Does cortisone injection treat hip impingement?

Hip impingement occurs when the bones at the front of the hip come too close during certain movements. Irritation can develop inside the joint and cause groin pain, stiffness, or pain with flexion and rotation. Cortisone placed in the joint may calm that irritation.

If pain improves after a carefully targeted injection, that response can help show that the hip joint contributes to the symptoms. It does not remove extra bone or permanently widen the joint space, so relief may be limited or temporary.

A clinician may combine the examination with imaging and movement assessment. Treatment can include modifying deep squats or other provoking positions, building hip and trunk strength, and working with a physiotherapist on control and mobility.

Discuss the purpose of an injection before proceeding: pain relief, diagnostic information, or both. Follow activity guidance afterward and record which movements improve or remain painful. More detail is available in [Hip Impingement](/conditions/hip-impingement/) and [Cortisone Injection](/treatments/non-surgical-orthopedics/cortisone-injection/).

Arrange prompt review if hip pain follows a significant injury, you cannot put weight through the leg, or the hip becomes hot and swollen. Seek urgent help for fever with severe hip pain, new leg weakness, or numbness affecting walking.

Could the pain come from the hip joint or another structure? What is the injection intended to tell us or improve? Which movements should I change temporarily? What rehabilitation plan follows the injection, and when should persistent symptoms be reassessed?