Hip Pain Treatment in Mooresville, NC
Hip pain tends to get worse slowly, over months or years, until it starts limiting the things people want to do. Walking, climbing stairs, getting in and out of a car, sleeping on one side. People often adjust around it for a long time before they come in, which means the surrounding muscles have usually compensated in ways that add to the problem. The sooner hip pain is addressed, the more there is to work with.
The source of the pain
The most common sources of hip pain we see are hip joint arthritis, where the cartilage has worn down and the joint is under more stress than it should be; bursitis, where the fluid-filled sac on the outside of the hip becomes inflamed, usually from repetitive stress or a direct fall; piriformis syndrome, where the piriformis muscle in the buttock tightens and compresses the sciatic nerve; and referred pain from the low back or sacroiliac joint, which is extremely common and often mistaken for hip pathology. Labral tears and FAI (femoroacetabular impingement) show up in more active patients and in younger people with a history of hip-loading sports.
The SI joint deserves specific mention. The sacroiliac joint connects the pelvis to the spine and is a common pain generator that is frequently misdiagnosed as hip or low back pain. We assess it specifically at the first visit because treatment differs depending on whether the SI joint is involved.
Treatment
Chiropractic care. We address both the hip joint mechanics and the pelvis and lumbar spine above it, because restrictions in the surrounding joints directly affect how the hip loads and moves. Adjusting restores normal motion, reduces the compensatory muscle tension that has built up, and takes pressure off the hip joint. For early to moderate arthritis, keeping the hip moving well slows degeneration and reduces pain more than rest does.
Dry needling. The piriformis, gluteal muscles, and hip flexors frequently develop trigger points that refer pain into the hip, buttock, and upper leg. Dry needling releases these directly and is often the fastest way to reduce the referred pain component of hip problems.
Acupuncture. For hip pain with significant inflammation, particularly hip arthritis and bursitis, acupuncture reduces the inflammatory response and calms the pain sensitization that makes the hip more reactive than it should be. We offer a significant discount when you combine services.
The course of care
Acute hip problems, bursitis and muscle-related pain, often respond within a few weeks. Arthritis and chronic hip degeneration take longer and require a different goal: managing symptoms, maintaining function, and slowing progression rather than achieving full resolution. We give you a realistic picture at the first visit based on what the examination shows.
Common questions
How do I know if my hip pain is from the hip or the back?
Pain that reproduces with hip rotation and groin pain that worsens with weight bearing usually points to the hip joint. Pain that travels down the leg or changes with lumbar movement is more likely referred from the spine. We sort this out at the exam.
Can chiropractic help hip arthritis?
Yes, within limits. We cannot reverse the degeneration, but we can keep the joint moving better, reduce the surrounding muscle tension, and significantly reduce pain and improve function. Many people with hip arthritis avoid or delay surgery by maintaining the joint with conservative care.
Is this instead of a hip replacement or alongside it?
Conservative care is the appropriate first step before considering replacement. For people who have had a hip replacement, we work on the surrounding muscles and the rest of the kinetic chain to support function and recovery.
Related conditions: Low back pain | Sciatica
Serving Mooresville and the Lake Norman area, including Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville, Troutman, and Statesville.
Services involved in this care plan
Schedule an appointment or call 704-663-2010.
