Hip pain affects many people and can make daily activities difficult. It often stems from injuries, arthritis, or overuse of the joints. Understanding the cause of your hip pain is the first step toward finding relief.
If your hip pain lasts longer than a week, worsens with activity, or is accompanied by fever, swelling, or inability to bear weight, it’s time to see a hip specialist. These symptoms may indicate a serious condition that requires medical attention.
Common causes include osteoarthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, and hip fractures. Each condition has different symptoms and treatment options. A qualified hip specialist can provide an accurate diagnosis and create a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
Common Causes of Hip Pain
Hip pain can stem from several conditions affecting the joint, surrounding tissues, or even nearby structures.
Osteoarthritis and Degenerative Joint Disease
Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of chronic hip pain, especially in adults over 50. This condition develops when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of bones wears down over time. The hip joint’s smooth surface gradually roughens, causing friction during movement. Patients typically experience pain that worsens with activity and improves with rest.
Common symptoms include:
- Morning stiffness lasting less than 30 minutes
- Pain in the groin, buttock, or thigh
- Decreased range of motion
- Difficulty with daily activities like putting on socks
X-rays often show joint space narrowing, bone spurs (osteophytes), and changes in bone density. Risk factors include advancing age, family history, obesity, and previous joint injuries.
Labral Tears and Hip Impingement
The labrum is a ring of cartilage that surrounds the hip socket, providing stability and cushioning. Tears in this structure can cause significant pain and mechanical symptoms.
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) occurs when the ball and socket of the hip joint don’t fit together perfectly. This improper fit causes friction during movement, potentially damaging the labrum.
Symptoms of labral tears include:
- Sharp, catching pain in the hip
- Clicking or locking sensations
- Pain with certain movements
- Discomfort after prolonged sitting
These conditions commonly affect active individuals and athletes, particularly those who participate in sports requiring repetitive hip flexion. Diagnosis typically requires specialized imaging like MRI arthrography.
Hip Bursitis and Tendinitis
Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction between tissues. When these become inflamed, the resulting condition is bursitis. The most common form affects the trochanteric bursa on the outside of the hip. Tendinitis involves inflammation of the tendons that connect muscles to bones. Both conditions cause localized pain and tenderness.
Key characteristics include:
- Pain that worsens with prolonged walking or climbing stairs
- Tenderness when pressing on the affected area
- Pain when lying on the affected side
- Swelling or redness in severe cases
These inflammatory conditions often result from repetitive movements, direct trauma, or poor biomechanics. They’re particularly common in runners, cyclists, and individuals with leg length discrepancies.
Hip Fractures and Traumatic Injuries
Hip fractures most commonly affect the femoral neck or trochanteric region. They typically result from falls, especially in older adults with osteoporosis, or high-impact trauma in younger individuals.
Symptoms of hip fracture include:
- Severe pain that prevents weight-bearing
- Inability to move the leg
- Visible deformity or shortening of the leg
- Bruising and swelling
Other traumatic hip injuries include dislocations, muscle strains, and contusions. Sports injuries often involve sudden direction changes or falls. These acute injuries require immediate medical attention to prevent complications and ensure proper healing.
When to See a Specialist Hip Specialist
Knowing when to consult with a specialized hip doctor can prevent further damage and help you get proper treatment faster. Certain symptoms signal that your hip pain requires professional evaluation beyond general care.
Persistent or Worsening Hip Pain
Hip pain that lasts longer than 4-6 weeks despite rest and over-the-counter pain medications warrants a specialist’s attention. This persistent pain may indicate underlying conditions that won’t resolve without proper treatment.
Pain that progressively worsens, especially if it interrupts your sleep or daily activities, should not be ignored. A good rule to follow: if your pain rates consistently at 6 or higher on a 10-point scale, it’s time to see a specialist. Some patients experience hip pain that comes and goes but becomes more frequent or intense over time. This pattern often signals degenerative conditions that benefit from early intervention.
Warning signs requiring immediate attention:
- Sudden, severe hip pain
- Pain following a fall or injury
- Inability to bear weight on the affected leg
- Visible deformity around the hip joint
Restricted Mobility and Difficulty Walking
When hip pain limits your mobility or changes how you walk, professional evaluation becomes necessary. A specialist should assess any noticeable limping or difficulty climbing stairs. Joint stiffness that makes everyday movements difficult—such as bending to put on socks or getting in and out of vehicles—indicates potential joint damage. Early intervention can prevent compensatory movement patterns that lead to additional problems.
Common mobility restrictions that warrant specialist care:
- Inability to walk more than a few blocks without pain
- Difficulty rising from a seated position
- Limited range of motion when rotating the hip
- Feeling that your hip might “give out” during activities
These mobility issues often indicate mechanical problems within the joint that require specialized diagnosis beyond standard X-rays.
Hip Pain Associated With Other Symptoms
Hip pain accompanied by other symptoms often signals more complex conditions requiring specialist expertise. Pay attention to systemic symptoms that occur alongside your hip discomfort. Swelling, warmth, or redness around the hip may indicate inflammation or infection requiring immediate attention. These visual symptoms combined with fever are particularly concerning.
Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the leg might suggest nerve involvement. These symptoms can indicate problems beyond the hip joint itself, such as spinal issues affecting the nerves that serve the hip and leg. Clicking, catching, or grinding sensations (crepitus) during movement suggest mechanical problems within the joint. A specialist can determine if these sounds represent normal variation or problematic joint damage.
Lack of Improvement With Conservative Treatment
When standard treatments don’t provide relief within a reasonable timeframe, specialist intervention becomes necessary. Most hip conditions should show some improvement after 4-6 weeks of conservative care.
Conservative treatments typically include:
- Rest and activity modification
- Physical therapy exercises
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Heat/ice therapy
- Assistive devices (canes, walkers)
If you’ve tried these approaches without significant improvement, a hip specialist can offer advanced diagnostic testing and treatment options. These might include specialized imaging, therapeutic injections, or surgical interventions when appropriate. Patients with previous hip surgeries or replacements who develop new pain should consult with a specialist promptly, as complications can develop even years after procedures.
