Hip Pain While and After Sitting: Main Causes

In some cases, hip pain while sitting and after sitting can be worse than when weight was placed on the hip. The most frequent causes include diseases and conditions such as arthritis, bursitis, and hip impingement; and injuries such as sprains and strain, and labral tears in the hip joint’s cartilage. Treatment for these conditions varies but usually revolves around the alleviation of pain.

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Possible Causes of Hip Pain After Sitting

There are numerous conditions that you could have if you are experiencing Hip pain, and this section will cover the most common.  Note that there are literally hundreds of potential Hip injuries that you could have.

Arthritis

Arthritis is characterized by pain and stiffness in the joints caused by inflammation in those areas. Sufferers of arthritis experience mild to severe pain in the affected joints, which can be exacerbated by long periods of inactivity. Sitting for extended periods of time can cause pain in the hip after sitting for those whose arthritis is affecting the ball-and-socket joint of the hip.

There are several types of arthritis that are rooted in different causes. The most common is osteoarthritis, which is the breakdown of cartilage caused by normal wear on the hip joint; and rheumatoid arthritis, where the body’s immune system attacks tissues in the joints. Treatment will vary depending on the kind of arthritis, but it usually revolves around reducing pain and inflammation in the hip joint and improving joint functionality.

Bursitis

The bursa is a fluid-filled sac found between the bones of your joints, and their normal function is to reduce friction during movement. When they become irritated or inflamed, this causes the condition of bursitis. When present in the hip, this results in a dull ache in the area, which can turn into a sharp hip pain after sitting for long periods of time. This can be treated with rest and cold compresses. Physicians may also recommend medications to help with the swelling, and, in some rare cases, steroid injections or surgery.

Hip Impingement

Hip impingement is what happens when the two bones of the hip joint rub against each other. This can cause injury to the surrounding tissues, resulting in pain in the hip when sitting, and may lead to full-fledged arthritis if left untreated. As this is usually caused by congenital abnormalities in the shape of the hip bones rather than infection, treatment commonly involves physical therapy to strengthen muscles and improve flexibility. In extreme cases, surgery may be recommended.

Sprains and Strain

Sprains and strain in the hip muscles, as well as the supporting tendons and ligaments, are caused by forcing them into positions beyond their normal range of motion. While in severe instances, surgery may be required to repair the damage, it is far more often than a sprain can be treated with rest, cold compresses, and over-the-counter pain medications. Hip pain when sitting will be experienced while treatment is still underway.

Hip Labral Tears

Hip labral tears are injuries to the hip joint’s cartilage. The symptoms are usually subtle and may include deep hip pain while sitting. Since it is usually caused by injury, whether this results from normal activities or sudden traumatic incidents, treatment may vary, though it will commonly involve physical therapy and pain medication.

Osteonecrosis

This isn’t a very likely condition, but you may have poor blood flow causing the early stages of osteonecrosis.  When there isn’t enough blood flow to bones they can die, and the first stage is a pain.  Depending on how you’re sitting there may be a lack of blood flow to your Hip which highlights the pain.

Sciatica

If you have a chronic pain that is more of a dull pain or burning sensation than anything you may have sciatica.  It occurs when there is something interfering with your Sciatic nerve, which runs along the back of your leg.  It’s possible for this nerve to get pinched or for it does be placed under stress when sitting.

Hip Flexor Tendonitis

It’s not only your Hip joint that may be vulnerable.  The Hip Flexor consists of several muscles near the Hip joint along with tendons.  If these tendons become inflamed they can press against nearby structures and cause pain, which is possible while sitting.

How to Treat Hip Pain after Sitting

The first and only concrete advice I can give you is to go see a qualified doctor.  Hip pain is not something you want to be guessing about.  Have you doctor diagnose the problem with the proper equipment, this isn’t something you can be sure of over the internet due to the complexity of the Hip region.

In general, you can do these things to help manage your hip pain after sitting:

  • Anti-inflammatory pills to reduce inflammation; take according to label instructions
  • Relax: Limit activity until you have seen a doctor.

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