It can be uncomfortable to sleep for patients with hip pain. Waking up in the middle of the night, tossing and turning, can take a toll on your body. Knowing a few tricks on how to make sleeping with hip pain more comfortable can make all the difference in your physical and mental health!
Knowing the cause of your hip pain is a good first step in relieving your pain. It could be the way you are sleeping or a more serious injury or condition. Seeing an orthopedic doctor who specializes in hip pain will help you get on the right treatment plan as quickly as possible!
Causes of hip pain could include hip arthritis, labrum tear, bursitis, tendonitis, sciatica, and more. These types of conditions require a medical diagnosis by an orthopedic hip doctor. Drs.'s Martin, Price, and Dierckman at Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics all specialize in the hip and can help find the right treatment for your condition.
Other factors not caused by a medical condition could include your mattress or sleeping position. Most hip pain when sleeping is caused by your hips not being aligned while sleeping. A mattress that is either too soft or too hard could be putting stress on the hip joint or not supporting it enough. The way you are sleeping can also play a factor in your hip pain at night. Instead of laying on your side, try to sleep on your back instead for a few nights. It may seem weird at first, but you will adjust after a night or two. If sleeping on your back is not an option, sleep on the side that does not hurt and place a pillow between your knees to keep your hips aligned.
Those who are pregnant often find it difficult to sleep at night. You can use the above techniques to help you sleep at night. You can also look into purchasing a pregnancy pillow.
Your treatments will depend on the diagnosis given by your doctor. However, a few treatments may include:
- NSAIDS (ibruprofen, advil, etc.)
- Physical Therapy
- Dry Needling (alternative form)
- Steroid Shots
- Arthroscopic Surgery
- Hip Replacement Surgery
Physical therapy will be a big help in preventing and treating your hip pain when sleeping. Try doing some low-impact exercises and stretching before bed. This will hip lessen the tightness in your hips. See these exercises for hip pain by clicking here.
If you have tried all the above methods and are still struggling to sleep at night, it may be time to see a doctor. They will help you get back to a full night's sleep by prescribing the correct treatments for your hip. If you are looking for a hip doctor in the Nashville or Franklin area, click here to see our locations and available physicians.
