Hip pain

Symptoms

Hip pain

Definition

Hip pain is a common complaint that can be caused by a wide variety of problems. The precise location of your hip pain can provide valuable clues about the underlying cause.

Problems within the hip joint itself tend to result in pain on the inside of your hip or your groin. Hip pain on the outside of your hip, upper thigh or outer buttock is usually caused by problems with muscles, ligaments, tendons and other soft tissues that surround your hip joint.

Hip pain can sometimes be caused by diseases and conditions in other areas of your body, such as your lower back. This type of pain is called referred pain.

Causes

Hip pain may be caused by arthritis, injuries or other problems.

Arthritis

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (formerly known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis)
Osteoarthritis (disease causing the breakdown of joints)
Psoriatic arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory joint disease)
Septic arthritis

Injuries

Bursitis (joint inflammation)
Dislocation
Hip fracture
Hip labral tear
Inguinal hernia
Sprains
Tendinitis

Pinched nerves

Meralgia paresthetica
Sacroiliitis
Sciatica

Cancer

Advanced (metastatic) cancer that has spread to the bones
Bone cancer
Leukemia

When to see a doctor

You may not need to see a doctor if your hip pain is minor. Try these self-care tips:

Rest. Avoid repeated bending at the hip and direct pressure on the hip. Try not to sleep on the affected side and avoid prolonged sitting.
Pain relievers. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) may help ease your hip pain.
Ice or heat. Use ice cubes or a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel to apply cold treatments to your hip. Conversely, a warm bath or shower may help prepare your muscles for stretching exercises that can reduce pain.

If self-care treatments don't help, make an appointment with your doctor.