Hip Problems, Age 11 and Younger

Home Treatment

Home treatment may help relieve your child's hip pain, swelling, and stiffness. If your child will cooperate, use the following tips. If your child becomes upset or will not cooperate, do not force your child.

• Rest. Have your child rest and protect the sore hip. Have your child stop, change, or take a break from any activity that may be causing pain or soreness.
• Ice will help your child's pain and swelling. Put ice or cold packs on the sore area immediately. Put ice on for 20 minutes out of every hour and do this 4 or more times in the first 1 to 2 days. If your child is cooperative, use the ice often. If your child is not cooperative, use the ice as much as you can without struggling with your child. Wrap the ice in a wet towel. Do not put the ice right on the skin. Take the ice off if your child falls asleep.
• Put your child on the side that does not have a problem for sleep.
• Gently rub your child's hip to relieve pain and help blood flow.
• If the swelling is gone, heat can be put on the area. Your child can carefully begin normal activities. Moist heat with a hot water bottle, warm towel, or a heating pad set on low may feel good to your child.

Medicine you can buy without a prescription

Try a nonprescription medicine to help treat your child's fever or pain:
Acetaminophen, such as Tylenol Ibuprofen, such as Motrin or Advil Talk to your child’s doctor before switching back and forth between doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen to treat a fever. When you switch between two medicines, there is a chance your child will get too much medicine.

Safety tips

Be sure to follow these safety tips when you use a nonprescription medicine:

Carefully read and follow all labels on the medicine bottle and box. Give, but do not exceed, the maximum recommended doses. Do not give your child a medicine if he or she has had an allergic reaction to it in the past. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than age 20 unless directed to do so by your child's doctor. Do not give naproxen sodium (such as Aleve) to children younger than age 12 unless your child's doctor tells you to.

Cast care tips

If your child has a cast, see cast care tips.

Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment

Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate your child's symptoms if any of the following occur during home treatment:

• Pain or swelling develops.
• Signs of infection develop.
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness develops.
• Pale, white, blue, or cold skin develops.
• Symptoms do not get better with home treatment.
• Symptoms become more severe or more frequent.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: September 15, 2008
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Steven L. Schneider, MD - Family Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
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