Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHome Remedies for Hip PainPain RelieversComplementary and Alternative MedicineSpecialist-Driven ProceduresSurgery
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Home Remedies for Hip Pain
Pain Relievers
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Specialist-Driven Procedures
Surgery
Finding the right treatment to relievehip painoften depends on what’s causing it. Conservative measures like pain relievers and home remedies can be used for a sudden, isolated injury. Physical therapy, injections, and surgery may be needed for more chronic or complicated causes of hip pain. Some strategies, such as anosteoarthritis weight loss plan, may be effective for long-term pain relief.
This article presents treatment options for relieving hip pain, such as rest and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).It also includes newer, minimally invasive procedures likeradio frequency ablation.
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No matter the cause of your hip pain, there’s a good chance you may start at home with some basic interventions. They may work to resolve pain from a simple injury or to relieve symptoms as you wait for more comprehensive care, such as a steroid injection. Some options to start with include:
Applying heat or cold can help to relieve your symptoms. Ice is generally better for swelling and inflammation (especially after surgery, or with acute injuries,bursitis, ortendinitis) while heat is better for conditions like osteoarthritis.You can try alternating heat and cold, too.
Once the pain has lessened, you can try the following methods to promote healing.
When to See a Healthcare Provider for Hip PainIf hip pain interferes with your ability to perform everyday tasks, schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider to address your symptoms. Seek immediate medical attention if you fall or feel like your hip gave out, causing pain with standing and movement of your leg. These are possible signs that you may have fractured or dislocated your hip.
When to See a Healthcare Provider for Hip Pain
If hip pain interferes with your ability to perform everyday tasks, schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider to address your symptoms. Seek immediate medical attention if you fall or feel like your hip gave out, causing pain with standing and movement of your leg. These are possible signs that you may have fractured or dislocated your hip.
Hip Stress Fracture Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Hydrotherapy
Whirlpools and tubs that submerse the hip in water can help improve blood flow to the hip and reduce pain. Pools are often heated to relax tight muscles and stiff joints, but cold water immersion can also be used to decrease inflammation.
Benefits of Hot and Cold Contrast Therapy Baths
Exercise
Exercise is considered a core treatment option for hip pain.In fact, a 2023 review of studies involving 17,431 people with hip or knee osteoarthritis suggests that the benefits of exercise are comparable to taking oral NSAID pain relievers.
Aerobic exercise, including low-impact activities like walking and bicycling, can help increase blood flow to the hip to decrease pain and stiffness. Stretching can help improve flexibility of the muscles at the hip joint, including hip flexors, andpiriformismuscles. Resistance exercises and strength training boost hip joint support and decrease injury risk.
Mind-body exercise likeyoga, with its many stretches, also can be part of exercise therapy.
Weight Loss
Weight loss is considered a core intervention for hip pain in people diagnosed with obesity or overweight. Extra weight places stress on the joints and muscles.Researchers note that of the 38,606 primary hip replacements done in Australia in 2020, about three-fourths involved people who were overweight.
Talk to your healthcare provider about diet, exercise, and medication options that can help you to lose weight.
Easy Stretches for Hip Pain
You can try pain relievers to treat hip pain. Some over-the-counter medications can offer fast relief for hip pain, though your healthcare provider may recommend prescription options.
Over-the-Counter Medications
Over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil), or NSAIDs likenaproxensodium (Aleve), can help to reduce hip pain, swelling, and inflammation.
Topical Pain Relievers
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Prescription Medications
If symptoms are severe enough, your healthcare provider may prescribe opioid medications likeoxycodone,hydrocodone, morphine, and tramadol to help relieve pain. Corticosteroids such as cortisone and prednisone may also be prescribed to reduce inflammation.
Corticosteroids for Inflammation: Types and Uses
Hip pain is often relieved through complementary and alternative therapies, either alone or used with other strategies as part of anintegrated treatmentplan.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractorscan make adjustments to the spine and hips and use other manual techniques and therapeutic modalities to provide pain relief. Chiropractic care can help manage symptoms, but generally cannot fix the underlying issue causing hip pain.
The Safety of Chiropractic Adjustments
Acupuncture
Acupunctureinvolves inserting thin needles into the muscles of the hip to help relieve pressure points and reduce pain. Acupuncture is more effective for superficial conditions that affect the soft tissues, rather than conditions that are deep within the hip joint that are difficult to access.
There is no clear evidence of a benefit with hip osteoarthritis pain.
Supplements and Herbs
Certain dietary supplements can help support healthy cartilage cells to protect the hip joint from wear and tear.Glucosamineandchondroitincan help repair damaged cartilage in the hip joint.Vitamin D3is also important for maintaining good bone health and supporting immune system functioning to decrease inflammation throughout the body.
Certain herbs are thought to play a role in promoting a healthy immune system and reducing inflammation, includinglicorice,ginseng, cat’s claw, and echinacea. Other herbs likeChinese skullcap, devil’s claw, curcumin,yucca, ginger, andwitch hazelmay be beneficial for decreasing joint pain associated witharthritis.
