Hip Pain FAQs

By Noelina R. | Updated: Mar 14, 2019

Ladies

Menopausal women who suffer from hip pain from unknown causes may wonder where exactly it came from and what they can do to tackle the bothersome symptom.

Continue reading to find answers to your frequently asked questions about hip pain, including what management and treatment options you can take today for long-lasting relief.

Hip pain

What Causes Hip Pain?

In general, hip pain occurs from injury to the hip evoked from defects in the joint or as a result of trauma from high impact and deep bending of the joint. Hip and joint pain can also come about from the repetitive motion of certain movements or be due to health conditions that cause wear and tear on the joints.

However, for women going through significant periods in their reproductive lives, such as menopause, this is not often the cause.

Why Do I Have Hip Pain during Menopause?

The correlation between hip joint pain and menopause is yet to be fully understood. However, research suggests that decreased levels of the anti-inflammatory estrogen is to blame. With fluctuating and decreasing levels of the hormone as reproductivity comes to an end, hip and joint pain ensue. 

Rest assured that increased hip pain during menopause is not necessarily a sign of early osteoporosis.

What Can I Do to Manage Hip Pain?

manage hip pain

Menopausal women who are suffering from hip pain should first look into non-surgical methods to manage the discomfort.

To begin with, hip joint pain can be managed with healthy habits that don't exert the hip joints too much. Avoid practices that can tighten the muscles, thus adding to the pain at the side of the hip. This includes remaining sedentary for too long or crossing your legs. Also, take part in low-impact exercises like yoga, swimming, and Pilates to reduce joint impact.

Also, consider pursuing physical therapy, massage, or stretching to reduce the swelling and pain in the hip joint. Physical therapy will work to strengthen the abdominal muscles, thus aligning the pelvis so as to prevent stress on the hip when moving. Furthermore, you can open up the hips, buttocks, and outer thighs by partaking in stretches that include the butterfly stretch, pigeon stretch, lunges, and various seated stretches. 

How Do I Treat Hip Pain?

treat hip pain

Women who are suffering from menopausal hip pain would be wise to treat the underlying cause of hormonal imbalance for heightened treatment success.

Similar to management, joint pain treatments start with modifying one's behavior by optimizing diet and continuing with aforementioned habits. Boost your intake of foods rich in phytoestrogens in attempt to fill the hormonal gap at fault in addition to antioxidants, which help lessen inflammation. Moreover, decrease consumption of inflammation-producing products, such as processed foods, added sugars, animal fats, and refined starches.

For heightened success, consider the use of alternative medicines, such as phytoestrogenic herbal supplements, which have stronger concentrations of plant estrogens than food, or hormone-regulating herbal supplements, which work with the body to encourage its own hormone production. The latter can be considered one of the safest ways to treat menopausal hip and joint pain because it does not introduce any exogenous hormone into the body.

For those who are suffering from hip pain due to other causes, it would be wise to work with your doctor for a treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Key Takeaways

In sum, menopausal hip pain is caused by fluctuating estrogen levels as fertile years come to an end. Luckily, this discomforting symptom doesn't have to leave women in chronic pain for years to come. Management techniques include partaking in healthy habits that don't exert the joint too much in addition to pursuing physical therapy, massage, or stretching. For increased success, treat the underlying cause of hormonal imbalance by optimizing your diet and using alternative medicines, such as phytoestrogenic herbal supplements or hormone-regulating herbal supplements. Take action today for a smoother tomorrow.

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