Hip pain relief only comes after one finds the root cause of the pain. Hip pain can be the result of trauma from a direct impact, or it can be due to conditions such as arthritis, sciatica, bursitis, or even muscle strains or ligament sprains. Pain in the hips can even be a result of tightness or strain in the legs or lower back, so identifying the area causing the problem is the first step in hip pain relief. Exercising regularly to keep the muscles of the legs and hips limber and strong can also help relieve hip pain and prevent it from recurring in the future.
Conditions such as sciatica can often be remedied by allowing plenty of rest and then participating in a regular exercise program that keeps the muscles surrounding the sciatic nerve limber and strong. Hip pain relief in this case means addressing the muscles, bones, or other parts of the body that are causing compression on the sciatic nerve. When the sciatic nerve becomes compressed, it causes a shooting or sharp pain anywhere from the lower back all the way down the legs; very often the pain can be felt in the hips. In some cases, such compression can be caused by a herniated disc in the spine, which will require the sufferer to rest adequately in order to allow the disc to heal.
Some medications can provide hip pain relief for some conditions, though in most cases, medication has more to do with pain management than solving the problems causing the pain. Steroids and anti-inflammatory medication are often prescribed to help relieve pain associated with arthritis or sports injuries, and while these medications are a temporary fix, they can provide enough pain relief that the sufferer can participate in regular day to day activities and even perform light to moderate exercise.
If the hip pain is severe, hip pain relief might only come after the sufferer has visited a doctor for a thorough diagnosis. Hip bursitis is a condition that, in many cases, only a doctor would be able to diagnose, and the treatment for it is relatively simple. It may include draining the fluid in the bursa, or small fluid-filled sac, causing the pain. In more severe cases, such as severe arthritis, fractures, or other conditions that can cause degradation of the hip, hip replacement surgery may be one of the only options to provide hip pain relief. This involves partial or full removal of the hip joint and replacement with a prosthetic hip. The recovery time for such a surgery will be significant, and while the results are usually positive, complications may arise.