Hip pain can be frustrating and uncomfortable. This pain can be even more challenging when it begins to disrupt your sleep. If you experience hip pain when lying down, you are not alone. This symptom is fairly common and can often be treated with physical therapy. Your physical therapist can prescribe targeted stretches and apply hands-on techniques to alleviate your hip pain. While physical therapy tends to be effective in treating this pain, it can be helpful to learn more about the potential causes of your symptoms. The care you receive will depend on the specific underlying cause of your pain. Through a comprehensive evaluation, your physical therapist can help identify your condition. This can be a great start to developing a treatment plan for long-term recovery.
Common causes of hip pain when lying down
- Bursitis — A bursa is a small sac that is typically positioned between the joints in certain parts of the body. These fluid-filled sacs work as cushions to absorb the shock of impacts and reduce friction between moving parts. When the bursae are irritated through excess pressure or friction, they can become inflamed. This inflammation is called bursitis. When lying down with bursitis, you may experience hip pain due to the pressure put on your hips while in that position. A physical therapist can help you practice proper sleeping posture and use various treatment methods to reduce the inflammation of your hip bursae.
- Sciatica — Feeling a tingling pain in your lower back, hips and legs when lying down? This pain could be caused by sciatica, which occurs when the sciatic nerve is compressed or irritated. The initial cause of this irritation might be a recent injury such as a herniated disc or bone spur. If you are experiencing pain from sciatica, do not worry — your physical therapist can offer effective pain relief treatment tailored to your needs.
- Arthritis — If you have arthritis, it could be the cause of your hip pain when lying down. Many different forms of arthritis can affect the hip joint. For people with osteoarthritis, the cartilage at the hip joint may be deteriorating. This could lead to uncomfortable bone friction and in some cases hip impingement. While there is no known cure for arthritis, steps can be taken to manage pain from this condition. Taking pressure off the affected joint can help alleviate your pain at the hip. As an effective treatment option for arthritis, physical therapy may be able to help you avoid surgery and pain medication.
- Muscle strain — Straining a muscle around the hips can be a painful injury. After a muscle strain, getting rest is important. However, this can be difficult when you experience hip pain while lying down. Your strained muscle may continue to ache in this position due to residual tension and pressure. With physical therapy, you can address these symptoms and find a good way to manage your discomfort while healing.
- Tendinitis — Tendinitis is the irritation or inflammation of a tendon. The tendons are flexible cords that function to connect your muscles and bones, keeping all the parts of your body working together. The hip tendons may become inflamed for various reasons such as overuse or injury. When you have hip tendinitis, lying down can put pressure on the inflamed tendons, causing pain. Soft tissue mobilization and targeted stretches are some of the top physical therapy treatments available for tendinitis. Working with your physical therapist, you can develop a treatment plan designed to alleviate your tendon inflammation and prevent future flare-ups.
- Hip impingement — Hip impingement is sometimes referred to as femoroacetabular impingement or FAI. This condition occurs when there is abnormal contact at the hip’s ball and socket joint. The issue may be caused by dysfunction in one or both of the hip bones involved. Factors such as arthritis might also be involved. When it comes to managing hip impingement, a physical therapist can utilize strategies such as joint mobilization to help ease your discomfort. Exercises and other techniques can also help restore your hip function.
Forever Fit Physical Therapy & Wellness can help relieve your hip pain when lying down
Experiencing hip pain when lying down can have a major impact on your sleep schedule and daily life. At Forever Fit Physical Therapy & Wellness, we can help you return to comfortable rest. From manual therapy to dry needling, our team offers a plethora of innovative techniques meant to provide lasting relief. With our help, you can work to address your hip pain and improve your overall well-being.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.