Now accepting Telehealth appointments. Schedule a virtual visit.
Skip to main content

Hip Pain Specialist

Blake Fenkell, D.O. -  - Orthopedic Surgeon

Blake Fenkell, D.O.

Orthopedic Surgeon & Arthroscopy & Sports Medicine located in Troy, MI

Up to 40% of adults who play sports experience hip pain — and it’s also common in other adults, especially as they age. At Blake Fenkell, the private practice of orthopedic and sports medicine specialist Blake Fenkell, DO, you can get the skilled care you need to escape the pain and enjoy normal activities again. Call the office in Troy, Michigan, or click on the provided booking tool to arrange your appointment now.

Hip Pain Q&A

What causes hip pain?

The most common causes of hip pain include:

Hip arthritis

Osteoarthritis, a disease involving cartilage wear-and-tear in your joints, is quite common in the hips and other weight-bearing joints. This type of arthritis can cause a deep pain that typically occurs in one hip, although it may affect both.

Hip arthritis is more common in adults once they reach their 60s, and it’s one of the leading reasons for hip pain and disability in older adults. 

Bursitis

Bursitis occurs when you develop inflammation in one of the liquid-filled sacs between your bones and soft tissues. This condition can occur in either of the two major bursae in your hip. 

The most common kind of hip bursitis occurs in the bursa that covers the point of your hip, but it can also affect the bursa in your groin area. Hip bursitis is most common in women and in people over 40.

Snapping hip

Snapping hip happens when a muscle or tendon passes over the point in your hip, making a snapping or popping sound as you move. This may happen in the course of ordinary movements like rising from a sitting position, during strenuous exercise, or both. 

Snapping hip can affect anyone with tendon and muscle tightness in the area around the hip joint. It’s particularly common in athletes who frequently bend at the hip. Snapping hip may lead to bursitis.

Hamstring tears

Your hamstring muscles start at your hip and move down the back of your thigh. A hamstring tear usually causes upper leg pain but may also lead to hip, buttock, and groin-area pain. 

Hamstring tears are most common in athletes, especially those who sprint. Young athletes may experience hamstring injuries due to growth spurts in which bone growth may outpace muscle growth.

Many other issues can occur in your hips as well. Dr. Fenkell can evaluate your hip pain and find the cause.

How is hip pain diagnosed?

Hip pain diagnosis involves a medical history review, symptom review, and a gentle hands-on hip exam. 

Dr. Fenkell commonly requests advanced imaging tests, such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasounds, to look for causes of hip pain that don’t appear during a physical exam.

How is hip pain treated?

Dr. Fenkell prescribes nonsurgical hip pain treatment options whenever possible. He understands that you’re looking for a solution that doesn’t require excessive downtime, and in most cases a combination of nonoperative approaches can help.

Some of the most common nonsurgical approaches for hip pain include physical therapy, mobility aids, short-term oral medication, weight loss, lifestyle changes, and corticosteroid and anesthetic injections.

Depending on the cause of your hip pain, precision medicine treatments, such as platelet-rich plasma injections, could be a powerful option for accelerated healing. 

If you have a severe hip injury and you’re unable to heal on your own, Dr. Fenkell may recommend hip surgery. He’s a highly trained surgeon with broad-ranging skills in minimally invasive surgery, so he can recommend an approach that resolves your hip pain with the shortest downtime possible. 

Hip pain is a battle you can win. Call Blake Fenkell, or book your appointment using the online scheduler to get help now.