What to do about a constant sharp, stabbing pain in the hip

The hip’s joints help swing your leg while you’re walking the dog. They also allow you to swing your leg out when getting out of the car and make many other common movements possible. However, even these normal daily activities can be a trial if your hip is painful. 

Unfortunately, people are all too likely to develop hip pain. Medical researchers report that up to 40% of athletes develop chronic hip pain, and up to 15% of adults over 60 also experience pain in this joint. There is one issue that commonly causes constant sharp, stabbing pain in the hip. Luckily, there are also several treatment options that can help you deal with this issue. 

This issue is likely causing the sharp, stabbing pain in your hip

A few issues can cause pain and dysfunction in your hip joints. Hip osteoarthritis and referred pain from the lower back can easily cause hips to be painful. However, people who are feeling sharp, stabbing pains in their hip are likely dealing with an issue called femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). 

FAI occurs when the rim of cartilage around the socket of the hip joint, or labrum, is damaged or torn. Typically, this condition leads to symptoms such as: 

• Sharp, stabbing pain in the groin area or outer hip 
• Discomfort when sitting, particularly in low seats
• Catching, popping, snapping or clicking sensations in the hip

What can you do to reduce the sharp, stabbing pain in your hip?

Surgery is one of the most commonly used treatment options for FAI and the sharp, stabbing hip pain it causes. However, physical therapy is a less invasive option that can offer you several benefits. 

Some of the benefits FAI patients could get from physical therapy include: 

• Improvements in hip pain and function — The International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT) is designed to measure hip pain and function. One study reports that a physical therapy program improved iHOT scores by 16 points on average over 12 weeks. 

• Reduced need for hip surgery — Studies show that physical therapy for FAI can help patients decrease their need for surgery. Researchers from one study report that only 4 of the 37 participants who had physical therapy elected to have surgery. 

Armor Physical Therapy is ready to help treat your hip pain

Do you have sharp, stabbing pain in your hip? Our therapy specialists at Armor Physical Therapy are here to help you. We offer free screenings that can reveal the source of your hip pain. Our team also excels at building personalized therapy plans intended to reduce hip pain. You can even get therapy from home thanks to our virtual care and at-home therapy services, and none of our services require that you have a doctor’s referral. 

Contact us today for more information about how we can help with your hip pain or to schedule an initial appointment.