symptoms that may show over time and symptoms that occur without warning. A hip dislocation or fracture is more of an unexpected injury. These emergency disorders can happen randomly, but leave patients with lifelong problems. There may be necessary lifestyle changes for patients after suffering from hip failure. Problems that follow hip pain include:

• Chronic knee pain
• Groin pain
• Lower back pain
• Muscle loss
• Prone to further hip injuries
• Weaker bones

Once the chronic hip pain spreads to the knees, this condition may turn into a new problem. The knees are another joint that suffers from overuse and injury. Chronic knee pain can result from severe hip problems. Since hip failure tends to unbalance the body, this pattern extends into the knees as well. Treating hip failure is one way to prevent chronic knee pain. Allowing chronic hip pain to grow will only leave patients with 2 painful joints instead of one.