Find Hip Pain Specialists near you

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FAQs:

What is a Hip Pain Specialist?

A hip pain specialist is a medical professional dedicated to diagnosing and treating hip discomfort, achiness, and related irritations. If you’re experiencing hip pain, consulting a specialist can diagnose it accurately and explore effective treatment options. Seeking immediate attention from a hip pain specialist is essential if the pain significantly impacts your daily life.

What is Hip Pain?

Hip pain is discomfort in or around the hip joint, where the thigh bone (femur) meets the pelvis. This large joint supports weight, aids movement, and helps maintain balance. Pain can range from mild, temporary irritation to serious issues requiring medical attention. The pain’s location often reveals its source:

- Surface pain around the hip usually involves muscles, tendons, or ligaments.

- Deep pain in the joint often originates from bone or cartilage.

- Pain may also radiate to the lower back or groin.

What are the “Red Flags” of Hip Pain?

Several telltale signs can identify red flags of hip conditions. Pain radiating from the hip to the thigh, groin, or lower back may indicate a more serious issue. The inability to walk normally or with any degree of comfort is another important symptom that should not be ignored. Numbness in the leg may be accompanied by muscle weakness or instability, which could indicate nerve damage related to a possible hip injury.

It is also important for people to be aware of any disfigurement, clicking, or a catching feeling in the hip area, as this could point to an underlying structural issue. If left untreated, any of these red flags can lead to further complications. Therefore, seeking medical attention and having your hip evaluated if you are experiencing any concerning symptoms such as those listed above is essential.

What Can Happen if Hip Pain is Left Untreated?

Hip pain, if worsening, should never be left untreated. Neglecting an issue like arthritis, among others, could lead to stiffness or inflammation in the joint, eventually leading to impacted mobility. If surgery is needed for any reason, such as a hip replacement or injury repair, arthritis will make the recovery process harder and more difficult to manage.

In addition to arthritis, untreated issues can spread throughout the leg, weakening muscles and limiting the ability of tendons and ligaments to function properly. This loss of strength or function can lead to a decreased quality of life, making it difficult to do everyday activities like walking or climbing stairs. It's important to seek medical treatment if you are experiencing hip pain that doesn't go away.

How Do I Know If My Hip Pain is Serious?

The sudden onset of pain can be one indicator of a more serious issue. Sudden swelling and popping noises are also signs of seeing a doctor. Symptoms, however, do not have to be sudden to be serious. Signs of infection, such as minor pain or swelling, can occur and should be treated immediately as well.

In some cases, hip pain can occur following an issue with or injury to another area of the body, such as a head injury. Back and other chronic joint pain can develop following traumatic brain injuries.

Of course, some serious symptoms are more obvious, including:

- The inability to move your leg or hip

- Bleeding of the hip

- The inability to bear weight on the affected leg

- Exposed bone or muscle

- A joint that appears deformed

Who is at Risk for Hip Pain?

Many people experience increasing hip pain as they age, with women more likely to experience hip pain than men. Some people have a higher risk of hip pain because of:

1. Weak muscles due to an inactive lifestyle or injury

2. Excess weight or obesity, which increases pressure on the hips

3. Previous hip injuries

4. Conditions like hip instability

5. Exercise or participation in sports without warming up

What Does Hip Flexor Pain Feel Like?

Hip flexor pain is usually caused by a muscle strain. This usually happens when you put a lot of stress on them or when you keep them stiff for long periods. You will feel sudden hip pain as soon as you get a hip flexor strain or tear. Other symptoms of a hip flexor tear or strain include:

- Stiffness and pain in the groin region in the morning (while you get up from your bed)

- Pain when you try lifting your knee toward your chest

- Pain while doing exercises that stretch the hip muscles

- Swelling, redness, or tenderness in the hip or thigh area

- Limping gait (if the pain is severe)

Does Sciatica Cause Hip Pain?

In some cases, sciatica-based hip pain stems from a herniated disc. This is when one of your spinal discs — the “shock absorbers” that separate and cushion your vertebrae (spinal bones) — pushes through its outer ring. If inflammation around the disc irritates the nerves, it can cause symptoms such as back pain and hip pain. It’s worth noting that discs are designed to bulge so we can move. A herniated disc is only a problem if it catches a nerve root and causes symptoms.