Always talk to your healthcare provider before taking any supplements. Herbal supplements can decrease the effectiveness of prescribed drugs a patient may already be taking.
About SupplementsIn the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
About Supplements
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
Physical Therapy
An Overview of Physical Therapy
Injections
Injections can also be injected into the trochanteric bursa to help treat hip bursitis, or directly into thepsoasmuscle tendon, which lies on top of the hip joint to treat tendinitis.
Radiofrequency Ablation
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Some people may need hip surgery to treat a specific condition. These procedures can range from a minimally invasive hip repair to a total hip replacement.
Hip Arthroscopy
Arthroscopic Surgery: Everything You Need to Know
Hip Replacement
For severeosteoarthritisof the hip that does not improve with nonsurgical options, atotal hip replacement, or arthroplasty, is performed. The entire head of the femur, or ball in the ball-and-socket hip joint, is cut off and replaced with a metal stem with a ball attached to the end. The acetabulum, or socket of the hip joint, is then lined with a metal cup. These metal pieces help the joint move more smoothly without pain and avoid direct bone-on-bone contact that results from worn away cartilage.
An Overview of Hip Replacement Surgery
Hip Resurfacing
Hip Revision
Ahip revisionis a surgical procedure used to repair a previous hip replacement that has become damaged over time due to injury, infection, or wear and tear with aging.
Summary
Conservative measures like pain medication and physical therapy are often prescribed first to help manage hip pain. If symptoms persist after several weeks or months, diagnostic imaging like computed tomography (CT) scans, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) may be needed to diagnose the exact cause of your hip pain to determine the next steps in your treatment plan.
That plan may include a combination of options from weight loss to medication or even surgery. Prevention is key for avoiding hip pain and possible complications. Talk with your healthcare rpvider about losing weight and staying active to help reduce the risk of injury and hip pain.
Injuries and Conditions That Can Cause Hip Pain
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.DeRogatis M, Anis HK, Sodhi N, Ehiorobo JO, Chughtai M, Bhave A,et al.Non-operative treatment options for knee osteoarthritis.Ann Transl Med. 2019 Oct;7(Suppl 7):S245. doi:10.21037/atm.2019.06.68Misra D, Felson DT.Evidence-based review of nonsurgical treatments for knee and hip osteoarthritis.Eur J Rheumatol. 2024;11(suppl 1):S48-S52.Arthritis Foundation.Hip pain at night?American Academy of Family Physicians.Chronic musculoskeletal pain: Nonpharmacologic, noninvasive treatments.University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Should You Use Ice or Heat for Joint Pain?University Orthopedics.Hip nonsurgical options.Harvard Health Publishing.Think that hip pain is bursitis? Think again.Weng Q, Goh SL, Wu J, Persson MSM, Wei J, Sarmanova A, et al.Comparative efficacy of exercise therapy and oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and paracetamol for knee or hip osteoarthritis: a network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.Br J Sports Med. 2023 Aug;57(15):990-996. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2022-105898Bennell KL, Keating C, Lawford B, Graham B, Hall M, Simpson JA,et al.Effectiveness of a telehealth-delivered clinician-supported exercise and weight loss program for hip osteoarthritis - protocol for the Better Hip randomised controlled trial.BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2024 Feb 13;25(1):138. doi:10.1186/s12891-023-07131-0Australian Orthopaedic Association.National Joint Replacement Registry 2020 annual report. Adelaide; 2021.National Center for Biotechnology Information.PubChem Compound Summary for CID 1548943, Capsaicin.Arthritis Foundation.Chiropractic care for arthritis.Hospital for Special Surgery.Treatment options for hip pain.Kapural L, Naber J, Neal K, Burchell M.Cooled radiofrequency ablation of the articular sensory branches of the obturator and femoral nerves using fluoroscopy and ultrasound guidance: A large retrospective study.Pain Physician. 2021 Aug;24(5):E611-E617.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hip resurfacing.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.DeRogatis M, Anis HK, Sodhi N, Ehiorobo JO, Chughtai M, Bhave A,et al.Non-operative treatment options for knee osteoarthritis.Ann Transl Med. 2019 Oct;7(Suppl 7):S245. doi:10.21037/atm.2019.06.68Misra D, Felson DT.Evidence-based review of nonsurgical treatments for knee and hip osteoarthritis.Eur J Rheumatol. 2024;11(suppl 1):S48-S52.Arthritis Foundation.Hip pain at night?American Academy of Family Physicians.Chronic musculoskeletal pain: Nonpharmacologic, noninvasive treatments.University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Should You Use Ice or Heat for Joint Pain?University Orthopedics.Hip nonsurgical options.Harvard Health Publishing.Think that hip pain is bursitis? Think again.Weng Q, Goh SL, Wu J, Persson MSM, Wei J, Sarmanova A, et al.Comparative efficacy of exercise therapy and oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and paracetamol for knee or hip osteoarthritis: a network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.Br J Sports Med. 2023 Aug;57(15):990-996. