Living with Chronic Hip Pain in Vacaville

Chronic hip pain in Vacaville can be managed with rest, ice and heat, exercise, and medication. Even though you can manage it at home, it is still best if you let a doctor examine you.

Doctors would normally recommend people suffering from chronic hip pain manage it at home. In most cases, rest, exercise, and pain management can alleviate your pain and restore your mobility.

The most important thing to remember is that you don't allow your chronic hip pain to make you stay on the couch all day or endure a sedentary lifestyle. Of course, it is best to rest whenever needed but you must find ways to work your hip joint for greater strength and flexibility.

The RICE Method in Vacaville

When you say rice, you're thinking of a tasty dish. But in this case, it is a form of pain management. The most appropriate response to chronic hip pain can be found in the acronym of RICE.

• Rest: Keep in mind that you shouldn't participate in activities that could aggravate your chronic hip pain. If your hips hurt when you run, you can try reducing your distance or switch to walking temporarily. When a force of the movement is causing hip strain, try switching to non-impact activities like swimming. Do these things to take the pressure off your hip but don't ever try to become completely inactive.
• Ice: There are 2 ways that cold compress can help with chronic pain: numb the pain and compress the blood vessels, which reduces inflammation. It is recommended by doctors to apply and remove the ice every 20 minutes. Keep in mind that the ice can make you stiff, so avoid it before exercising or stretching.
• Compression: Applying some light pressure can reduce pain and swell around the hip joint, which is commonly used in knee injuries. Using something like a compression bandage has been shown to help speed recovery.
• Elevation: If you keep the location of the pain elevated above your heart, it can help keep the blood from pooling in the inflamed area. To help elevate your hip, tuck some pillows underneath your buttocks and knees.

Other pain management techniques

Apart from the RICE method, there are several other techniques that can also provide chronic hip pain relief. These include the following:

• Heat: Applying heat can be a good relief for chronic hip pain. Heat should only be used when there is no inflammation or swelling. The best way of doing this is to soak your hip in a hot bath for 15 to 20 minutes or by simply applying a heat pack to the affected joint.
• Medication: There are over-the-counter medications that can help you manage chronic hip pain and swelling. A few good examples are acetaminophens and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen.
• Relaxation Therapy: Doing relaxation therapies like hypnosis, meditation, and yoga are beneficial in dealing with chronic pain. By focusing on sensations like breathing or heartbeat can help you cope better with the pain.

Management with exercise

It is best if you can prevent chronic hip pain from happening in the first place, and exercise is one of the best prevention methods available. Strengthening the muscles around the hip can help reduce the pain. Stretching the surrounding tissue in the hip joint is also proven to be helpful. Also, your hips won't be bearing all the burden from your bodyweight if other parts like the gluteals, hamstrings, quadriceps, and abdominal muscles are stronger.