What Causes Hip Pain That Radiates Down the Leg?

Hip pain that radiates down the leg can occur due to many causes, such as sciatica, arthritis, bursitis, labral tear, greater trochanter pain syndrome, endometriosis, and more. If your symptoms worsen during certain activities or when lying down, this could be an indication of the cause of the pain. Pinpointing the cause of your symptoms can help you get the most appropriate treatment.

Does Walking Help With Hip Pain?

Walking is generally beneficial for hip pain, regardless of the cause. Regular walking strengthens and maintains flexibility in the muscles around the hip, helping to reduce joint swelling and stiffness. Movement also keeps the hip joint lubricated, which prevents pain from worsening due to inactivity. Additionally, exercise supports overall health benefits, including weight loss, which can further relieve hip pain. For many, achieving a healthy weight can even lead to a complete reduction in hip discomfort.

What is the One-Leg Test for Hip Pain?

A one-leg test is a simple test you can carry out to see if you have hip issues. This involves standing on one leg for around one minute. If you struggle to do this, even when holding onto something for support, it’s a clear sign you could have a hip issue.

Anatomy of the Hip

To understand why hips can become painful, it helps to know a little bit about the hip joint and what it’s made of:

1. Hip bones include the top of the thighbone (femur) and the pelvis. The ball-shaped structure called the femoral head and the socket portion (acetabulum) that is part of the pelvis form the hip joint.

2. Muscles in the leg (quadriceps), buttocks (gluteus maximus and medius), and pelvis (psoas and piriformis) drive the motion of the leg and hip.

3. Tendons, including the rectus femoris tendon, connect the muscles to the bones of the hip and support movement.

4. Ligaments connect the bones of the pelvis and the femur. This helps stabilize the joint.

5. The labrum is at the edge of the hip socket and provides stability and shock absorption to the joint.

6. Nerves, including the femoral nerve and sciatic nerve, carry messages to and from the brain, down the spine, to the hip and leg.

7. Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction between the bones and other moving parts of the hip.

Signs and Symptoms to Watch for Hip Pain

If you’re unsure about whether your hip pain is cause for concern, or when to consider making a doctor’s appointment to discuss it, the following signs are a good guide to keep in mind. Seek medical advice if any of the following apply to you: 

1. An accident has left you with hip pain: If you have hip pain as a result of something like a fall, you may have injured your hip joint. Hip pain can also be the result of a fracture to the top of the ​femur – that’s the thigh bone that the hip joint’s ‘ball’ is attached ​​to.  

2. Your hip pain is sudden and intense: If your hip pain appears suddenly and is intensely painful, or means you can’t move your hips or put your weight on your legs, see your doctor as soon as ​​possible. 

3. The area is swollen: This can also be a symptom of a bone fracture, particularly if it’s accompanied by a loss of ​​movement.  

4. Your pain is accompanied by a fever: If your temperature is 38°C, you probably have a ​​fever, and, combined with hip pain, this can be a sign of a specific type of infection called septic arthritis. This is an uncommon condition, but it does require urgent medical attention, so contact your doctor as soon as possible if you’re concerned. As well as pain or tenderness near the hip joint that starts suddenly, other symptoms of an infection include heat, swelling redness near the joint, and difficulty moving the ​hip. 

5. The pain in your hip is ongoing: Chronic pain not only impacts the quality of life, but it may also indicate that hip osteoarthritis is ​present. It’s important to see your doctor for an official diagnosis so that a management plan can be ​developed. 

6. The hip pain treatments you’ve been using are no longer effective: Even once you’ve been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and are actively using joint pain relief treatments to manage it, it’s important to remember that osteoarthritis pain can change over time. This may mean that different medications and treatments are required to manage the ​pain. 

7. Your hip pain – or the mobility issues it’s causing – is interfering with your daily life: If you’re finding it difficult to sleep, look after yourself without help from others, easily perform daily tasks, or enjoy activities that usually bring you joy, it may be time to talk to your doctor about the possibility of ​hip replacement surgery.

Common Causes of Hip Pain

Hip pain is a very common complaint and can happen to anyone, young or old, no matter how active or inactive they are. From acute injuries sustained during sports or physical activities to chronic conditions such as arthritis or bursitis, hip problems can severely limit mobility and cause considerable discomfort.

The most common causes of hip pain include:

A. Hip Conditions

1. Muscle or Tendon Strains: Damage to the muscles and tendons that support the hip joint can cause soreness, inflammation, and swelling. The most common cause of this type of strain is overstretching or overexerting the muscles during physical activity.

2. Labral Tears: The labrum is the ring of cartilage that lines and supports the hip socket. Impact injuries and repetitive movement can tear or damage the labrum, causing extreme hip and lower back sensitivity.

3. Bursitis: Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs between bones and soft tissues that cushion and reduce friction between them. When bursae become inflamed, a condition known as bursitis can occur, which causes swelling, warmth, tenderness, redness, and aching in the affected area.

4. Osteoarthritis: This form of arthritis is a degenerative condition that causes cartilage to break down at the joints due to wear-and-tear or age-related changes. It can also cause stiffness in addition to aching in the hip joint.

5. Fractures: A fracture occurs when there is enough force or trauma to break a bone in your body, including your hip bones (femur). This type of injury is most commonly caused by falls or motor vehicle collisions but can also occur if you’re on certain medications or have weak bones from osteoporosis.

6. Referred Pain from a Pinched Nerve in the Back: Spasms radiating from your lower spine to your hip may be caused by pinched nerve roots due to herniated discs or spinal stenosis (narrowing of your spinal column).

B. Hip Injuries

1. Sports Injuries: Overuse injuries such as tendinopathy (inflammation of tendons) are commonly seen among athletes who participate in sports involving running or jumping activities like soccer or basketball, often leading to agonizing conditions like trochanteric bursitis or tendon strains around your hip joint area.

2. Overuse: Repetitive activities such as walking long distances, squatting for extended periods during gardening work, or playing an instrument can cause muscle fatigue leading to tension in the muscles surrounding your hips, resulting in irritation.

3. Traumatic Accidents: Direct impact such as falling on a hard surface when skateboarding or skiing can lead to fractures of bones around your hips along with other soft tissue injuries such as ligament sprains which could result in severe throbbing along with extreme swelling and bruising around that area - requiring medical attention right away.

4. Falls: Slipping on wet surfaces at home due to poor lighting conditions is one example where falls may occur, particularly among seniors, leading to severe hip pain. If those injuries are not treated promptly, they might lead to serious complications.

5. Back Injuries: It’s common for different types of back injuries to cause hip discomfort. Due to the anatomy of these reasons, the many nerves and muscles that run between the back and hips can indicate an injury and cause radiating agony in either area.

Non-Surgical Remedies That Can Help Alleviate Hip Pain

Several non-surgical remedies can help manage and alleviate hip pain effectively. Non-surgical treatments that help alleviate hip pain include:

1. NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are over-the-counter medications that can help treat soreness and reduce inflammation.

2. Stretching will improve your flexibility and can even help prevent future injuries. Doing a routine of stretches can lengthen muscles, ease stiffness, and enhance the range of motion.

3. Home exercises and gentle calisthenics are useful tools for recovering from musculoskeletal injuries or conditions. Easy to do at home, exercises will build strength, flexibility, and endurance.

4. Physical therapy can be helpful for patients with a variety of conditions, including sports injuries, back pain, and arthritis. The goal of PT is to restore your body's natural function through light exercise, manual techniques, and other guided treatments. Healthcare providers should work closely with physical therapists to develop personalized patient treatment plans.

5. Intra-articular injections are a type of medicine that can be injected directly into the hip joint to reduce inflammation and tenderness quickly. This type of treatment is often used for patients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

If these remedies are ineffective in relieving symptoms or if the hip pain persists or worsens, surgical intervention may prove necessary. Signs indicating that non-surgical treatments are no longer effective include a continued or deteriorating level of discomfort, feelings of catching or popping with movement, and return of symptoms when trying to resume activities that were previously limited due to the severity of discomfort.

Surgical Procedures That Can Fix Hip Pain

Hip pain can often be treated with different types of surgical procedures, depending on the underlying condition and severity of the issue. Here are the main surgical options for relieving hip pain:

1. Hip Replacement: Also known as total hip arthroplasty, this procedure is usually recommended for those with osteoarthritis and other types of hip degeneration. The goal is to replace the damaged joint with an artificial one made of metal and plastic components. Patients can rejoice in an improved quality of life with significantly reduced pain levels and increased mobility.

