Hip Problems, Age 12 and Older

Home Treatment

Home treatment may help relieve hip pain, swelling, and stiffness.

• Rest. Try to rest and protect a sore area. Stop, change, or take a break from any activity that may be causing your pain or soreness.
• Ice will help your 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. Wrap the ice in a wet towel. Do not put the ice right on the skin. Do not fall asleep with an ice pack on your skin.
• Sleep on your unaffected hip with a pillow between your knees, or sleep on your back with pillows beneath your knees.
• Gently massage or rub your hip to relieve pain and help blood flow.
• If the swelling is gone, heat can be put on the area. Moist heat with a hot water bottle, warm towel, or a heating pad set on low may feel good on your hip. You can carefully begin normal activities and gentle stretching.
  • Prone buttocks squeeze, to strengthen the buttocks muscles. These support your back and help you lift with your legs.
  • Pelvic tilts to stretch the lower back
  • Hamstring stretch to stretch the muscles in the back of the thigh
  • Hip flexor stretch to stretch the muscles in the hip that help the hip glide and work smoothly

Medicine you can buy without a prescription

Try a nonprescription medicine to help treat your fever or pain:
Acetaminophen, such as Tylenol Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Ibuprofen, such as Advil or Motrin Naproxen, such as Aleve or Naprosyn Aspirin (also a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug), such as Bayer or Bufferin

Safety tips

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

Carefully read and follow all directions on the medicine bottle and box. Do not take more than the recommended dose. Do not take a medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to it in the past. If you have been told to avoid a medicine, call your doctor before you take it. If you are or could be pregnant, do not take any medicine other than acetaminophen unless your doctor has told you to. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than age 20 unless your doctor tells you to.

Do not smoke. Smoking may delay healing because it interferes with blood supply and tissue healing. For more information, see the topic Quitting Smoking.

Cast care tips

If you have a cast, see cast care tips.

Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment

Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate your 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 20, 2008
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Steven L. Schneider, MD - Family Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
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