The hip joint consists of 2 bones, the hip bone and the leg bone. An injury or bruise to one of these bones or the surrounding muscles or tissues is termed a hip pointer. This type of injury is mainly caused due to a sudden blow or hit on the hip which can occur from sports activities such as football, rugby, volleyball, basketball, cycling or skating.
The main symptoms of a hip pointer include:
- Bruising and swelling in the injured area
- Severe pain and tenderness during movement
- Difficulty in movement of the hip joint
- Weakness of the hip and legs
This condition can be diagnosed through a physical examination of your hip joint and performing imaging tests such as X-rays and MRI to confirm the diagnosis and determine the exact position of the injury.
A hip pointer can be treated by rest, using ice packs immediately after the injury to reduce pain and inflammation, bandages to reduce the swelling, and by elevating your hip using a pillow. Your doctor may prescribe NSAID’s to help with the pain and inflammation. You may return to sports slowly following resolution of the injury.
