As one of the body’s largest joints, the hip gets its fair share of wear-and-tear over the years. The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint, consisting of the femoral head at the top of the thighbone (ball) and the acetabulum in the pelvis bone (socket).
Chronic hip pain often develops in those over the age of 50, but can occur earlier, especially in those who are overweight or who have had a previous hip injury or surgery. Some people are born with abnormalities of the joint that put them at higher risk for hip issues as well.
Common symptoms of hip problems include:
Groin pain
Limping
Decreased range of motion and stiffness
Tenderness around the front or back of the hip
Clicking, popping or locking of the joint
Why Do I Have Chronic Hip Pain?
Common causes of hip pain include:
Osteoarthritis: chronic degeneration of the cartilage and inflammation of the hip tissues and joint fluid.The degeneration can be accelerated by trauma causing damage to the cartilage and subtle irregularities in how the hip developed in childhood.
Bursitis: inflammation of the bursa, a fluid-filled sac that cushion the tendons overlying the bones
Tendinitis and tendon tears: damage to the tendons in the hip, often from overuse or muscle weakness
Labral tears: injury to the labrum, a soft cartilage tissue that surrounds the hip socket
Sacroiliitis: Inflammation of the sacroiliac joints where your lower spine and pelvis connect.
Avascular necrosis: impaired blood flow to the hip bone causes damage
The good news for patients suffering from chronic hip pain is that advances in regenerative medicine are giving hope to those who feared that total joint replacement therapy was their only option.
San Diego Orthobiologics Medical Group offers several advanced regenerative therapies for hip joint pain:
Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy uses growth factors from the platelets in the patient’s own blood by releasing substances called growth factors concentrates platelets to stimulate tissue healing for degenerative joints and soft tissue injuries.
ENDORET PRGF (platelet rich in growth factors) contains proteins that stimulate the tissue repair processes, including new blood vessel formation, cell mobilization and cell proliferation. PRGF can accelerate healing and minimize inflammation that reduces pain.
Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC): utilizes your own bone marrow which contains cells that have the ability to improve circulation, decrease inflammation and promote healing in tendons, ligaments and cartilage.BMAC provides highly concentrated regenerative cells to support a robust healing response through a simple office procedure.
LIPOGEMS® is an FDA-compliant device for processing and same-day use of your own adipose tissue (fat) to treat joint and tendon injuries.Adipose tissue is a rich source of adipose derived stem cells and other regenerative orthobiologics.
Prolotherapy, also known as “proliferative therapy,” delivers dextrose and other medications to help regenerate tissue and stimulate a healing response in a chronically injured ligament, tendon or joint. Prolotherapy is often combined with PRP therapy to expedite healing.
Alpha 2 Microglobulin (A2M) uses uses orthobiologics from a patient’s own blood to stop the progression of joint degeneration, decrease inflammation and promote tissue healing.
These treatments offer better safety than most surgical procedures as they are minimally invasive and are performed in our office procedure suite.Patients do not require hospitalization, or a lengthy recovery.Many patients are able to resume normal activities within days of their treatment and see pain relief within weeks.
Drs. Christopher Rogers and Mary Ambach of San Diego Orthobiologics Medical Group are leaders in the field of regenerative medicine for orthopedic conditions.They were the first in San Diego to use Lipogems® as well as ENDORET PRGF therapy for the treatment of orthopedic conditions.
Overuse of the tendons around the elbow while playing sports or in everyday activities often leads to painful tendon injuries. Our sports medicine experts can give you a proper diagnosis and recommend suitable treatment options.
Common tendon overuse conditions include tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow. This results in degeneration or tearing of the tendons that attach to the elbow. Tennis elbow involves the tendons on the outside aspect of the elbow. Golfer’s elbow involves the tendons on the inside part of the elbow. Both conditions make gripping, lifting and other daily activities difficult.
Symptoms of tennis or golfer’s elbow include:
Pain in the wrist, elbow or forearm
Difficulty moving the arm
Muscle and tendon tenderness
Swelling over the elbow
Here are a few things that you can do at home for quick relief:
1. Resting the Arm
One of the best things that our patients can do to relieve the discomfort of tennis or golfer’s elbow is to let the elbow rest. Although it’s good to keep the area functional, you never want to push past any pain tolerance or cause more discomfort. Just go easy on the affected area and take the time to heal.
2. Apply Ice Packs
Apply ice packs to the affected arm several times a day to help minimize joint pain. You can use ready-made ice packs, or make your own with ice cubes or frozen peas and zippered plastic bags. Apply a thin cloth over the ice pack if it’s too cold.
3. Wear a Compression Bandage
Patients can also wrap the affected arm with a form-fitting compression bandage. The bandage provides support during injury. Make sure that the arm maintains regular blood flow to help the joint heal properly.
4. Massage the Arm
Massaging the painful arm gently can help reduce elbow pain naturally by minimizing inflammation, swelling and stiffness. A patient can perform this massage on their own, or they can visit a spa to have a therapist perform a massage.
5. Take Pain Relievers
By taking aspirin or other store-bought pain relievers, it is possible to have less pain while performing basic activities. However, we never want our patients becoming dependent on medication, so this should only be seen as a temporary relief method.
