Hip painis a common problem, and it can be confusing because there are many causes, including a hyperextended hip, arthritis, or a fracture. It is important that you seek medical attention for your hip pain so the cause of your symptoms can be identified and appropriate treatment can be directed at the underlying problem.
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Common Causes
Arthritis:Arthritis is among the most frequent causes of hip pain, and there are many treatments available. If conservative treatments fail,hip replacement surgerymight be an option.
Trochanteric Bursitis:Trochanteric bursitis is an extremely common problem that causes inflammation of the bursa over the outside of the hip joint.
Tendonitis:Tendonitis can occur in any of the tendons that surround the hip joint. The most frequently encountered tendonitis around the hip isiliotibial band (IT band) tendonitis.
Labral Tear:The labrum is the cartilage that surrounds the hip joint. Hip labral tears can cause pain and sensations of catching in the joint. Hip arthroscopy is a treatment option.
Osteonecrosis:Osteonecrosis is a condition that occurs when blood flow to an area of bone is restricted. If an inadequate amount of blood flow reaches the bone, the cells will die and the bone may collapse. One of the most common locations of osteonecrosis is in the hip joint.
Referred Symptoms:Many nerve and spine problems can cause symptoms around the buttocks and hip. The most common problems that refer pain to the hip region areherniated discsandsciatica.
Snapping Hip Syndrome:Snapping hip syndrome describes three distinct hip problems. The first is when the iliotibial (IT) band snaps over the outside of the thigh. The second occurs when the deep hip flexor snaps over the front of the hip joint. Finally, tears of the cartilage, or labrum, around the hip socket can cause a snapping sensation.
Muscle Strains:Strains of the muscles around the hip and pelvis can cause pain and spasms. The most common strains aregroin pullsandhamstring strains.
Hip Fracture:Hip fractures are most common in elderly patients withosteoporosis. Treatment of a broken hip requires surgery to either replace the broken portion or repair it with a metal plate and screws.
Stress Fracture:Stress fractures of the hip are most common in athletes who participate in high-impact sports, such as long-distance runners. This can heal on its own with rest and avoiding impact activities.
Childhood Hip Problems:
When Do You Need to Call Your Healthcare Provider?
Depending on the severity of your hip pain, a primary care provider may refer you to a specialist like anorthopedist.
Treatments
Treatment depends on the cause of the problem. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that you understand the cause of your symptoms before embarking on a treatment program. If you are unsure of your diagnosis or the severity of your condition, youshould seek medical advice before beginning any treatment plan.
Some common treatments for hip pain are listed here. Not all of these treatments are appropriate for every condition, but one or more may be helpful in your situation.
11 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.Lespasio MJ, Sultan AA, Piuzzi NS, et al.Hip osteoarthritis: a primer.Perm J. 2018;22:17-084. doi:10.7812/TPP/17-084Reid D.The management of greater trochanteric pain syndrome: a systematic literature review.J Orthop. 2016;13(1):15–28. doi:10.1016/j.jor.2015.12.006Shamus J, Shamus E.The management of iliotibial band syndrome with a multifaceted approach: a double case report.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2015;10(3):378-390. PMID:26075154Locks R, Bolia I, Utsunomiya H, Briggs K, Philippon MJ.Current concepts in revision hip arthroscopy.Hip Int. 2018;28(4):343-351. doi:10.1177/1120700018771927Lespasio MJ, Sodhi N, Mont MA.Osteonecrosis of the hip: a primer.Perm J. 2019;23:18-100. doi:10.7812/TPP/18-100Chamberlain R.Hip pain in adults: evaluation and differential diagnosis.Am Fam Physician. 2021;103(2):81-89. PMID:33448767Yen YM, Lewis CL, Kim YJ.Understanding and treating the snapping hip.Sports Med Arthrosc Rev. 2015;23(4):194-199. doi:10.1097/JSA.0000000000000095American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Hip strains.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Hip fractures.Shaw BA, Segal LS, Section on Orthopaedics, et al.Evaluation and referral for developmental dysplasia of the hip in infants.Pediatrics. 2016;138(6):e20163107. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-3107Leroux J, Abu Amara S, Lechevallier J.Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2018;104(1):S107-S112. doi:10.1016/j.otsr.2017.04.012
11 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.Lespasio MJ, Sultan AA, Piuzzi NS, et al.Hip osteoarthritis: a primer.Perm J. 2018;22:17-084. doi:10.7812/TPP/17-084Reid D.The management of greater trochanteric pain syndrome: a systematic literature review.J Orthop. 2016;13(1):15–28. doi:10.1016/j.jor.2015.12.006Shamus J, Shamus E.The management of iliotibial band syndrome with a multifaceted approach: a double case report.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2015;10(3):378-390. PMID:26075154Locks R, Bolia I, Utsunomiya H, Briggs K, Philippon MJ.Current concepts in revision hip arthroscopy.Hip Int. 2018;28(4):343-351. doi:10.1177/1120700018771927Lespasio MJ, Sodhi N, Mont MA.Osteonecrosis of the hip: a primer.Perm J. 2019;23:18-100. doi:10.7812/TPP/18-100Chamberlain R.Hip pain in adults: evaluation and differential diagnosis.Am Fam Physician. 2021;103(2):81-89. PMID:33448767Yen YM, Lewis CL, Kim YJ.Understanding and treating the snapping hip.Sports Med Arthrosc Rev. 2015;23(4):194-199. doi:10.1097/JSA.0000000000000095American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Hip strains.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Hip fractures.Shaw BA, Segal LS, Section on Orthopaedics, et al.Evaluation and referral for developmental dysplasia of the hip in infants.Pediatrics. 2016;138(6):e20163107. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-3107Leroux J, Abu Amara S, Lechevallier J.Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2018;104(1):S107-S112. doi:10.1016/j.otsr.2017.04.012
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.
