Hip Pain
Hip Pain Treatment and Recovery in Coachella Valley
Finding Relief From Hip Pain
At Desert Care Network, our orthopedic care teams are dedicated to helping you move easily for as long as possible. When hip pain keeps you from doing what you love, trust our doctors to provide:
- Coordinated, multidisciplinary care from assessment through recovery and rehabilitation
- Preoperative classes that help you know what to expect in the hours, days and weeks following surgery
- Minimally invasive surgical techniques to help you recover more quickly
The first step to finding relief from hip pain is to understand your hip pain fully. Quantifying your hip pain with our hip pain assessment.
What Is Causing My Hip Pain?
The hip joint comprises a ball (femoral head) and socket (acetabulum). The femoral head (upper end of the thigh bone) fits into the acetabulum. The articular cartilage coats the surface of the ball and socket, creating a smooth and frictionless surface so that the bones glide over each other.
Overdoing physical activity may cause soft tissues, such as tendons, to become inflamed or strained, resulting in hip pain. This kind of hip pain typically goes away after a few days. However, chronic or long-term hip pain may be caused by certain conditions, such as:
- Arthritis causes inflammation and pain in the hip joint. It has several types:
- Osteoarthritis — also known as degenerative joint disease, occurs when joint cartilage wears away and starts to break down, decreasing the space between the bones. As a result, bones rub against each other, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness.
- Rheumatoid arthritis — happens when a person’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, resulting in inflammation in the affected body parts.
- Ankylosing spondylitis — affects specifically the ligaments and joints.
- Bursitis — painful swelling around the joints.
- Injuries — sports injuries, traumatic accidents, and repetitive strains may result in hip pain. These include:
- Hip muscle strains
- Iliotibial band syndrome
- Hip labral tears
- Fractures (broken bones)
- Hip dislocation
- Structural conditions — some people are born with conditions that affect their hip shape and result in long-term pain, including:
- Femoroacetabular impingement — an unusual hip joint shape.
- Developmental dysplasia of the hip — occurs when the bones in the hip joint do not correctly fit together.
Watch the video below from one of our compassionate providers to understand what your hip pain may mean.
Living with chronic hip pain can make daily activities such as walking, standing up, and sitting down uncomfortable or nearly impossible. When conservative treatment options are insufficient to ease the pain, your doctor may recommend hip joint repair or hip replacement surgery.
At Desert Care Network, our compassionate hip pain doctors in Coachella Valley, CA can provide appropriate diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation for your condition. We are dedicated to offering minimally invasive therapies for hip conditions wherever possible. Many hip injuries can be diagnosed and repaired via outpatient care, allowing you to return to activities as soon as possible or even prevent more invasive procedures.
Hip joint replacement involves using artificial implants to replace the damaged joints and simulate the function of a typical joint. Hip replacement surgeons will remove the damaged ball or femoral head and cartilage from the hip socket. A ceramic or metal ball will replace the original ball. Then, a metal cup will replace the socket and be fixed to the acetabulum. Hip replacement surgeries typically last up to two hours. Hip replacements can be:
- Total hip replacement — both the ball and socket of the hip joint are replaced.
- Partial hip replacement — only the femoral head is replaced, and the hip socket remains intact.
Some methods for hip replacement that may be offered to you include:
- Anterior approach — allows your surgeon to reach your hip from the front rather than the back. This approach avoids detaching the gluteal muscles from the pelvis or femur, resulting in less surgical trauma.
- Direct superior approach — involves one small incision and minimal tendon detachment to access the hip socket while preserving more of the hip structure.
- Hip arthroscopy — a surgical procedure that allows your doctor to see inside the joint using a small camera called an arthroscope. The images guide miniature surgical instruments to diagnose and treat joint problems.
Generally, joint replacements can function for 15–20 years. However, factors such as wear and tear from decades of movement can affect their performance and lifespan. Younger patients may need revision surgery during their lifetime.
Desert Care Network is a healthcare leader for arthritis pain management and total hip and knee replacements in Palm Springs and Coachella Valley. Desert Regional Medical has received specialty certification from the Joint Commission for its program in Hip Replacement and Knee Replacement. But more than being recognized for its commitment to compassionate care and excellence, we are proud of how we genuinely care about our patients.
You’re not meant to live in pain. We’re here for you. Call 888-572-0084 to start get started.
In the weeks before your procedure, your doctor may evaluate your overall health and order blood tests and imaging studies to help plan your surgery. Preparing ahead of time can help you manage surgery and recovery more effectively. Learn about the procedure and discuss expectations with your doctor before, during, and after surgery.
Some questions you may want to ask include:
- What is the hospital's admission process?
- What type of anesthesia is best for my condition?
- What implant or prosthetic options are available?
- How long is the recovery process?
- What medications should I take for pain management?
Today, hip replacement patients can often return home sooner than in the past thanks to minimally invasive surgery, dedicated orthopedic nursing teams, physical therapists, and on-site rehabilitation services.
Your doctor will encourage you to begin moving as soon as possible after surgery. They may prescribe pain relievers or blood-thinning medications to aid healing. You may also participate in a rehabilitation program that includes occupational and physical therapy, where you can learn:
- Exercises to improve strength and mobility
- New ways to perform daily activities
- Safe methods to stay physically active
Following your doctor’s instructions and participating in rehabilitation programs can help speed recovery and return you to your normal routine.
Learn more about hip replacement recovery by watching the video from one of our doctors below.