|
HIP
PAIN AND SNAPPING HIP SYNDROME
 Ross Hauser, M.D.
The
hip joint joins the leg to the
pelvis. Unfortunately, for most people, both
legs are not exactly the same. They may look the same, but from a
bio-mechanical standpoint, they are not the same. One leg may be rotated
either in or out, or one leg may be shorter than the other. The latter is
especially common if one leg was broken during childhood. Because the hip
joint connects the leg to the pelvis,
the hip joint will sustain the brunt
of any bio-mechanical abnormality that may occur. If one leg is shorter
than the other, the hip joints will be stressed because the leg length
discrepancy causes an abnormal gait (manner of walking).
With leg length discrepancy either hip joint can cause pain and usually both
hip joints hurt to some degree. 'To propel the leg forward, the hip joint must
be raised which strains the gluteus medius muscle and the posterior hip
ligaments. Leg length problems are also associated with recurrent lower
back problems because they cause the pelvis to be asymmetric. Prolotherapy
to the
sacroiliac and hip joints will correct the asymmetries in the majority
of cases. The leg length discrepancy disappears from the leveling of the
pelvis. If asymmetry remains after treatment, a shoe insert or heel lift will
generally correct the problem.
A problem in the hip may commonly manifest itself as
groin or inguinal pain.
Pain from the hip joint may also be felt locally, directly above the hip joint
in the back. When the hip joint becomes lax, the muscles over the joint
compensate for the laxity by tensing. As is the case with any joint of the
body, lax ligaments initiate muscle tension in an attempt to stabilize the
joint. This compensatory mechanism to stabilize the hip joint eventually
causes the area's muscles to tighten because of chronic contraction in
an attempt to compensate for a loose hip joint. The contracted muscles can
eventually irritate the trochanteric bursa causing a trochanteric
bursitis. A
bursa is a fluid-filled sac which helps muscles glide over bony prominences.
Patients
with chronic hip problems often have had
cortisone injected into this bursa,
which generally brings temporary relief. But this treatment does not provide
permanent relief because the underlying laxity is not being corrected.
Prolotherapy injections to strengthen the hip ligaments will provide
definitive relief in such a case.
It is interesting to note that trochanteric bursitis,
Pyriformis
syndrome (pain
and weakness in the Pyriformi muscle of the hip), and weakness in the iliotibial band (muscles near the knee) also cause "sciatica. The sciatic
nerve runs between the two heads of the pyriformi muscle. When the pyriformi
muscle is spastic, the sciatic nerve may be pinched. Lumbosacral and hip joint
weakness are two main causes of pyriforrni muscle spasm. Pyriformi muscle
stretches and
physical
therapy directed at the pyriformi muscle to reduce
spasm help temporarily, but do not alleviate the real problem. Prolotherapy of
the hip and lower back strengthens those joints, thus eliminating the
pyriformi muscle spasms.
HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY
In 1994, the National Institute of Health gathered 27 experts in hip
replacement and component parts to evaluate hip replacement. In their report,
they noted that 120,000 artificial hip joints are implanted annually in the
United States. They further stated, "Candidates for elective total hip
replacement should have radiographic evidence of joint damage and moderate to
severe persistent pain or disability or both that is not substantially
relieved by an extended course of nonsurgical management." The National
Institute of health is clearly recommending conservative treatment modalities
prior to surgical intervention.
A concern with hip and
knee replacement is that the replacement part becomes
loose and requires replacement. A loose hip replacement can be treated
successfully with Prolotherapy.
Snapping
Hip Syndrome
This is the injury
that has plagued Joan Benoit Samuelson, the famous track star. Snapping Hip
Syndrome is a clinical entity that causes pain and snapping in the hip joint.
There are several known causes, the most common being the iliotibial band
snapping over the greater trochanter (at the top of your thigh bone). It can
also be caused by snapping of the iliopsoas tendon over the iliopectineal line
(in general the pubic area of the hip bone), the iliofemoral ligaments over
the femoral head (where the thigh bone connects to the hip bone), as well as
other places on the hip bone.
