How do I Treat Hip Popping?

I have had issues with my hips popping when walking, but never when swimming. This is probably because I swim very gently.

It seems that if I spread my legs far apart and touch the ground, hold it for about twenty seconds, and repeat this movement three or four times, I don’t have issues with my hips. Also, it seems to help when I do a few slow lunges and hold them before walking.

Swimming actually seems to lessen the popping if I do it before taking a walk. I think that the gentle resistance that the water provides lets me lube up my hip joints with easy movements, and this is a great precursor to a more intense workout.

I didn’t even know it was possible to pop your hip bone before I met my husband. He was hit with a backhoe years ago and catapulted through the air, and ever since, he has had hip and back problems.

If he does any dance movements that involve the hips, he feels pain. Sometimes, he feels like his hips are dislocated when he is just lying around. He will rotate at the waist, raise his leg, and pop his hip.

He says that this actually makes the pain go away. So, hip popping isn’t always a negative thing, I suppose, though it doesn’t seem natural.

@fify, @turquoise-- I'm a runner and this happens to me when I overdo my training and don't get enough rest. I went to the doctor for it because I was also afraid of a dislocation. That's how it actually felt to me. I'd be running, suddenly, I'd hear a hip popping sound and this feeling like my hip and leg are moving separately. I never had any pain though.

My doctor assured me that everything is fine. He told me to get some rest, take some time off running, make sure I'm hydrated enough and gave me stretches to do everyday. I followed his directions and the popping disappeared. Now whenever I get hip popping, I know it's time to take it easy.

@fify-- Since when has this been going on? Did you suffer from an injury that might have triggered it? The only way to find out what's going on is to go to a specialist who can diagnose you. I'll hope you'll be able to do that soon.

I don't want to scare you and I'm definitely not an expert. But I have gone through this myself and I fear that you might be dealing with a partial hip dislocation or maybe an injury related hip dysfunction. I had similar symptoms when my hip was partially dislocated, a popping sound in my hip, pain and numbness that seemed to travel. Getting and MR and/or an x-ray would show signs of such a problem.

I emphasize "partial" dislocation, because if it was fully dislocated, you would be in too much pain to even sit in front of the computer. But a partial dislocation or a tear in the surrounding tissue or muscles could cause more minor symptoms.

If that's the case, it can be treated with physical therapy or surgery. Physical therapists can teach you how to get pressure off the hip with certain exercises to treat the pain.

What about if the hip popping isn't related to physical activity?

My hip pops at minimum several times a day. Sometimes it is followed by what seems like hip joint pain that can radiate down my leg. It happens when I'm just sitting down or walking normally. It tends to get worse if I sit still for several hours (at work) or if I walk a lot. But really, it can happen at any time.

I've tried stretches and ice many times, but it doesn't help. I take anti-inflammatory medications or use topical pain reliever sometimes. But since I'm dealing with this every day, I don't want to rely on medications.

What might be causing my hip popping? Do you think there is something serious going on? I don't have health insurance right now, so I'm hoping that this will go away on its own but it doesn't seem like it will. I would appreciate any recommendations.