Hip pain can develop from conditions affecting the hip joint, surrounding muscles, tendons, or nerves. Common causes include osteoarthritis, bursitis, tendon injuries, muscle strains, labral problems, fractures, and nerve-related conditions. Pain may be felt directly around the hip or may extend into the thigh, buttock, or lower back.
Determining the underlying cause is important for selecting appropriate treatment. Your provider may evaluate your symptoms, medical history, activity level, range of motion, strength, and areas of tenderness. Depending on your examination, imaging or other diagnostic testing may be recommended to further evaluate the joint, soft tissues, or surrounding structures.
Hip arthritis occurs when the protective cartilage within the joint becomes damaged or wears down over time. This can lead to pain, stiffness, reduced range of motion, and difficulty with activities such as walking, climbing stairs, or getting up from a chair. Symptoms may gradually become more noticeable as the condition progresses.
Treatment depends on the severity of arthritis and how significantly it affects your daily activities. Conservative treatments may include physical therapy, activity modification, medications, and other supportive measures. When appropriate, targeted injections or interventional pain-management treatments may also be considered to help manage symptoms.
Diagnosing hip pain begins with a detailed review of your symptoms, medical history, previous injuries, and activities that affect your discomfort. Your provider may examine your hip and surrounding areas, assess your walking pattern, evaluate range of motion and strength, and identify movements that reproduce your symptoms.
Additional testing may be recommended when necessary to determine the source of pain. Depending on the suspected condition, imaging such as X-rays or MRI may help evaluate the bones, joints, cartilage, tendons, muscles, or other structures around the hip. Diagnostic procedures may also help determine whether a specific joint or structure is contributing to your pain.
Treatment for hip pain depends on its underlying cause, severity, and impact on your mobility and daily activities. Conservative approaches may include physical therapy, exercises, activity modification, medications, and other supportive treatments. These approaches may help improve movement and function while reducing pain.
For certain conditions, targeted injections or other interventional pain-management procedures may be appropriate. At Gershon Pain Specialists, treatment is tailored to your individual diagnosis and symptoms, with the goal of addressing the source of pain and helping you maintain or regain comfortable movement.
You should consider an evaluation if hip pain persists, becomes more frequent, worsens over time, or begins interfering with walking, sleeping, exercise, work, or other daily activities. Persistent stiffness, weakness, limited movement, or pain that extends into the leg may also warrant professional assessment.
Seeking evaluation can help determine the cause of your symptoms and identify appropriate treatment options. A pain specialist can assess your condition, determine whether additional diagnostic testing is needed, and develop a treatment plan based on your specific needs and goals.
