Hip Pain: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Care

Hip pain may start in the joint or nearby muscles and tendons ^3,8. It may also come from the lower back, abdomen, or pelvis ³. This can make the source hard to identify.

Pain location and timing can provide useful clues ³. However, symptoms alone cannot confirm the cause. A clinician may need to review your history, movement, and strength ³.

This guide explains hip pain symptoms, common causes, treatment, and when to seek care. It also covers safe home care and key hip pain warning signs.

The hip joins the thigh bone to the pelvis ⁸. This large joint supports body weight, movement, and balance ⁸.

Hip pain can occur near the surface or deep within the joint ⁸. It may also spread toward the groin or lower back ⁸. Symptoms may appear during movement, rest, or sleep ⁸.

Common hip pain causes include arthritis, injuries, bursitis, fractures, and structural joint problems ⁸. Some pain near the hip begins in the spine or another body area ^3,4.

Hip pain treatment depends on the cause and severity ⁸. It also depends on how symptoms affect movement and daily life ⁸.

A short symptom record can help during an appointment. Include when the pain began and whether an injury occurred. Also note which movements, activities, and positions change the pain.

Clinicians often group hip pain by its location ³. The article discusses pain at the front, side, and back of the hip ³.

Front hip or groin pain may come from inside the joint ³. Clinicians call this intra-articular pain. “Intra-articular” means located within the joint.

In younger adults, front pain may involve hip impingement or a labral tear ³. The labrum is a ring of tissue around the hip socket. A tear may cause pain, popping, clicking, or catching during activity ³.

Hip flexor injuries can also cause pain at the front ³. These injuries often follow sports or trauma ³. Abdominal and pelvic conditions can also refer pain to the front hip ³.

Side pain occurs over the outer hip. Greater trochanteric pain syndrome is the most common cause of pain in this area ³. This condition can involve gluteal tendons, bursae, or the iliotibial band ³.

Gluteal tendons join buttock muscles to bone. Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction between tissues ⁸. The iliotibial band is a strong band along the outer thigh.

Back hip pain may arise from the lower spine ³. It may also involve sciatic nerve trapping, hamstring tendons, or deep structures near the buttock ³.

Hip pain may come and go ⁸. It may appear while walking and improve with rest ⁸. Some people notice morning pain or pain while lying on the affected side ⁸.

Hip osteoarthritis often causes hip or groin pain. Morning stiffness may be absent or last only a short time. A clinician may also find reduced hip movement during an examination.

Pain and stiffness can make usual activities harder. Pain may also affect walking, sleep, and daily tasks ^6,8. These effects are important when choosing the next step.

These details can make a symptom record more useful:

A labral tear may cause clicking, popping, or catching during activity ³. Such tears may follow an injury or repeated hip movements ³. Clinicians call these mechanical symptoms.

Weak muscles may change walking or hip control. A clinician may assess gait, strength, movement, and tenderness ³. “Gait” means the way a person walks.

Pain felt near the hip may start elsewhere. Lower spine disease can cause pain around the back of the hip ³. Abdominal or pelvic problems can produce pain near the front ³.

Sciatic nerve trapping may also cause pain near the back of the hip ³. Reduced blood flow through major pelvic arteries is another possible medical cause.

Arthritis can cause hip pain, stiffness, swelling, and joint inflammation ⁸. Arthritis is one possible cause of hip pain ⁸. Types of arthritis include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis ⁸.

Osteoarthritis becomes more common with age. It often causes hip or groin pain and reduced movement. Morning stiffness is often brief or absent.

Clinicians mainly diagnose hip osteoarthritis from symptoms and examination findings. X-rays may add useful information, but they do not make the diagnosis alone.

A normal X-ray does not rule out hip osteoarthritis. X-ray changes without matching symptoms also do not confirm painful osteoarthritis.

A hip strain occurs when a muscle stretches or tears ⁶. Sports and other physical activities can cause strains ⁶. Some strains respond to home care or physical therapy ⁶.

Tendon problems can involve several areas around the hip ³. The gluteal tendons may contribute to outer hip pain ³. Hip flexor injuries often cause pain at the front ³.

Hamstring tendon problems may cause pain behind the hip ³. Tendons are strong tissues that connect muscles to bones.

Repeated strain can also injure the hip joint ⁸. Falls, sports injuries, and vehicle crashes can damage the hip ⁸.

Bursitis is painful swelling of a bursa ⁸. A bursa helps reduce friction between bones and nearby tissues ⁶.

Trochanteric bursitis may contribute to outer hip pain ³. However, outer hip pain can involve more than a bursa. Gluteal tendon disease and iliotibial band friction may also contribute ³.

Clinicians use the term greater trochanteric pain syndrome for this group of problems ³. It is the most common cause of lateral hip pain ³.

Hip fractures often occur after falls, especially among older adults ⁶. These injuries need emergency care and may require surgery ⁶.

A stress fracture can develop after a large amount of physical activity ⁶. Femoral neck stress fractures are linked with overuse in athletes ³. They may also be linked with an energy imbalance in athletes ³.

A femoral neck fracture affects the upper part of the thigh bone. MRI may help identify a suspected stress fracture ³.

Femoroacetabular impingement involves abnormal contact within the hip joint ³. The long name is often shortened to hip impingement.

The problem may cause pain within the hip joint in younger adults ³. Non-arthritic hip joint pain is covered in clinical practice guidelines ².

Hip impingement is a common cause of pain in young adults ³. Symptoms may begin slowly without one clear injury ³. Front hip or groin pain may worsen with hip bending or turning ³.

Labral tears are another cause of front hip pain ³. They may follow trauma, sports, or repeated movement ³. Hip impingement and labral tears often occur together in young, active people ³.

