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Hip dysplasia refers to a condition that affects the ball and socket joint of your hip. The hip doesn’t fully cover the ball of the upper thigh bone, which allows the hip joint to become partially or completely dislocated.
It also leaves your joint vulnerable to serious damage. Without your thigh bone securely in place, the soft cartilage in the socket portion of your hip joint wears down and becomes very painful.
Doctors typically detect hip dysplasia shortly after birth or during infant check-ups, but there are many cases where hip dysplasia goes undetected until adulthood. In fact, mild cases of hip dysplasia often don’t display symptoms until the damage has already been done.
Hip dysplasia develops shortly after birth. When you’re a newborn, your hip joint is made of soft cartilage that eventually hardens into bone. The ball and socket mold to fit together while your joint is still soft.
The womb can often become crowded, causing the ball of your hip joint to move out of place. If the ball isn’t firmly in the correct position, the socket doesn’t form correctly and becomes too shallow.
A few factors contribute to the amount of space available in the womb. For example, a woman’s first child, larger babies, and babies in the breech presentation all carry higher risks of developing hip dysplasia in a cramped womb.
Hip dysplasia in infants and younger children may affect leg length, cause limping, and decrease hip flexibility.
As you get older, however, the wear and tear of hip dysplasia can cause painful conditions like osteoarthritis and hip labral tears. These conditions attack the slippery, cushioning substance in your hip joint called cartilage. Without cartilage, your bones rub against each other painfully.
You may experience significant pain in your hip along with other symptoms like snapping, stiffness, and groin pain.
Most people with hip dysplasia will eventually need hip surgery, but there are some non-surgical treatments available to help you manage your pain and reduce damage.
Dr. Neel Amin begins your treatment plan by conducting a thorough review of your medical history and symptoms and a series of imaging tests. Once he has an accurate diagnosis, he creates your customized treatment plan.
Here are just a few of the most common treatments Dr. Neel Amin recommends for hip dysplasia:
Because hip dysplasia causes tissue damage, it responds well to regenerative medicines like stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. Both of these treatments use the healing power of naturally found substances to help your body rebuild lost and damaged cartilage.
Dr. Neel Amin also recommends physical therapy for hip dysplasia. Engaging in stretching and strength-building exercises help your hip joint cope with any undue stress which can significantly reduce your pain and damage.
He can also prescribe at-home exercise programs that increase your strength and mobility and improve your symptoms.
We offer a variety of interventional injections and blocks that provide quick, lasting relief. Our hip joint injections reduce inflammation and relieve your pain by delivering powerful anti-inflammatory medication directly into your painful hip joint.
This ancient Chinese pain relief technique is also a treatment option for hip dysplasia pain. When inserted strategically, the needles stimulate the central nervous system and regulate your pain response on a chemical level. This is an excellent way to deal with your pain conservatively.
Dr. Neel Amin prioritizes whole-body health over symptom relief. That’s why he also suggests that you make certain lifestyle adjustments like weight management. Losing weight can help relieve stress on your vulnerable joint. Similarly, low-impact and therapeutic exercises can improve your hip’s strength.
Don’t let hip dysplasia sideline you any longer. If you’re ready to stride out pain-free, contact our office or request an appointment online.