Hip Pain: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

Pain may be deep in the groin, on the outer side of the hip, in the buttock or down the thigh. It can be aching with walking, sharp when turning, stiff after rest, or worse when lying on one side. Notice whether stairs, sitting, running, getting out of a chair or a recent injury changes it.

Hip pain can arise from the joint, nearby tendons and bursae, bone, or nerves from the back, so location and movement pattern matter.

Get urgent assessment after a fall or direct impact when you cannot bear weight, the leg looks shortened or rotated, or pain and swelling are severe. A hot, swollen hip with fever also needs urgent care. Without these warning signs, book a clinical review if pain persists, disturbs sleep, reduces movement, or changes your walking.

Hip pain is a presentation shared by joint, tendon, bursa, bone and nerve conditions. It does not reveal the diagnosis on its own. The possible causes below follow the scope's alphabetical order rather than a likelihood ranking.

Assessment covers the pain's location, onset, injury history, activity pattern and effects on sleep and walking. The clinician examines gait, hip and back movement, strength, sensation and tender areas. Imaging depends on the examination: X-ray can assess bone and joint changes, while ultrasound or MRI may help evaluate tendons, bursae, cartilage, labrum or other soft tissues.

A plan may combine temporary load adjustment, pain relief advice, physiotherapy and gradual strengthening. Tendon or bursa problems often need improved hip control and a carefully progressed exercise load. Joint, labral, bone or nerve conditions require treatment matched to the finding; some need specialist review. Total Hip Replacement is considered only for selected severe joint damage after other approaches have been assessed.

Build activity gradually, strengthen the hips and trunk, and vary repetitive loading such as running, stairs or deep squats. Keep moving within a comfortable range rather than remaining still for long periods. Use a technique and workload that fit your current conditioning, and respond early to persistent night pain, altered gait or loss of movement.

Record stiffness, clicking, catching, weakness, fever, swelling, bruising, numbness and pain travelling below the knee. Note whether symptoms begin in the back or change with coughing, sitting, side-lying or weight-bearing; these details can help separate hip, nearby soft tissue and nerve patterns.

Seek an assessment when hip pain limits work, exercise, sleep or walking, or when it follows trauma. Bring a timeline of symptoms and the movements that reproduce them. Prompt review helps identify problems that need protection, rehabilitation or further investigation.