Hip Pain When Walking: What’s Causing It and How to Fix It

Common causes of hip pain include arthritis, particularly osteoarthritis, where the degeneration of cartilage leads to joint inflammation and discomfort. Our experienced specialists can assess the extent of arthritis and offer a range of treatments, from medication management to minimally invasive procedures, to alleviate your symptoms.

Bursitis and tendonitis are other frequent culprits of hip pain, often resulting from repetitive movements or overuse. At San Antonio Pain Consultants, we offer targeted therapies, including physical therapy and injection treatments, to reduce inflammation and promote healing in the affected areas.

For those experiencing hip pain due to injuries such as fractures or stress fractures, our team provides comprehensive care, including diagnostic imaging and advanced interventions to facilitate recovery and prevent future complications. We also address hip labral tears with state-of-the-art techniques to restore joint function and reduce pain.

Our practice recognizes that hip pain can sometimes stem from issues beyond the hip joint itself, such as sciatica or lower back conditions. We perform thorough evaluations to ensure accurate diagnosis and effective treatment strategies tailored to your specific needs.

In rare cases, hip pain may be linked to serious conditions like infections or tumors. We also guide you about hip pain surgery after evaluating the patient’s condition. Our multidisciplinary approach ensures that any underlying issues are promptly identified and treated with the highest standard of care.

A pinched nerve occurs when excessive pressure is applied to a nerve by surrounding tissues like bones, cartilage, muscles, or tendons. This pressure can disrupt the nerve’s function, leading to pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness. In the case of the lower spine, a pinched nerve often results in radiating pain that travels down to the hip and leg, commonly known as sciatica. The sciatic nerve, which extends from the lower back through the hips and buttocks down each leg, is frequently implicated in these scenarios.

At San Antonio Pain Consultants, we recognize the importance of accurately diagnosing the source of your hip pain. Our approach includes a comprehensive physical examination, detailed medical history review, and advanced imaging tests such as MRI or CT scans. These diagnostic tools help us visualize the affected area and pinpoint the exact source of nerve compression.

For hip pain treatment, we prioritize conservative measures tailored to your specific needs. Our team may recommend rest, physical therapy, and pain management strategies, including medications or injections, to alleviate symptoms. If conservative treatments are insufficient, we also explore surgical options to relieve nerve pressure and improve your overall function.

Understanding the connection between pinched nerve and hip pain is crucial for effective treatment. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, we encourage you to consult with our experts at San Antonio Pain Consultants. Our goal is to provide a personalized treatment plan to help you find relief and return to your daily activities with ease.

One of the first steps we recommend is ensuring you have supportive footwear. Proper shoes with good arch support and cushioning can help distribute pressure more evenly across your joints, reducing the strain on your hips. Our specialists can offer guidance on selecting the best footwear to support your needs.

Incorporating low-impact exercises into your routine is another effective way to manage hip pain. Our team can design a customized exercise program that strengthens the muscles surrounding your hip joint, providing better support and reducing pain. We often recommend activities such as swimming or cycling, which are gentle on the joints and can be particularly beneficial.

Stretching plays a crucial role in relieving hip pain. We can guide you through specific stretches targeting the hip flexors, hamstrings, and quadriceps, improving flexibility and reducing tension in the hip area. Consider joining our recommended yoga or Pilates classes, which incorporate stretches and poses that maintain hip health.

For temporary relief, we may suggest heat or cold therapy. A warm bath or heating pad can relax tight muscles and improve circulation, while an ice pack can reduce inflammation and numb the area, especially after walking or exercising.

Maintaining a healthy weight is essential, as excess weight puts additional stress on the hip joints. Our team can help you develop a balanced diet and regular physical activity plan to manage your weight and subsequently decrease the load on your hips and also advise you about age-related hip pain causes.

If hip pain persists despite these measures, our experienced healthcare professionals are here to help. At San Antonio Pain Consultants, we are committed to addressing your pain proactively and with a comprehensive approach, significantly improving your quality of life and enabling you to walk more comfortably.

For example, slouching or leaning forward while walking can improperly tilt the pelvis, placing undue stress on the hip joints and surrounding muscles. This can result in increased friction, inflammation, and ultimately, pain. Our team at San Antonio Pain Consultants is dedicated to helping you correct these issues through personalized treatment plans.

We recognize that poor posture can cause muscle imbalances, where some muscles become overactive while others are underutilized. This imbalance can lead to strain and discomfort in the hips, especially if the lower back and hip flexors compensate for weak back and abdominal muscles. An uneven gait due to poor posture further increases the workload on the hips, potentially exacerbating existing conditions like arthritis or bursitis.

At San Antonio Pain Consultants, we emphasize the importance of correcting posture by being mindful of body alignment and engaging core muscles. Our specialists provide guidance on strengthening exercises for the core and lower back, as well as stretching routines for the hip flexors and surrounding muscles. These exercises can significantly improve posture and support the hips during movement.

By maintaining a neutral spine and balanced posture, the hips receive better support, reducing the risk of pain and enhancing overall mobility. Our team is committed to helping you achieve a pain-free life through improved posture and personalized care.

If you’re experiencing hip pain while walking, it’s important to seek professional care to properly diagnose and treat the underlying cause. Dr. Darius Zagunis and the team at San Antonio Pain Consultants offer personalized treatment plans to help alleviate your pain and restore your mobility. Don’t let hip pain limit your quality of life any longer. Whether it’s arthritis, tendonitis, or another condition, we are here to support your recovery journey. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are located at 3903 Wiseman Blvd, Ste 117, San Antonio, TX 78251. We serve patients from San Antonio TX, Helotes TX, Alamo Ranch TX, Leon Valley TX, Shavano Park TX, Balcones Heights TX, Fair Oaks TX, Fair Oaks Ranch TX, Castroville TX, and surrounding areas.