Pain near the hip does not always start in the hip. Lower spine disease can produce pain around the back of the hip ³.

Sciatic nerve trapping and hamstring tendon problems may also cause back hip pain ³. Abdominal conditions can cause referred pain near the front hip ³.

Possible abdominal or pelvic sources include a hernia, bladder problem, or ovarian cyst ³. Appendicitis and an abdominal mass may also cause referred pain ³.

Some blood vessel problems can resemble hip pain. A clinical assessment can help locate the likely source.

A clinician starts with a focused history and physical examination ³. Questions may cover pain location, quality, timing, sports, and past injuries ³.

The clinician may ask whether sitting worsens the pain ³. Labral tears may also cause clicking, popping, and catching ³.

A hip examination may include the following checks:

The abdomen may need examination when front hip pain suggests another source ³. Further tests depend on the history and examination findings.

Some people need imaging to clarify the cause ³. The best test depends on the history and examination findings ³.

For unexplained chronic hip pain, standing X-rays are generally the first imaging study ³. These usually include front views of the hip and pelvis ³.

Ultrasound may help diagnose some hip conditions ³. It can also guide an anesthetic injection into the joint ³. Such an injection may help test whether pain comes from inside the joint ³.

MRI may help detect a stress fracture, tendon tear, or labral injury ³. Specialized MRI may find labral tears without an injected contrast agent ³. Local imaging methods may vary, so clinicians may consult a radiologist ³.

An imaging result alone may not be enough to classify hip pain and mobility impairments ². Clinicians therefore compare images with symptoms and examination findings ^1,2.

This point is important for hip osteoarthritis. A normal X-ray does not exclude the condition. Changes on an X-ray do not confirm painful arthritis without matching clinical signs.

Non-arthritic joint problems also need a combined assessment ³. The guideline recommends considering other diagnoses when symptoms do not fit non-arthritic hip joint pain ².

Mild hip pain may respond to home care when no warning signs exist ^6,7. Rest from painful activity can reduce strain on the hip.

Complete inactivity is not always needed. Gentle movement may continue if it does not make symptoms worse ⁶.

These home-care steps may help with minor symptoms:

Do not force a stretch or movement that increases pain. Home care is not suitable for the emergency signs listed below ^6,7.

Exercise is a first-line treatment for hip osteoarthritis. Physical therapy may improve pain and function in mild to moderate cases ⁵.

Therapeutic exercise can target joint movement and muscle flexibility ². It may also address strength, power, fitness, and movement control ².

A physical therapist can choose exercises based on examination findings ². Education may also help people change activities that increase non-arthritic hip pain ².

Weight reduction can form part of first-line osteoarthritis care when needed. A clinician can help match the plan to personal needs.

Nonprescription pain medicines may ease some cases of hip pain. Listed options include acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen.

Ibuprofen and naproxen are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, often called NSAIDs. Oral NSAIDs reduce hip osteoarthritis pain when no medical reason prevents their use ⁵.

People with chronic kidney or heart disease should avoid NSAIDs ⁵. A clinician or pharmacist can review personal conditions and current medicines.

Acetaminophen may be considered when liver disease is absent ⁵. Prescription opioid drugs are not recommended for hip osteoarthritis because of documented harm ⁵.

A corticosteroid injection can improve pain and function in hip osteoarthritis ⁵. The medicine is placed inside the affected joint.

These injections may improve pain and function for several months ⁵. They may also improve activity, satisfaction, and quality of life ⁵.

Possible risks include infection and rapidly worsening arthritis ⁵. A clinician should discuss the likely benefits and risks before treatment.

Hyaluronic acid injections have not improved hip osteoarthritis pain or function versus placebo ⁵. The cited guideline advises against using them for this purpose.

Some hip fractures may need surgery ⁶. Treatment choices depend on the injury and clinical assessment.

Hip replacement may be considered for severe osteoarthritis symptoms. Specialist review is appropriate when symptoms harm quality of life. It is also appropriate when nonsurgical treatment has not worked.

Surgery is not the first choice for every non-arthritic joint problem. The cited passage does not establish that surgery is better than nonsurgical care for all such conditions ².

Certain symptoms need immediate medical assessment. Seek emergency care now if any of these situations occurs:

Do not drive when severe symptoms make travel unsafe ⁶. Ask someone else to drive or call emergency services ⁶.

Do not force movement when the hip looks deformed. Avoid walking when an injury makes weight-bearing impossible.

Arrange an appointment if pain continues despite suitable home care ^6,7. Medical review is also appropriate if pain worsens or keeps returning ⁶.

Seek routine care when pain affects sleep or usual activities ⁶. Pain that makes movement difficult also deserves medical review ⁶.

Pain that does not improve after two weeks of home care needs assessment ⁶. Stiffness lasting 30 minutes after waking is another reason to contact a clinician ⁶.

Repeated clicking or catching should be discussed during an appointment. These mechanical symptoms may occur with a labral tear ³.

Reduce activities that clearly increase the pain. Continue gentle movement only if it feels safe and does not worsen symptoms ⁶.

Write down pain patterns, recent injuries, and changes in activity. Include any clicking, catching, or stiffness. These details can support the history taken during an examination ³.

Bring any medications you currently take when seeking emergency care ⁶. This gives the care team useful information.

Understanding hip pain symptoms, common causes, treatment, and when to seek care supports safer choices. Pain location may offer clues, but it cannot confirm the cause.

Mild symptoms may improve with rest, ice, warmth, and gentle movement ^6,7. Other cases may need physical therapy, medicine, injections, or surgery ^1,2,5.

Arrange an assessment when pain persists, worsens, returns, or limits daily life ^6,8. If an emergency warning sign occurs, seek emergency care now as directed above.