Hip pain symptoms

You might have soreness inside the hip joint but you may also feel pain in your:

• buttock
• lower back
• thigh
• groin
• knee

Sometimes pain from other areas can be felt in your hip - this is called ‘referred pain’. Pain in the hip can affect you when you:

• walk up or down stairs
• sit or stand for some time
• exercise or play sport

You should talk to your doctor or physiotherapist about your hip pain immediately if:

• the pain is sudden or intense
• the result of an injury or a fall
• you can't move your hip or leg
• you can't put weight on the affected leg
• you notice swelling or bleeding
• you notice any sign of an infection, like a fever

If your child has pain in the hip, talk to your doctor.

What causes hip pain?

The cause of your hip pain will affect when and where you feel the soreness. Usually if the problem is with the hip itself you will feel pain inside your hip or your groin. If the pain is outside your hip, on the upper thigh or outer buttock, the cause will usually be problems with muscles, ligaments or tendons around the hip joint.

Conditions that cause hip pain include:

• arthritis of the hip from a variety of causes - osteoarthritis is the most common, especially in people older than 50
• an injury
• lower back problems
• a fracture of the neck (top) of the femur (thigh bone)
• a strained muscle
• an inflamed tendon or other inflammatory conditions
• an infection
• pinched nerves

Hip pain diagnosis

A doctor or physiotherapist can work out what is causing the pain in your hip. They might talk to you and examine you, checking how you stand, how you walk and what movements cause pain. They may suggest blood tests or X-rays.

Hip pain treatment

The treatment might include:

• physiotherapy or occupational therapy
• anti-inflammatory, pain-killing medicines or creams
• antibiotics
• steroid injections
• acupuncture
• advice about weight loss and exercise
• stretching, strengthening exercises or resistance training
• water exercise including swimming

Your doctor may suggest you consult an orthopaedic surgeon if surgery or other specialist treatment is needed. You might find pain relief with home treatments such as rest, heat or ice, massage or gentle exercises for hip pain.