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Calcifications on the hip: what are they, symptoms and treatment

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

To keep bones and teeth healthy and strong, for muscles to contract properly, for blood to clot, and even for nerves to transmit nerve impulses, calcium is essential. However, any disorder that prevents its metabolism can condition the appearance of calcification in any part of the body, this happens because calcium is not adequately dissolved in the blood.

We speak of calcification in the hip when in the pelvis “something is filling with calcium” and hardening, this is usually a frequent condition and can be noticed after the presence of symptoms, such as intense pain in the area, limitation of mobilization and deformities only in severe cases.

If you want to know more about this topic, we invite you to continue reading this FastlyHealarticle about what are calcifications in the hip, its causes, symptoms and treatment.

What are calcifications in the hip

Calcifications are a fairly common problem in the population that, if not treated in time, can seriously affect our health.

The calcium is an essential mineral for our body which enables:

  • Keep bones and teeth healthy and strong.
  • Allows muscle contraction properly.
  • Promotes blood clotting.
  • It influences the transmission of nerve impulses.

Calcification in the hip occurs when there is excess calcium. This passes into the bloodstream and then tries to be eliminated through the urine, but as it is found in large quantities, the elimination capacity is exceeded, which causes large amounts of calcium to circulate and, consequently, accumulates in tissues or other body areas, such as the pelvis. This calcified segment results in a hardened area.

Calcifications on the hip: types and symptoms

There is a medical classification that distinguishes the different types of calcifications in the hip:

  • Concretions : Formed in the pelvic veins, this type of calcification tends to fill what should be a hollow structure in the hip. Its diagnosis can be made with certainty due to its typical characteristics.
  • Bulkhead : it is rare, but it is also usually located in pelvic blood vessels. It is evidenced as spots or branching paths.
  • Phleboliths : sometimes considered as a type of concretion, they are species of stones formed in the veins of the pelvis.

The normal thing is that the calcifications do not present a specific symptomatology. They tend to be a serendipitous finding during some medical evaluation far from calcification.

However, what makes the presence of calcifications noticeable in this case is their location, presenting:

  • Muscular weakness.
  • Pain in the pelvic area.
  • Cramps
  • Visible deformities only in severe cases.
  • Punctures.
  • Lack of strength.
  • Increased risk of hip fracture.

The presence of any of these symptoms and the evidence of hardened or calcified areas on an X-ray will allow the diagnosis of calcifications in the hip to be diagnosed.

Causes of calcifications in the hip

There are some risk factors that can make us predisposed to suffer from calcifications:

  • Inheritance of hypercalcemia or what is known as a calcium metabolism disorder.
  • Alcohol abuse.
  • Autoimmune diseases.
  • Age.

The presence of calcifications in the hip revolves around one of these two fundamental reasons:

  1. Reaction to injuries : sometimes, calcifications are formed as a bodily reaction to injuries, being in fact a “normal” response in the healing of musculoskeletal injuries. This is a common reason why calcifications may have formed on the hips or other parts of the body.
  2. Disorder in calcium metabolism : hypercalcemia is the main cause for which calcifications can form. It is defined as a high concentration of calcium in the blood related to other conditions, such as hyperparathyroidism. This imbalance in calcium metabolism is reason enough for its consequent accumulation in some part of the body, such as the hip.

Treatment for calcifications in the hip

Fortunately, calcifications can be determined and easily visible on X-rays once they have been diagnosed. It will be necessary for the doctor to indicate the treatment based on its location, the cause that triggered the formation of the calcifications and the associated symptoms.

The treatment of hip calcifications may include:

  • The indication of analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs, first of all, to improve the symptoms associated with calcification
  • Manual stretching therapy and exercises to strengthen muscle tone or electrotherapy, which helps to reabsorb calcified tissue and regenerate healthy tissue.
  • Surgical treatment, previously evaluating the risks and benefits of the operation and the presence of calcifications.

If calcifications are not treated, there is a risk of complications, such as severe bone deformities that greatly hinder body movement.

Calcifications do not discriminate in age or sex, however, it is common for them to become noticeable in advanced age. Do not be scared if you are diagnosed with calcifications in the hip, it is time for your GP to assess you to determine if it is a response to some injury or is due to hypercalcemia in the body.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Calcifications on the hip: what they are, symptoms and treatment , we recommend that you enter our category of Bones, joints and muscles .

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