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Dear Ask The Doctor: I slipped and fell on my right hip in the shower, some 5 years ago, after having had ankle surgery. It wasn't until last year that I started having pain in that area. It would come and go. It seems to be more prone to hurt in a sitting position. This is becoming a weekly accurance and almost a daily one too. I don't drink nor taking any medication. I'm in good shape with a pulse rate of about 60 and blood pressure of 125/80. any idea as to what could be causing this?
Dear Rich: Overuse injuries or repetitive motion injuries make up over 50% of all athletic-related injuries seen by doctors. Simple everyday actions, such as throwing a ball, scrubbing a floor, running or jogging, can lead to this condition. The most common types of repetitive motion injuries are tendonitis and bursitis. These 2 disorders are difficult to differentiate and many times may coexist. In your case, most likely could be a bursitis of the hip which can have various causes, for example: inadequate footwear, inadequate technique for running and/or for training, inadequate training surfaces. Bursae are small pouches or sacs that are found over areas where friction may develop and serve to cushion or lubricate the area between tendon and bone; common areas where bursitis can occur include the elbow, knee and hip. Ice in the affected area can be used for relief of pain and swelling. The conservative treatment is as follows: ice during the early phase and moist heat during the long-term phase. Use of anti inflammatory medication NSAIDs (“aleve”, “motrin”) can help to ease pain and swelling. If your tendinitis or bursitis is not helped by NSAIDs, your doctor may choose to inject steroids into the surrounding area of inflammation. You should begin graduated range-of-motion exercise once your symptoms begin to improve. As a rule, you should not have more than 3 injections into the same area within a 12-month period. Alternative treatments include pain-killing creams, capsaicin cream (an over-the-counter pain relief cream made from an ingredient of cayenne pepper), and steroid medications if you are able to take them. And of course if you have poor or no improvement with these measures, you should be re-evaluated by your physician, to rule out other conditions and determine the most adequate treatment option for you. |
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 28 March 2010 )
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