Hip pain can be surprisingly difficult to pinpoint. You might feel it deep in the groin, along the outside of the hip, in the buttock, or farther down the thigh. Describing that location—and what brings the pain on—gives your orthopedic clinician a useful starting point.
The patterns below can help you put your symptoms into words and recognize when it is time to have them evaluated.
Why hip pain can show up in different places
The hip region includes the ball-and-socket joint, tendons, muscles, small cushioning sacs called bursae, and nearby nerves. Pain can also travel from the lower back or pelvis into this area. An examination helps distinguish among these overlapping sources.
Groin or front-of-hip pain
Pain felt deep in the groin or at the front of the hip can come from structures inside the hip joint. Hip osteoarthritis, a labral problem, femoroacetabular impingement, and irritation of the hip-flexor region are among the possibilities. Some people notice stiffness, discomfort getting in or out of a car, or pain with prolonged sitting, squatting, or pivoting.
During the evaluation, your clinician will ask about previous injuries, activity, stiffness, and any catching or clicking. Mention thigh or knee pain too, because discomfort from the hip joint can extend into those areas.
Pain along the outside of the hip
Pain over the bony area on the side of the hip is often related to the tendons and other soft tissues that help stabilize the pelvis. This group of problems is commonly described as greater trochanteric pain syndrome. Symptoms may be more noticeable when lying on the painful side, climbing stairs, walking for longer periods, or standing on one leg.
Tell your clinician if pressing on the side of the hip reproduces the pain or if certain sleeping positions make it worse. These details help guide the examination of the joint and surrounding tissues.
Buttock or back-of-hip pain
Pain in the buttock or behind the hip may arise from the lower back, the sacroiliac region, the hamstring attachment, or muscles and nerves deep in the buttock. Pain that travels down the leg, or comes with tingling, numbness, or weakness, raises different questions than pain that stays near the hip.
An assessment may include how you walk, your hip motion, leg strength, and sensation, along with an examination of the lower back and knee.
Details to share at your appointment
Before an appointment, it may help to note:
When hip pain needs prompt attention
Seek urgent medical care after a serious fall or injury if the leg looks deformed, you cannot move the hip, or you cannot put weight on the leg. Fever with a hot or rapidly worsening painful joint also deserves prompt assessment. New weakness or numbness, or worsening hip or back pain with loss of bladder or bowel control, requires urgent evaluation.
Persistent pain, a new limp, disrupted sleep, or symptoms that return whenever you resume activity are reasons to arrange an orthopedic evaluation.
How the source of hip pain is evaluated
After reviewing your symptoms and examining the hip and nearby areas, the clinician may recommend imaging. For many people with ongoing hip pain, standard X-rays are the first imaging study. MRI or another test may help answer questions that remain after the examination and X-rays.
Choosing a treatment that fits your hip problem
Depending on the findings, treatment may include adjusting aggravating activities, targeted rehabilitation, medication when medically appropriate, or an injection. Selected structural problems may be considered for hip arthroscopy, while advanced joint damage may lead to a discussion of joint reconstruction or replacement. Your clinician can explain the expected benefits and limitations of the options relevant to your hip.
The recommendation also takes into account your overall health, the severity of the problem, and the activities you want to return to.
Hip pain evaluation in Las Vegas
If hip pain is limiting movement, sleep, or daily activities, schedule an orthopedic evaluation with Dr. Martin. An examination can help clarify where the pain is coming from and which options fit your situation.