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2022-105898Bennell KL, Keating C, Lawford B, Graham B, Hall M, Simpson JA,et al.Effectiveness of a telehealth-delivered clinician-supported exercise and weight loss program for hip osteoarthritis - protocol for the Better Hip randomised controlled trial.BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2024 Feb 13;25(1):138. doi:10.1186/s12891-023-07131-0Australian Orthopaedic Association.National Joint Replacement Registry 2020 annual report. Adelaide; 2021.National Center for Biotechnology Information.PubChem Compound Summary for CID 1548943, Capsaicin.Arthritis Foundation.Chiropractic care for arthritis.Hospital for Special Surgery.Treatment options for hip pain.Kapural L, Naber J, Neal K, Burchell M.Cooled radiofrequency ablation of the articular sensory branches of the obturator and femoral nerves using fluoroscopy and ultrasound guidance: A large retrospective study.Pain Physician. 2021 Aug;24(5):E611-E617.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hip resurfacing.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
DeRogatis M, Anis HK, Sodhi N, Ehiorobo JO, Chughtai M, Bhave A,et al.Non-operative treatment options for knee osteoarthritis.Ann Transl Med. 2019 Oct;7(Suppl 7):S245. doi:10.21037/atm.2019.06.68Misra D, Felson DT.Evidence-based review of nonsurgical treatments for knee and hip osteoarthritis.Eur J Rheumatol. 2024;11(suppl 1):S48-S52.Arthritis Foundation.Hip pain at night?American Academy of Family Physicians.Chronic musculoskeletal pain: Nonpharmacologic, noninvasive treatments.University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Should You Use Ice or Heat for Joint Pain?University Orthopedics.Hip nonsurgical options.Harvard Health Publishing.Think that hip pain is bursitis? Think again.Weng Q, Goh SL, Wu J, Persson MSM, Wei J, Sarmanova A, et al.Comparative efficacy of exercise therapy and oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and paracetamol for knee or hip osteoarthritis: a network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.Br J Sports Med. 2023 Aug;57(15):990-996. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2022-105898Bennell KL, Keating C, Lawford B, Graham B, Hall M, Simpson JA,et al.Effectiveness of a telehealth-delivered clinician-supported exercise and weight loss program for hip osteoarthritis - protocol for the Better Hip randomised controlled trial.BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2024 Feb 13;25(1):138. doi:10.1186/s12891-023-07131-0Australian Orthopaedic Association.National Joint Replacement Registry 2020 annual report. Adelaide; 2021.National Center for Biotechnology Information.PubChem Compound Summary for CID 1548943, Capsaicin.Arthritis Foundation.Chiropractic care for arthritis.Hospital for Special Surgery.Treatment options for hip pain.Kapural L, Naber J, Neal K, Burchell M.Cooled radiofrequency ablation of the articular sensory branches of the obturator and femoral nerves using fluoroscopy and ultrasound guidance: A large retrospective study.Pain Physician. 2021 Aug;24(5):E611-E617.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hip resurfacing.
DeRogatis M, Anis HK, Sodhi N, Ehiorobo JO, Chughtai M, Bhave A,et al.Non-operative treatment options for knee osteoarthritis.Ann Transl Med. 2019 Oct;7(Suppl 7):S245. doi:10.21037/atm.2019.06.68
Misra D, Felson DT.Evidence-based review of nonsurgical treatments for knee and hip osteoarthritis.Eur J Rheumatol. 2024;11(suppl 1):S48-S52.
Arthritis Foundation.Hip pain at night?
American Academy of Family Physicians.Chronic musculoskeletal pain: Nonpharmacologic, noninvasive treatments.
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Should You Use Ice or Heat for Joint Pain?
University Orthopedics.Hip nonsurgical options.
Harvard Health Publishing.Think that hip pain is bursitis? Think again.
Weng Q, Goh SL, Wu J, Persson MSM, Wei J, Sarmanova A, et al.Comparative efficacy of exercise therapy and oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and paracetamol for knee or hip osteoarthritis: a network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.Br J Sports Med. 2023 Aug;57(15):990-996. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2022-105898
Bennell KL, Keating C, Lawford B, Graham B, Hall M, Simpson JA,et al.Effectiveness of a telehealth-delivered clinician-supported exercise and weight loss program for hip osteoarthritis - protocol for the Better Hip randomised controlled trial.BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2024 Feb 13;25(1):138. doi:10.1186/s12891-023-07131-0
Australian Orthopaedic Association.National Joint Replacement Registry 2020 annual report. Adelaide; 2021.
National Center for Biotechnology Information.PubChem Compound Summary for CID 1548943, Capsaicin.
Arthritis Foundation.Chiropractic care for arthritis.
Hospital for Special Surgery.Treatment options for hip pain.
Kapural L, Naber J, Neal K, Burchell M.Cooled radiofrequency ablation of the articular sensory branches of the obturator and femoral nerves using fluoroscopy and ultrasound guidance: A large retrospective study.Pain Physician. 2021 Aug;24(5):E611-E617.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hip resurfacing.
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