6. Applications of Heat
Some patients find pain relief with heat application. This is a great excuse for a hot bath or shower. Other alternatives include applying a heating pad or a warm moist cloth to the affected elbow.
In most cases, the pain from tennis or golfer’s elbow will decrease gradually in a few days, but if the pain persists or gets worse, then we recommend visiting our clinic in San Diego for a complete evaluation.
If it’s time to plan a course of treatment, call us today at 760-909-2355.
If you’ve ever experienced shoulder pain, then you know how disruptive it can be to your life. Simple tasks like lifting your arms or carrying groceries become unbearable, and even going to work poses a challenge. Your doctor can easily prescribe treatment to provide immediate pain relief, but what do you do until your next appointment?
Here are some simple ways to relieve shoulder pain in between doctor’s visits.
Heating Pad
Apply heat to a painful shoulder to get almost immediate relief. Heat works well because it reduces muscle tension and promotes relaxation. Heat also increases blood flow, which delivers nutrients to the affected area. Be careful not to warm the area too much, as you don’t want to burn the skin. Leave the pad on the affected area for intervals of 15-30 minutes, followed by a short period of rest. Apply it to the shoulder when needed.
Light Massage
A light massage can work wonders for a painful shoulder, particularly when there’s an injury to the muscles or tendons. Massages work because they improve blood circulation and reduce stiffness and swelling. You don’t need a professional to administer the massage, as a gentle squeeze applied with medium pressure is enough to experience relief. Do this as often as necessary.
Cold Compress
Just like a heating pad, a cold compress can also provide pain relief to a painful shoulder. If you have an ice pack, wrap it in a towel and apply it to the area. Crushed ice can also be wrapped in a towel or ziplock bag if an ice pack is not available. The cold works to numb the pain and also reduces inflammation. Leave the compress on the shoulder for roughly 10-15 minutes at a time. You can do this throughout the day for maximum pain relief.
Change Your Sleeping Position
In addition to seeking relief in the daytime, people who suffer from shoulder pain also need night time relief. This is where it’s crucial to change the position that you sleep in if you’re naturally prone to laying on your shoulders. Use extra pillows to provide neck and shoulder support, or sleep on the opposite side of the affected area. Leaning on the back of the shoulder (shoulder blade) and avoiding lying on the side of the shoulder may offer relief.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relief medicines can help to reduce shoulder pain. Ibuprofen (400-800mg) and Tylenol (325-500mg) would be the best options, with Ibuprofen being the first choice if you’re able to take it. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory medicine that is often used to treat the inflammation of the joints. You should give your physician’s office a call to determine which is better for you, especially if you are taking other medications.
You may not experience full pain relief, but these simple tips can help you cope with shoulder pain until you’re able to make it to the doctor’s office. All of these methods can be used as often as needed, and do not require much medical oversight.
If you’re experiencing shoulder pain due to a muscular injury, arthritis, or some other condition, contact us to learn about our permanent solutions for your shoulder pain at (760) 909-2355.
Foot pain can be very disruptive to your everyday life, especially if you’re an athlete or someone who’s more active than most. Getting relief is the primary goal of most foot pain sufferers and learning what caused the pain is just as important.
Gout
Gout is a form of arthritis that can be debilitating, especially when it affects the feet. It damages the joints in the ankle, and toes. Most people who suffer from gout already know they have the condition, but if you’ve never been diagnosed, then there’s a possibility you wouldn’t recognize the symptoms. It’s common for people to develop painful bumps in the toes, as well as other deformities in the feet. Some areas may also feel inflamed and sensitive to the touch.
Ankle and Foot Tendonopathy
When the tendons in the ankles and feet become damaged, this leads to tendonopathy which causes pain. Most people who experience this are athletes or individuals who work out vigorously. Of course, tendonopathy and tendon tears can also occur as a result of an injury. This condition develops over time, and the pain may not be very noticeable at first.
Stress Fractures
Stress fractures are small cracks in a bone that develop from repetitive force or overuse in activities like running and jumping. Fractures can develop from osteoarthritis, which can weakened the bones. When stress fractures are most common in the second and third toes and more painful when walking or running.
Plantar Fasciosis
Plantar fasciosis is thickening of the area where the plantar fascia connects to the heel bone. The thick band of connective tissue runs the entire span of the sole and serves as a shock absorber while walking. People who are constantly on their feet often develop this condition.
Bursitis
Bursitis in the foot is inflammation of the bursae, which are fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction between the joints and tendons. People who are in poor physical condition or who are overweight develop bursitis in the feet more often. Other conditions like arthritis and tendonopathy can also cause bursitis.
A variety of issues causes foot pain, and these are some of the most common that doctors treat. Prevention is the best method to fighting foot pain. You may not want to change your lifestyle, particularly if you’re an athlete or a very active person, but there are some things you can do to prevent these issues. Wear proper shoes when exercising or just walking, and always stretch before working out. Rest your feet when they’re tired, as overworking them is a surefire way to end up with one of these conditions.
You don’t have to live with chronic foot pain. We offer a variety of Regenerative Medicine therapies to resolve your pain without the need for surgery or steroids. Contact us today to find out if our gentle treatments are a good fit for your condition. (760) 909-2355.