The gluteal muscles
can also make a snapping sound as they go over the greater trochanter. The
psoas tendon can also cause snapping hip as it passes over the hip joint,
producing pain with hip flexion. The question to ask is why is this happening?
The psoas tendon is in the front of the hip joint, the gluteal muscles are
over the hip joint, and the iliotibial band (tensor fascia lata) is on the
side of the hip joint, yet all of these structures are considered part of the
problem? We don't think so.
Hip joint ligament
weakness causes excessive movement of the hip joint and thus the greater
trochanter, since they are connected. This excessive movement of the greater
trochanter would then encroach on the iliotibial band or gluteal muscles,
causing a snapping sound. If the hip joint laxity caused the hip to move
forward it would encroach on the psoas muscle, causing hip snapping with
movement of this muscle (hip flexion). It is easier to explain Snapping Hip
Syndrome as one hip problem versus three separate muscle problems. This also
explains the dramatic results seen with treating Snapping Hip Syndrome with
Prolotherapy.
Prolotherapy is the
treatment of choice for Snapping Hip Syndrome because it gets at the root
cause of the problem, which is hip ligament laxity. Prolotherapy to the
posterior hip capsule and ischiofemoral ligaments generally resolves the
problem if the condition involves snapping of the iliotibial band or gluteal
muscles, because posterior hip laxity is involved in these conditions.
In psoas-muscle-related
Snapping Hip Syndrome, the hip joint is moving anteriorly, encroaching on the
muscle. Prolotherapy to the anterior hip ligaments, namely the iliofemoral
ligament (Y ligament of Bigelow), will tighten the joint and stop the anterior
protrusion of the hip.
Prolotherapy is
extremely effective at permanently resolving Snapping Hip Syndrome because it
repairs the underlying etiology of the problem, hip ligament laxity.
© Beulahland Press
The opinions expressed
here does not necessarily reflect the views of the other member physicians of
getprolo.com.
OTHER ARTICLES BY DR. HAUSER ON
PROLOTHERAPY AND HIP PAIN
HIP
PAIN AND PROLOTHERAPY
GROIN
PAIN, HIP PAIN AND PROLOTHERAPY
 |
Looking for a book about
Prolotherapy?
Prolo Your Pain
Away! details in common
lay language the conditions that can be cured with Prolotherapy
including arthritis,
back
pain,
migraines,
neck pain,
fibromyalgia, spastic torticollis, osteoporosis fracture pain,
whiplash, sports injuries, loose joints,
TMJ,
tendonitis, sciatica,
herniated discs,
and more!
In this new, third edition we included:
►
a new chapter all about the role
of nutrition in controlling chronic pain.
►
we updated the information on the
ingredients used in Prolotherapy solutions including the
up-and-coming platelet derived growth factors, and new research
in the area of Prolotherapy.
Ross Hauser, M.D., & Marion Hauser, M.D.,R.D.
Read more about this book at Amazon.com
|
|
|
The physicians listed in
getprolo.com referral program have paid for membership in the program.
Their listing here does not constitute an endorsement. Books,
Publications, Audio or Video Tapes, Supplements or any other material
offered for sale by physicians listed in getprolo.com are offered by
those physicians and not by getprolo.com. Getprolo.com is not liable or
responsible for any transactions made at those physicians websites or
affiliated sites.
Getprolo.com cannot
guarantee the accuracy of any resources or information from or about the
physicians listed on this website.
The opinions and
statements in this website DO NOT necessarily reflect the opinions of
the physician members of the getprolo.com referral network and are those
of the article author only.
A medical testimonial is intended to
represent that everyone will obtain the same favorable results from a
given therapy. Getprolo.com disclaims any such intention.
Prolotherapy is a medical
technique. As with any medical technique, results will vary among
individuals.
Prolotherapy may not work for you and as with all medical
procedures there are risks involved. These risks should be discussed with a qualified
health care professional prior to any treatment.
This information is
offered for educational purposes only. Do not act or rely upon the
information on this website without seeking independent professional
medical advice.
This site is operated by Beulah Land Corporation.
715 Lake Street Suite 600 Oak Park, IL 60301 ©2001-2009
Beulah Land Corporation |