Lespasio MJ, Sultan AA, Piuzzi NS, et al.Hip osteoarthritis: a primer.Perm J. 2018;22:17-084. doi:10.7812/TPP/17-084Reid D.The management of greater trochanteric pain syndrome: a systematic literature review.J Orthop. 2016;13(1):15–28. doi:10.1016/j.jor.2015.12.006Shamus J, Shamus E.The management of iliotibial band syndrome with a multifaceted approach: a double case report.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2015;10(3):378-390. PMID:26075154Locks R, Bolia I, Utsunomiya H, Briggs K, Philippon MJ.Current concepts in revision hip arthroscopy.Hip Int. 2018;28(4):343-351. doi:10.1177/1120700018771927Lespasio MJ, Sodhi N, Mont MA.Osteonecrosis of the hip: a primer.Perm J. 2019;23:18-100. doi:10.7812/TPP/18-100Chamberlain R.Hip pain in adults: evaluation and differential diagnosis.Am Fam Physician. 2021;103(2):81-89. PMID:33448767Yen YM, Lewis CL, Kim YJ.Understanding and treating the snapping hip.Sports Med Arthrosc Rev. 2015;23(4):194-199. doi:10.1097/JSA.0000000000000095American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Hip strains.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Hip fractures.Shaw BA, Segal LS, Section on Orthopaedics, et al.Evaluation and referral for developmental dysplasia of the hip in infants.Pediatrics. 2016;138(6):e20163107. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-3107Leroux J, Abu Amara S, Lechevallier J.Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2018;104(1):S107-S112. doi:10.1016/j.otsr.2017.04.012
Lespasio MJ, Sultan AA, Piuzzi NS, et al.Hip osteoarthritis: a primer.Perm J. 2018;22:17-084. doi:10.7812/TPP/17-084
Reid D.The management of greater trochanteric pain syndrome: a systematic literature review.J Orthop. 2016;13(1):15–28. doi:10.1016/j.jor.2015.12.006
Shamus J, Shamus E.The management of iliotibial band syndrome with a multifaceted approach: a double case report.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2015;10(3):378-390. PMID:26075154
Locks R, Bolia I, Utsunomiya H, Briggs K, Philippon MJ.Current concepts in revision hip arthroscopy.Hip Int. 2018;28(4):343-351. doi:10.1177/1120700018771927
Lespasio MJ, Sodhi N, Mont MA.Osteonecrosis of the hip: a primer.Perm J. 2019;23:18-100. doi:10.7812/TPP/18-100
Chamberlain R.Hip pain in adults: evaluation and differential diagnosis.Am Fam Physician. 2021;103(2):81-89. PMID:33448767
Yen YM, Lewis CL, Kim YJ.Understanding and treating the snapping hip.Sports Med Arthrosc Rev. 2015;23(4):194-199. doi:10.1097/JSA.0000000000000095
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Hip strains.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Hip fractures.
Shaw BA, Segal LS, Section on Orthopaedics, et al.Evaluation and referral for developmental dysplasia of the hip in infants.Pediatrics. 2016;138(6):e20163107. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-3107
Leroux J, Abu Amara S, Lechevallier J.Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2018;104(1):S107-S112. doi:10.1016/j.otsr.2017.04.012
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