Why Do I Have Sudden, Sharp Hip Pain That Comes and Goes?

Examining Reasons For Intermittent Hip Pain in Females

Many women experience hip pain flares described as sudden, sharp sensations that then dissipate. What causes this temporary but disruptive hip pain? Here we explore some underlying reasons and treatments for hip pain that comes and goes.

Arthritis

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis commonly trigger sharp hip pain in women, especially as they age. The cartilage protecting the hip joint bones breaks down, causing bones to rub together. This leads to sudden pain when moving certain ways.

Anti-inflammatory medications, strength training, weight loss, and sometimes surgery provide relief. Doctors may also recommend canes, walkers, or braces to reduce arthritis hip pressure.

Tendonitis

Inflammation of hip tendons, called tendonitis, also frequently causes stabbing hip pains. The tendons become irritated and swollen, putting pressure on joint areas and nerves.

Rest, ice packs, NSAID pain relievers, physical therapy stretches, and cortisone injections help ease tendonitis flare ups over time. Surgery removes damaged tissue if other approaches fail.

Snapping Hip Syndrome

Snapping hip syndrome involves tendons around the hip joint slipping over bone or catching against other tissue. This leads to sudden, sharp clicking, snapping or popping sensations.

Adjusting activities, physical therapy, strength exercises, and steroid injections aim to resolve the mechanical problems causing snapping. Surgery removes obstructing tissue if needed.

Endometriosis

Women with endometriosis experience uterine-like tissue growing outside the uterus, often behind organs near hip joints. This tissue swells and bleeds during menstruation, triggering inflammation and abrupt stabbing hip pains.

Hormone therapy, pain medications, or laparoscopic surgery helps manage recurring hip endometriosis flare ups. Hysterectomy eliminates the menstrual cycle’s influence on symptoms.

Other Causes of Sudden Hip Pain in Females

Beyond arthritis, tendonitis, and female-specific conditions, various other issues prompt temporary hip pain in women. Understanding exact causes guides proper treatment.

Muscle Strains

Pulled hip flexor, hip abductor, and other hip muscles cause moderate to severe pain depending on strain severity. Usually some activity requiring forceful muscle exertion leads to the strain.

RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) for several days helps most strains. More serious muscle tears occasionally need immobilization through casting or surgery.

Bursitis

Inflammation of fluid-filled bursae sacs cushioning hip bones leads to sudden pain when hip joints bend certain ways. Lying on the side, walking, or climbing stairs typically aggravates bursitis.

Icing the hip, NSAID pain relievers, injections, physical therapy, and mobility assistance devices help alleviate bursitis flare ups as underlying inflammation is treated.

Kidney Stones

Sharp hip and pelvic pain occasionally stems from kidney stones becoming lodged in narrow ureters traveling from kidneys to bladder. The backed up urine stretches ureters and surrounding internal tissue.

Pain medication, drinking more fluids, ultrasound shock wave treatments, or surgery provide relief from large stuck kidney stones. Preventative diet changes reduce recurrences.

When to Seek Emergency Hip Pain Care

While most intermittent hip pain ultimately proves musculoskeletal or inflammatory in nature, two scenarios warrant urgent medical attention:

Blood Clots

Sudden, severe unexplained hip pain could signal dangerous blood clot formation, especially if other clotting signs like leg swelling or calf pain occur. Clots can break off and cause strokes or heart attacks.

Those experiencing potential clotting undergo doppler ultrasounds and often begin taking blood thinners if clots found. Preventative blood thinners sometimes prescribed after clot incidents.

Spinal Issues

Unrelenting hip pain, numbness, or weakness affecting both legs may indicate spinal problems like herniated discs pressing on spinal nerves. Spinal issues require rapid treatment to prevent nerve damage.

MRIs confirm spinal disorders. Many receive cortisone injections, try nerve pain medications, or undergo physical therapy. Surgery repairs damaged discs in more serious cases.

When Hip Pain Signals Arthritis

Pinpointing what causes temporary hip pain guides treatment approaches. However, recurrent flares or increasing pain duration provide clues joint arthritis develops.

Assessing Arthritis Signs

Hip arthritis tends to cause gradually worsening aches concentrating in the groin and front hip area first. Over time, pain interferes with more activities and lasts longer during flare ups.

Noticing these patterns should prompt women to talk to doctors about x-rays or MRI scans assessing arthritis progression. Blood tests help rule out inflammatory types of arthritis.

Slowing Arthritis Progression

Catching hip arthritis early maximizes treatment success rates before irreparable cartilage erodes. Losing weight, strengthening hip muscles with exercise, using mobility aids, trying injections, and considering surgery all help slow advancing arthritis.

While all hip pain causes require accurate diagnosis, paying attention to patterns provides the opportunity to adjust lifestyle factors and seek treatment if arthritis develops.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.