What Can Cause Hip Pain at Night & How to Relieve it?

Night time hip pain can be caused due to a variety of reasons ranging right from sleeping on a poor mattress to muscle tightness to certain medical conditions like Hip Bursitis.¹ Thus if you are suffering from Hip Pain at Night that goes away in the morning, it is recommended to first determine a cause of the pain and then try and eliminate the cause so that you can get a restful sleep at night.

Some of the Common Causes of Hip Pain at Night are:

This is one of the most common causes of Hip Pain at Night. This is more so for people who like to sleep on their sides. If the mattress in which they sleeping is either too hard or too soft which does not suit the posture that they sleep in then it may result in night time hip pain. The reason behind this being if the spine and the hips are not in a comfortable position or well aligned while sleeping then it tends to put too much strain on the hips and spine resulting in pain and discomfort.

An individual with a stiff lower back is predisposed to having pain in the hips. This is because of the excessive strain that is put on the hip joint due to a low functioning spine. This pressure is intensified when sleeping at night and can cause hip pain at night.

This is a medical condition in which there is degeneration of the bones and joints with normal wear and tear of everyday activities. Osteoarthritis is usually seen in people above the age of 50. Sometimes, the condition gets aggravated due to some strenuous activity and the inflammation tends to get worse at night when sleeping resulting in Hip Pain at Night.¹

If the muscles around the hip and the lower back are tight then it may put extra pressure on the hip joint when the joint is moved in certain positions. This may also result in Hip Pain at Night.

Some of the Other Serious Causes of Hip Pain at Night Include:

• Hip Joint Sprain
• Hip Bursitis
• Hip Tendinitis
• Hip Arthritis
• Avascular Necrosis
• Hip Joint Dislocation
• Hip Joint Fracture
• Hip Labral Tear

Mentioned above are some of the common causes of Hip Pain at Night. Depending on the causes, you may go for a treatment to get rid of night time hip pain. Treatments can range from home exercises to a visit to a physical therapist. In some cases, just changing the mattress may suffice to get rid of hip pain at night.

Below mentioned are some of the ways to relieve hip pain at night:

In case if you are having Hip Pain at Night due to a poor mattress then try sleeping on another bed. If you experience no pain then it confirms that the mattress was the primary cause of hip pain at night and just changing the mattress to the one that suits your posture of sleeping should be good enough to relieve hip pain while sleeping. You can try foam or latex mattresses instead of a spring mattress to help relieve hip pain at night.

Having a good sleep protocol is the key to avoid having hip pain at night. In order to get a good restful sleep at night you need to make certain lifestyle changes like avoiding drinking any caffeinated beverages at night just before going to bed. You can try going to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time each day. Try and abstain from drinking alcohol before bedtime.

It is also recommended not to use any sleeping pills to get sleep and allow the sleep to come on its own. It is also recommended not to watch TV or use a computer at bedtime. Maintain an ambience that is peaceful and allows you to sleep peacefully. All these things will not only give you a good night’s sleep but will also help in relieving hip pain at night.

In case if you have a stiff hip muscles or lower back muscles which may be causing hip pain at night then slight stretching of the hip and low back can help relieve hip pain while sleeping. However, it is recommended that you consult with your healthcare provider before beginning any stretches at home so as to not aggravate the condition and worsen your hip pain at night.

This is also a good way to relieve hip pain at night. You can ice the hip joint using ice cubes wrapped in a towel for 15-20 minutes before going to bed to help relieve hip pain at night.

In case if the hip pain at night is caused by the ordeal that your hip goes through everyday, especially when you are working in construction or are a manual laborer where you have to bend and lift heavy items repetitively then all you need to do is take some antiinflammatory and rest for a few days to relieve hip pain while sleeping at night.

In most cases of hip pain at night, it is the activities that are done during the day that is the main culprit. Thus, you need to identify the activities that you do during the day which may put pressure on the hip joint causing nighttime hip pain while sleeping.

Once you have identified the cause then refraining from those activities for some time or taking frequent breaks while doing those activities may lessen the load on the hip joint and relieve Hip Pain at Night. Instead you can try swimming or biking and other low impact activities that put less strain on the hip joint causing Hip Pain at Night.

You can also take an NSAIDs in the form of ibuprofen or Tylenol after consulting with your healthcare provider to relief from hip pain at night.¹

In some acute cases of Hip Pain at Night, your physician may refer you to a physical therapist who can formulate specific exercises to help strengthen the hip muscles and joints and thus relieve hip pain at night.

Learn about the Different Treatment Option for Hip Pain at Night caused due to medical conditions like Hip Sprain, Hip Bursitis, Hip Arthritis, Avascular Necrosis, Hip Tendinitis, Hip Dislocation and Fracture.

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