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Hip Injury

Is this your symptom?

Injury to the hip
Injuries to a bone, muscle, joint or ligament
Excluded: muscle pain caused by too much exercise or work (overuse). Covered in Hip Pain care guide.

Types of Hip Injuries

Fractures. Fractures are broken bones. They can be caused by a direct blow, twisting injuries or falls/jumps from a height, even when landing on the feet. The hip is a strong joint surrounded by thick muscles. It takes a lot of force to break the hip unless the bone has been weakened from aging or problems such as bone cancer. Hip fractures are more common in older people who have osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) if they fall. If the hip is broken, the injured leg may look shorter than the other leg and the foot is turned out. The person may not be able to put any weight on the leg.
Dislocations. This happens when a bone is pulled out of its joint socket. Dislocation of the hip is not common, but can happen in people who have had a hip replacement in the past. Dislocations can affect blood flow to the leg and need immediate care.
Sprains. Sprains are stretches and tears of ligaments. These can occur in sports injuries when ligaments around the joint are stretched and pull away from the bone they are attached to, or even snap.
Strains. Strains are stretches and tears of muscles. These can range from minor to severe tears, causing a lot of pain, swelling and bruising.
Muscle Overuse. Muscle pain can occur without an injury. There is no fall or direct blow. Muscle overuse is from hard work or sports.
Muscle Bruise from a direct blow.
Bone Bruise from a direct blow.
Skin Injury. Examples are a cut, scrape or bruise. All are common with leg injuries.

Pain Scale

Mild: you feel some pain, but it does not keep you from most normal activities. Work, chores and sleep are not changed.
Moderate: the pain keeps you from doing some normal activities. It may wake you up from sleep.
Severe: the pain is very bad. It keeps you from doing all normal activities.

When to Call for Hip Injury

When to Call for Hip Injury
Call 911 Now The hip has been crushed Major bleeding that can't be stopped Bone or object is sticking through the skin Hip looks crooked or deformed Can't move the hip or put any weight on the leg You think you have a life-threatening emergency Call Doctor or Seek Care Now Severe pain, causing you to walk with a limp (can't stand with full weight on the leg) Sudden increase in pain and/or more swelling a few days after the injury Skin is cut and No past tetanus shots Severe swelling You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent	Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours Increase swelling and/or pain around wound Very large bruise or swelling Pain not starting to get better after 3 days Dirty cut or hard to clean and no tetanus shot for more than 5 years Clean cut and no tetanus shot for more than 10 years You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent Contact Doctor During Office Hours Pain lasts more than 2 weeks Injury limits work, sports, or school You have other questions or concerns	Self Care at Home Sore muscle or bruise from direct blow Minor hip injury

Call 911 Now

The hip has been crushed
Major bleeding that can't be stopped
Bone or object is sticking through the skin
Hip looks crooked or deformed
Can't move the hip or put any weight on the leg
You think you have a life-threatening emergency

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

Severe pain, causing you to walk with a limp (can't stand with full weight on the leg)
Sudden increase in pain and/or more swelling a few days after the injury
Skin is cut and No past tetanus shots
Severe swelling
You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

Increase swelling and/or pain around wound
Very large bruise or swelling
Pain not starting to get better after 3 days
Dirty cut or hard to clean and no tetanus shot for more than 5 years
Clean cut and no tetanus shot for more than 10 years
You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

Pain lasts more than 2 weeks
Injury limits work, sports, or school
You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

Sore muscle or bruise from direct blow
Minor hip injury

Care Advice for Minor Hip Injuries

What You Should Know About Minor Hip Injuries:
- During sports and daily activites, muscles and bones can get bruised.
- Muscles get stretched.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Pain Medicine:
- To help with the pain, take an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
- Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil). Ibuprofen works well for this type of pain.
- Use as needed, but do not take more than the maximum recommended dose as listed on the package.
- If you are not sure what to take, ask a pharmacist.
Small Cut or Scrape Treatment:
- Use direct pressure to stop any bleeding. Do this for 10 minutes or until bleeding stops.
- Wash the wound with soap and water for 5 minutes. Try to rinse the cut under running water, if possible, or in the shower.
- Gently scrub out any dirt with a washcloth.
- Use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin). No prescription is needed. Then, cover it with a bandage. Change daily.
Cold Pack for Pain:
- For pain or swelling, use a cold pack. You can also use ice wrapped in a wet cloth.
- Put it on the sore muscles for 20 minutes.
- Repeat 4 times on the first day, then as needed.
- Reason: helps the pain and helps stop any bleeding.
- Caution: avoid frostbite by wrapping the ice pack. Do not put ice directly onto the skin.
Use Heat After 48 Hours:
- If pain lasts more than 2 days, put heat on the sore muscle.
- Use a heat pack, heating pad or warm wet washcloth.
- Do this for 10 minutes, then as needed.
- Reason: increase blood flow and improve healing.
- Caution: avoid burns by wrapping the heat pack. Do not place it directly onto the skin.
Rest the Hip:
- Rest the injured leg as much as possible for 48 hours. Keep the toes and other joints moving gently if you can.
What to Expect:
- Pain and swelling most often peak on day 2 or 3.
- Swelling should be gone by 7 days.
- Pain may take 2 weeks to fully go away.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Pain is not better after 3 days
- Sudden increase in pain or swelling a few days after the injury
- Pain lasts more than 2 weeks
- You think you need to be seen
- Your symptoms get worse

And remember, contact your doctor if you develop any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.

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