What Are the Symptoms of a Dislocated Hip?

Motor vehicle crashes can result in injuries like a dislocated hip. It can also be an athletic injury when playing football or doing downhill skiing. It’s also a common injury in older people, with many seniors having a dislocated hip from a fall. This is usually because as we grow older, our bones grow brittle, so seniors are at a high risk of getting a dislocated hip. If you think you or someone you know has a dislocated hip, make sure you get to the doctor right away. Here are some of the symptoms you’ll need to watch out for.

You’re in Pain

Is there pain around your hip? Pain is often an indication that something is wrong, so never dismiss it. Think of it as your body’s early warning system. It tells you when something isn’t going right. If you have pain in or around your hip, schedule an appointment with a hip surgeon in Adelaide the soonest you can. If your joints are painful, if it hurts to move around, you’ll need to have that checked to determine what’s really causing the problem or if it’s really hip pain you have.

You Can’t Move

If you can’t move your hip around, not without feeling any pain, or you can’t move it at all, those are some of the signs that you might have a dislocated hip.

You Have a Physical Deformity

If you ended up with a posterior hip dislocation, then the hip will be short, and it might have internally rotated. On the other hand, if you have an anterior hip dislocation, then you’ll end up with a shortened leg with the foot externally rotated. Either condition can’t be determined without tests, though, so you’ll need to get to the doctor to find out what happened and to get proper treatment.

You Have Muscle Spasms

This in itself isn’t a conclusive sign that you have a dislocated hip. But if this is coupled with everything else on the list, then, the chances are very high that you might have dislocated your hip. If you have muscle spasms after an accident or injury, seek out treatment from the doctor. Don’t dismiss that. Even with little pain, that problem could worsen and lead to other health complications.

What Can I Expect?

During the physical exam, one that your surgeon or doctor will perform to assess your condition, your health care provider will likely use x-rays to get a clear look at the problem. The results will help with the diagnosis. It will confirm whether or not your hip is dislocated. During the test, your doctor will also take this opportunity to look for any sign that you might have other complications associated with the condition. For instance, many patients with a dislocated hip also suffer from femoral artery injuries. That runs from the front of your joint and sciatic nerve that is located in the back of your hip. A full assessment will help turn up any of your injuries other than the dislocated hip.