Our specialty-trained hip doctors at North Louisiana Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Clinic are experts in providing experienced care for patients’ hip injuries and conditions.

A hip doctor is a medical expert who has a deep level of knowledge of the hip joint and how to treat it. A good hip doctor also understands the challenges a patient faces when they have hip pain. Because it is the largest joint in the body, when the hip is painful, it can have a significant impact on a patient’s quality of life. Additionally, a hip doctor knows that if hip conditions go on ignored, more serious health consequences can result, such as losing the ability to walk normally.

Broken hips can happen to anyone, but seniors are at higher risk for two significant reasons–one is that seniors tend to have more balance issues than younger people. Secondly, their bone strength tends to be weaker, and therefore, they are more likely to suffer a fracture if they do fall.

While hip doctors frequently work with seniors, they are working more and more with younger, active people. One reason is that more people are choosing to participate in high-intensity exercises. These activities can be beneficial for cardiovascular health, but on the other hand, they can sometimes cause joint damage.

When It’s Time to Seek Hip Care

Take note of the symptoms you are experiencing and communicate those to your doctor so they will have a better understanding of what may be happening. Here are just some of the symptoms that people with hip problems typically have:

• Cramps or muscle spasms in the hips
• Difficulty lifting the knee or leg
• Groin or buttock pain
• Inflammation or burning sensation
• Knee pain
• Limping
• One leg looks shorter than the other
• Swelling
• The outer side of the hip is painful

If any of these symptoms describe your hip issue, it’s possible that you may have one of these hip conditions or injuries:

• Arthritis
• Bursitis
• Evelopmental Displacement of the Hip (DDH)
• Femoral acetabular impingement syndrome (FAI)
• Fractures (Intracapsular, Intertrochanteric, or Subtrochanteric)
• Hip flexor strain
• Osteoporosis
• Sprain

Hip pain can have a negative effect on your life, leaving you unable to complete everyday tasks. If the hip pain and underlying condition remain untreated, there is a risk of further injury or damage occurring, which is why it’s imperative to contact one of our specialists and set up a consultation.