Understanding Your Hip Pain

Hip pain is a common problem for adults of all ages. However, sometimes the cause of the discomfort is difficult to diagnose because pain in the hip area can stem from a number of different causes.

Learning about the hip

The hip is the body’s largest ball-and-socket joint. Part of the thighbone, the “ball” fits into a pocket in the pelvis. Muscles, tendons and ligaments in the buttocks, groin and spine hold the hip joint together. Bursae—fluid-filled sacs that cushion the hip joint—allow it to move more easily. Additionally, the sciatic nerve passes through the hip joint and into the leg. Pain can be caused by something going wrong with any of these parts.

What’s causing my hip pain and how can it be treated?

Pinpointing the exact location of the pain can help your doctor determine what is causing it and how to treat it. Common causes include:

• Arthritis: Inflammation and the breakdown of cartilage can cause pain in your hip joint. High activity levels, aging, obesity and injury can contribute to arthritis pain, which is often felt in the front of the hip or radiating from the groin area.

Possible treatment options include anti-inflammatory medication, the use of a cane or joint replacement surgery.

• Bursitis: Injuries to the bursae can cause inflammation and pain on the side of the hip.

Possible treatments include rest, anti-inflammatory medication, ice, cortisone injections or physical therapy.

• Spinal problems: A pinched nerve or bones rubbing against each other can cause the side of your hip to hurt. Spinal stenosis—when the channel that holds your spinal column starts to narrow—can cause pain in the hips, lower back or buttocks when sitting or walking.

Treatment options include rest, anti-inflammatory medication, spinal injections, physical therapy or surgery.

• Tendonitis: This occurs when the bands of tissue that run from your hip bone to your buttocks become inflamed. Lack of exercise and repeated minor injuries can cause tendonitis.

Possible treatments include limiting certain activities, using ice, taking anti-inflammatory medication or getting cortisone injections or surgery.

Ready to meet with one of our orthopedic and sports medicine specialists? To request an appointment with a Riverview Health physician, call 317.565.0505.

Sources: arthritiseducation.com, health.harvard.edu, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov