If Your Hip Pops Out of Place: What You Need to Know Right Now

• Admin
• 14 Aug 2025

If Your Hip Pops Out of Place: What You Need to Know Right Now

A dislocated hip is not just “painful” it can stop you in your tracks. If left untreated, it can cause long-term damage to your joint, nerves, and surrounding muscles. At Shree Sidhivinayak Multi Speciality Hospital, our orthopaedic team has treated countless patients with this injury, and we’ve seen first-hand how the right actions at the right time can make all the difference.

1. Stay Still — Movement Can Worsen the Injury

Your instinct might be to “test” the joint or try to move it into a more comfortable position. Don’t. A dislocated hip is unstable. Even small shifts can damage blood vessels or nerves around the joint.

Instead:

• Keep the leg in the position it’s in.
• Avoid trying to “pop” it back into place yourself.
• Call for medical help immediately.

2. Get Medical Help Without Delay

Time matters. The longer the hip remains out of place, the higher the risk of complications like avascular necrosis (bone tissue death due to poor blood supply). Our emergency orthopaedic team is trained to reduce a dislocation safely, often using sedation to relax muscles and allow the bone to return to its socket without further trauma.

Complications of Delayed Hip Reduction

Delay Time	Possible Complications
6+ hours	Increased nerve injury risk
12+ hours	Greater chance of permanent stiffness
24+ hours	Higher risk of bone tissue death

"The difference between temporary pain and lifelong damage often comes down to how quickly you act."

3. Know the Signs That It’s a Dislocation — Not Just Hip Pain

A severe hip injury is obvious to some, but not to others. You might notice:

• Visible deformity in the hip or leg.
• Inability to move the leg without severe pain.
• Shortening or outward/inward rotation of the leg.
• Numbness or tingling if nerves are affected.

If you’ve been in a road accident, a sports injury, or a major fall, and you notice any of the above, treat it as urgent.

4. Avoid Eating or Drinking Before Medical Care

This one surprises many people. If you need surgery or sedation to reduce the hip, your stomach should be empty to reduce anaesthesia risks. Even if you’re in pain, hold off on food and drinks until a doctor clears you.

5. Plan Your Recovery Early

Once your hip is back in place, recovery isn’t over. You’ll need:

• Rest and joint protection.
• Physiotherapy to restore range of motion.
• Follow-up imaging to ensure healing.

At our hospital, we guide you through each phase. From the first X-ray to your last rehab session, we monitor progress to avoid future dislocations.

Quick Tips Before You Reach the Hospital

• Call emergency services immediately.
• Keep warm! Shock can set in quickly.
• Ask someone to note the time of injury; it helps in treatment decisions.

FAQs

1. Can a dislocated hip heal without medical treatment? 2. How long does it take to recover from a dislocated hip? 3. Is hip dislocation always caused by accidents? 4. Does hip dislocation always need surgery? 5. Why is Shree Sidhivinayak Multi Speciality Hospital recommended for hip dislocation?