Pain is the most neglected complaint in females. They considered it to be a part and parcel of their daily routine.
Pain can be very distressing and causes significant discomfort. Pain near hip bone can be transient, but treatment should be sought if it persists for a long time and obstructs daily routine.
When a person complains of pain near the right hip, it is not just limited to a muscular cause, there are some important organs located near the right hip which can cause pain and discomfort. Irrespective of the location, cause of pain should be investigated into and appropriate treatment should be taken.
Causes of Pain Near Hip Bone at Right Side in Females are:
1. Sciatica: The sciatic nerve is the largest one in the body. Sciatica pain occurs due to irritation of the sciatic nerve.
- Pain is felt as a cramp-like, sharp and shooting type of pain which characteristically begins on either side of the back and extends to the thigh or knees on the same side.
- Pain is worse from walking and relieved from applying pressure.
- An x-ray of the lumbosacral spine may show signs of disc compression or protrusion or signs of degenerative changes.
2. Trauma or Injury may cause a dull aching pain. A history trauma may be elicited during case taking. Contusions may be seen on examination.
3. Osteoarthritis: osteoarthritis of the right hip joint is a very common cause of hip pain in women in menopausal age groups.
- This occurs due to depleting levels of calcium in the blood. Lesser calcium in the blood increases the risk of postmenopausal women for fractures.
- In osteoarthritis, degeneration of cartilage occurs and the pain gradually increases with age.
- Pain is worse from moving around and better from rest. Apart from the involvement of bones, tendons and cartilages, pain near the hip bone may occur because of other reasons as well.
4. Appendix: Appendix is a sac like opening towards the end of the large intestine. When a part of stool gets lodged in it, inflammation occurs.
- Symptoms include severe, spasmodic pain with tenderness in right lower side of the abdomen above the hip. Pain is associated with fever, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting.
- Appendicitis can be diagnosed by ultrasound of abdomen. It may be acute or chronic.
- Appendicitis is a serious medical condition. If neglected, the appendix gets perforated and infects other parts of the abdomen (Peritonitis). Surgical removal of the appendix is done to prevent complications.
5. Gastroenteritis: This is inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
- It occurs from consuming contaminated food and drinks. Gastroenteritis is usually self limiting and complaints subside within few days.
- Symptoms include cramp-like abdominal pain before stools, loose motions, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and fever.
- Tenderness is present in the region of the umbilicus and large intestine.
- Gastroenteritis is a clinical diagnosis.
6. Kidney/ Ureteric Stones: These are also called Renal Calculi. Ureters are tubes which carry urine from kidneys to the bladder.
- Pain is spasmodic and in the lumbar region above the hip.
- Ureteric stones cause pain along the ureter when the stone shifts.
- Kidney/ ureteric calculi are associated frequently with symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).
- Symptoms include pain, nausea, vomiting and occasionally blood in urine.
7. Urinary Tract Infection: It is inflammation of the urinary tract. Infection may be present in the upper or lower part of the urinary tract.
- Symptoms include pain near the region of hip bone, high grade fever with chills, increased the frequency of urination and a burning sensation while urinating and vomiting.
- UTI may be diagnosed on routine and microscopic examination of the urine sample.
- UTI occurs more commonly in females due to the close proximity of urethra to the anus.
8. Dysmenorrhea: Also known as Painful Menses. This is one of the most common causes of pain near hip bone in females.
- This pain can occur on both left and right side.
- Pain is spasmodic, colicky and often associated with nausea, vomiting and bloating of the abdomen.
- These complaints may occur 1-2 days before or during menses.
9. Diverticulitis: A diverticulus is a pouch-like structure that forms in the colon (large intestine), and diverticulitis is infection and inflammation of the diverticulus or diverticuli.
- A low-fiber diet is known to be one of the factors responsible for diverticulitis.
- Diverticulitis is a very painful medical condition.
- Pain is cramp-like which is worse on movement. It is often associated with nausea, vomiting and abdominal bloating.
- This condition usually responds to conservative medical management, but if symptoms persist or get worse, surgery may be required.
10. Ectopic Pregnancy: Ectopic means abnormal place or position. Ectopic pregnancy is one which occurs outside the uterus.
- Ectopic pregnancy is a life threatening condition. It is a surgical emergency. It can be detected by an abdominal and pelvic ultrasound.
- Maximum percentages of ectopic pregnancies have found to occur in fallopian tubes. The woman undergoes physical changes similar to that of a normal pregnant woman.
- There are great chances of ectopic to rupture and cause infection within the abdomen (inside of abdomen is a sterile environment)
- Usually, ectopic pregnancies are asymptomatic, but they may also be associated with sudden severe abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding when the ectopic rupture.
- Ectopic pregnancies constitute 10% of all causes of maternal deaths.
11. Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases (PID): This is infection and inflammation of pelvic organs in females.
- PID involves uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes
- Complaints include chronic lower abdominal pain, fever with chills, nausea and vomiting.
- This condition responds well to antibiotics.
- As a complication, PID may cause infertility and ectopic pregnancy.
12. Endometriosis: Endometriosis is a condition where the tissue which lines the uterus from inside, starts growing outside the uterus.
- This condition usually involves female pelvic organs. It is one of the important causes of pain in females.
- Symptoms include severe lower abdominal pain during menses and also while passing urine or motions. Heavy and irregular menstrual bleeding.
- This condition is frequently associated with a possibility of infertility.
13. Fracture of Neck of Femur: Femur is the bone of the thigh and a fracture of this bone occurs commonly in postmenopausal women, especially of elderly age group.
- In post menopausal women, there is rapid calcium depletion in bones. This makes them prone to fractures.
- A history of fall is usually the cause of a fracture of neck of the femur.
- Symptoms include pain and inability to move the affected leg.
- Surgery is the only treatment option for fracture of neck of the femur.
14. Inguinal hernia: Hernia is a condition in which contents of the abdomen protrude through the abdominal wall. An inguinal hernia occurs in the groin region.
- Symptoms include pain at the anterior side of hip bone and discomfort.
- The bulge becomes prominent when the person coughs or strains.
- Persons who have a chronic cough or constipation or those who lift heavy objects frequently have a high risk of developing hernias.
- Surgery is the sole option for treatment. This condition does not respond to medicines.
15. Inflammatory Bowel Disease: This term describes chronic inflammatory conditions of the intestine.
- Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease come under the term IBD.
- These are chronic inflammatory states which affect and erode the normal lining of intestines which causes significant loss of healthy gut flora.
- Complaints include chronic diarrhea with bloating and abdominal pain before stools.
- Crohn’s disease involves sections of intestines and spares healthy intermittently.
- Ulcerative colitis involves a considerable length of the intestine.
Dr. Himanshi is a Homoeopathic consultant and currently working as a lecturer in Post-graduate faculty of Homeopathy, Parul University, Vadodara. Completed BHMS and MD in Homeopathy in January 2018 and also has a clinical experience of about 6 years. Personal interests include reading, spending time with family and traveling.
