Hip
> Synovitis
> Treatments
R.I.C.E.
(Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) and Medication
Home Recovery
To properly cure hip synovitis,
physicians generally prescribe a combination of the
following treatments:
Rest
and activity modification – relative rest is generally
prescribed. You do not necessarily have to stay off
your feet, but you should decrease the duration and
intensity of your walking and running. Switching from
a running sport to swimming or cycling can reduce stress
on your hip's synovial membrane. Changing to
a softer exercise surface, like grass instead of concrete,
can also help.
Contact
sports and activities that require twisting or side-to-side
motion can cause irritation of the joint lining and
usually should be avoided.
Ice
– applying ice to your hip for 15 minutes after
walking or activities can help reduce the inflammation.
Non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory medications, like aspirin or ibuprofen,
are sometimes prescribed to reduce pain and swelling.
Take
your temperature with a thermometer each day to check
for bacterial or viral infections. Call your physician
if your temperature rises above 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Your
physician may schedule a follow-up visit within 24 hours
of the initial visit.
If a combination of the above treatments does not relieve
your heel pain within about three months, your physician
may prescribe corticosteroid injections. Corticosteroids
have strong anti-inflammatory properties when injected
directly into your hip. Some physicians may give you
an injection earlier so you can start rehabilitation
free of pain. However, it is important to be aware of
the potentially dangerous side effects of corticosteroid
injections. As with any type of injection into a joint,
there is the risk of infection. In addition, in high
or repetitive doses, corticosteroids may actually destroy
the hip's articular cartilage and tendons.
The most important component of rehabilitation
for sufferers of synovitis is relative rest. This means
modifying your workouts to avoid the activities that
cause pain. For example, instead of walking or running,
you could swim, bike, or rollerblade. You could reduce
the intensity of your workout by using less resistance
when you bike, or by eliminating hills from a running
workout. Your physician and physical therapist may design
a custom rehab program that will teach you strengthening
exercises to stabilize your hip. Your physician can
tell you whether you need to visit a therapist or perform
exercises on your own. Depending on how serious you
are about the relative rest and physical therapy, you
may be able to return to a normal level of exercise
in three to four weeks. However, the time it takes to
return to activities is highly variable in individual
patients based on your pain threshold and activity level.
You may experience pain while engaged in physical activities,
and it may set back your rehabilitation. The pain is
usually felt during exercises, but can be even worse
afterwards. If pain and swelling increase after stretching
and strengthening exercises, cut back on the intensity
and duration of your workout until you find a comfortable
level. Many people can return to sports and activities
between one and three months after beginning rehab exercises
for synovitis.
The best way to prevent recurring
synovitis is to properly treat the hip problem or disease
that caused synovitis. You may be able to reduce your
chances of recurring synovitis by avoiding a sudden
increase in activities that require repetitive motion,
such as cycling or using a stair-climbing machine. Easing
into an exercise routine after synovitis can help reduce
stress on the synovial membrane and help you avoid irritation.
In the absence of other hip complications, the amount
of caution you should use during activities to prevent
synovitis from recurring depends on your age as follows:
Children
- synovitis usually does not hinder joint function after
an injury. Once synovitis heals, it rarely returns.
Adults
- synovitis may signal that you have sustained some
degree of cartilage damage. Becoming less involved in
strenuous activities, like contact sports or long distance
running, may help prevent future synovitis. But you
do not need to avoid activities or be overly concerned
with prevention unless the underlying cause of your
synovitis was a severe disease or injury that warrants
extra prevention measures.
Seniors
- synovitis may be more problematic later in life, harming
the function of your hip joint, and you should continue
to visit your physician for check-ups after your hip
heals. Because synovitis is a common companion of rheumatoid
arthritis and osteoarthritis, you should strongly consider
cutting back your activity level to avoid situations
that could strain your hip joint.
Weight control is also important. Lightening the load
on your hips helps them to function better. Once your
synovitis has healed, building muscle strength around
your hip can help you avoid further injury. You also
may consider training with a physical therapist or coach
to increase your balance and coordination, which can
help decrease the chances of accidental falls.
|