Hip Problems Specialist
-
- Tweet
Michael P. Leathers, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon located in Midtown, Sacramento, CA
No matter what’s causing your hip problems, the pain it inflicts can severely limit and impact your daily life. Michael P. Leathers, MD, is an experienced orthopedic surgeon in Midtown Sacramento, California, who provides specialized services to treat a wide range of skeletal and tissue disorders, including hip problems. For an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment options, call Michael P. Leathers, MD, or schedule an appointment online.
Hip Problems Q & A
What causes hip problems?
Your hip is a ball-and-socket joint that enables your leg to move in multiple directions. Hip problems can affect any part of the hip joint, including your cartilage and ligaments.
Hip problems are usually due to injuries or infections, chronic conditions such as arthritis, or developmental conditions like dysplasia. When you have developmental dysplasia, your hip socket is more shallow than usual, and your hip can easily dislocate.
Active men and women between 20-40 years of age with hip pain are often suffering from hip impingement, though anyone can develop this problem.
What is hip impingement?
Hip, or femoroacetabular, impingement is a problem that occurs when your hip bones have abnormal contact with each other. The most common cause of hip impingement is abnormal bone growth.
When the ball and socket joint in your hip doesn’t function correctly, it creates friction that destroys your cartilage. This cartilage damage from hip impingement increases your risk of degenerative hip conditions such as osteoarthritis or further damage like labral tears.
What is a labral tear?
A labral tear in your hip affects the cartilage of your hip that not only cushions the joint, but it also helps hold your thigh bone in place. This type of hip problem is more common in athletes and dancers, though it can occur from structural abnormalities such as hip impingement.
If you have a labral tear, you might experience pain in your groin or hip, limited range of motion, and a locking, catching or clicking sensation in your hip.
How are hip problems diagnosed and treated?
During your appointment, Dr. Leathers performs a physical examination of your hip, discusses your symptoms, and manipulates your leg for signs of a hip disorder. Based on your exam, he might recommend imaging tests such as X-ray or MRIs to identify the source of your hip problem.
Your treatment strategy depends on your hip problem and its severity. For some conditions, nonsurgical treatments such as pain relievers or therapeutic injections might relieve your symptoms. In other cases, surgeries like hip replacement or arthroscopy might be a requirement.
Dr. Leathers performs hip arthroscopy, a minimally invasive technique that allows Dr. Leathers to identify, diagnose, and treat problems with your hip join. Dr. Leathers also performs hip replacements to restore functionality and reduce your pain by removing damaged areas of your hip and replacing them with artificial pieces.
To find solutions for your hip problems, call Michael P. Leathers, MD, or schedule an appointment online today.
