WORRIED ABOUT HIP PAIN

Q Recently, I’ve been experiencing a lot of pain in my left hip. I don’t want to bother my GP unnecessarily, but I’m worried as my mum had osteoporosis, which I understand can run in families. Should I ask my GP for a scan?

A Your family history of osteoporosis does increase your risk of developing the condition, as does smoking, drinking to excess, being underweight and having been on steroids. However, osteoporosis is often referred to as a ‘silent disease’ because it doesn’t cause any symptoms until the bones become so thin that they break. Your GP will want to know about your hip pain and will assess your risk of osteoporosis at the same time to decide whether you need a DEXA scan, so ensure you make an appointment.