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How to Treat Pain Before a Hip Replacement
- 1). Try over-the-counter pain relievers. Acetaminophen pain relievers, such as Tylenol, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, can help relieve pain and swelling. Often, hip pain will make it difficult to sleep. In these situations, consider taking an over-the-counter pain reliever with a sleep aid. Try sleeping on your non-painful side with a pillow between your knees.
- 2). Start an exercise routine. Depending on the cause of your hip pain, strengthening the muscles that surround your hip joints may help reduce the pain. These exercises should be low impact exercises, such as swimming, water aerobics or riding on a stationary bike. Stretching before you exercise will help to increase the range of motion in your hip joint and thus reduce pain. An example of a stretch that can improve the range of motion in your hip joint is a straight leg raise. As always, you should consult your doctor before beginning an exercise routine.
- 3). Ice your hip. Apply something ice-cold, such as a bag of frozen vegetables, onto your hip for 15 to 20 minutes several times a day to help reduce hip pain.
- 4). Consider getting a hip injection. Hip injections can alleviate discomfort associated with hip pain by releasing cortisone into the joint which reduces inflammation. Moreover, a hip injection can help diagnose the source of the hip pain.
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