Snapping Hip Syndrome

As you may have suspected, the number one symptom of SHS is the snapping or popping sound heard when you move your hip. Sometimes, you may not actually hear the snapping, but you will feel a snapping sensation in the hip socket. However, there are other symptoms, particularly if the SHS is more advanced, such as:

• Pain when flexing the hip
• Inflammation that can even feel warm to the touch
• Muscle weakness that shows up sometimes when lifting your leg
• Swelling in the hip joint
• Feeling like your hip is “out of place”
• Feeling stiff or having difficulty with normal daily activity such as rising from a chair or walking

If you have been experiencing any of these symptoms, reach out to NJ Spine & Orthopedic today for the treatment and help you deserve. 

Oftentimes, snapping hip syndrome may not require medical treatment. Your doctor may recommend that you rest your hip until the sensation of snapping or popping has subsided.  This gives your muscles and tendons time to heal. If you are having mild pain in addition to the snapping sound or sensation, your doctor may suggest some over-the-counter pain medications, such as ibuprofen or naproxen. The use of a cold compress placed on your hip may also help with inflammation.  

There are some snapping hip syndrome stretches or exercises that may help you if there is mild pain. It may be recommended that you need physical therapy or your doctor may give you stretches to perform at home. Some of the stretches may include:

• Quadriceps stretch
• Hamstring stretch
• Iliotibial band stretch
• Hip flexor stretch
• Bridges
• Clamshell

If you are uncertain about how to perform the stretches or if you are doing them correctly, a physical therapist may be helpful. A physical therapist can help you strengthen, align, and stretch the muscles and tendons that support your hip.

Other Treatment Options

If physical therapy has not helped or if your pain is still severe, you may need a corticosteroid injection. This injection reduces inflammation in the specific pain-producing area.

It is rare, but sometimes surgery is required in severe cases of snapping hip syndrome. The procedure recommended by your doctor depends on the cause of your snapping hip syndrome.  Common procedures include:

• Iliotibial band release, which is a procedure used to lengthen your iliotibial band to reduce tension for people experiencing pain from external snapping hip syndrome.
• Iliopsoas tendon release, which involves lengthening the iliopsoas tendon for people with internal snapping hip syndrome.
• Arthroscopic hip debridement, which involves a small incision at the hip joint to remove debris for patients with intra-articular snapping hip syndrome.

If you need treatment for SHS, reach out to a medical provider as soon as possible to help alleviate symptoms.

The Experts at NJ Spine & Orthopedic Can Help Your Snapping Hip Syndrome

If you have been suffering with pain and discomfort of snapping hip syndrome, or if your performance has declined because of SHS, our knowledgeable and compassionate staff can help determine the cause of your hip pain and recommend treatment options. Your health and safety are our primary concerns, so we use the latest technology and proven procedures to maximize your comfort. We offer the latest techniques of minimally-invasive procedures that will reduce your downtime and pain.

Contact us online today or give us a call at (866) 553-0612 to schedule an appointment for a free consultation. We also have a caring Concierge Team that will help you do all the heavy lifting, from getting the medical records you need to helping you make sure everything is in line for your appointment.