2. Hip Arthroscopy: An arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery that a surgeon can use to help diagnose and treat different hip conditions. During this, a small incision is made in the hip area, and tiny cameras are inserted to give the physician visibility to the anatomy below.

3. Hip Fracture Fixation: This procedure stabilizes fractured bones to heal correctly. It involves placing metal plates, screws, or rods onto the broken pieces of bone to hold them in place while healing occurs. Ideally, it should be performed within 48 hours of suffering a fracture for the best results.

4. Tendon Repair: Tendons are fibrous tissues that connect muscle to bone and can become damaged over time due to repetitive stress or injury. Patients can often have their tendons repaired with a simple and quick arthroscopic procedure.

RICE Method for Hip Pain

You can usually treat hip pain at home with the RICE method:

Rest: Stop the physical activity that caused the pain to avoid making the injury worse.

Ice: Apply an ice pack or cold compress for 10 to 15 minutes every hour for the first day after your injury. After one day, you can apply ice every three to four hours. Don’t apply ice directly to your skin (wrap the ice pack in a towel or washcloth).

Compression: Compression helps reduce blood flow to your injured hip and reduces swelling. Apply a compression bandage or wrap around your hip. You can also wear compression shorts or pants to help keep pressure on your hip.

Elevation: If possible, lift your hips and lower body above the level of your heart. Support your leg with pillows, blankets, or cushions.

How to Relieve Hip Pain While Sleeping

A variety of pain management options are available to address hip pain.

A. Immediate Relief

If hip pain wakes you up, you can try these things to get back to sleep:

1. Change your sleeping position. Keep experimenting to find the most pain-reducing position.

2. Place wedge-shaped pillows under your hip to provide cushioning. If you don’t have a wedge-shaped pillow, try folding a pillow or blanket to create a wedge shape.

3. Sleep with a pillow between your knees to reduce stress across your hips.

4. Put one or more pillows under your knees. This can ease pain from sciatic-piriformis syndrome.

5. Over-the-counter (OTC) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) may help relieve your pain.

B. Long-term Relief

If you regularly experience hip pain at night, you may need solutions for longer-term relief. You may want to consider changing your mattress. A mattress that’s too firm may be especially painful for people who have hip bursitis. You can also try putting a foam pad on top of your mattress to help distribute your weight.

Your doctor may also talk with you about these treatments:

1. Seeing a physical therapist, getting regular massages, or both

2. Removing fluid from the bursa

3. Arthroscopic surgery to remove the bursa

4. Steroid or cortisone injections into your bursa or hip joint

5. Hyaluronic acid injections to lubricate your hip joint

6. Arthritis medicines, including disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologics

7. Arthroscopy, which is surgery to remove loose pieces of cartilage or bone spurs around the hip

8. Hip resurfacing to remove and replace damaged bone in the hip socket

9. Arthroplasty, also known as total hip replacement surgery

How to Sit Comfortably With Hip Pain

Managing hip pain while sitting involves adopting the correct posture and engaging in regular, targeted exercises. These strategies help reduce the stress on your hips, enhancing comfort and mobility during prolonged periods of sitting.

To manage hip pain effectively when sitting:

1. Adjust Your Sitting Posture: Achieving and maintaining a proper sitting posture helps distribute your body weight evenly, reducing undue stress on your hip joints. Ensuring your feet are flat and your pelvis is neutral helps prevent hip tilt and strain.

2. Get Comfortable Seating An ergonomic chair supports your body’s natural posture, particularly your spinal curves, and keeps your hips at an optimal angle, reducing the risk of developing pain due to poor sitting habits.

3. Take Frequent Breaks: Regularly standing up and engaging in simple stretches or walks can boost blood flow, decrease muscle stiffness, and prevent hip pain associated with prolonged sitting.

4. Do Strengthening Exercises: Exercises focusing on hip flexors, glutes, and core can fortify the muscles around your hips, offering better support and reducing the likelihood of pain.

5. Heat/Cold Therapy: Applying heat helps relax tight muscles, while cold therapy can reduce inflammation and pain. This therapeutic approach provides immediate relief and can be easily incorporated into your daily routine.

6. Use Mindful Sitting: Being mindful of your sitting habits, like avoiding crossing your legs or sitting on uneven surfaces, can help maintain proper hip alignment and prevent pain from developing or worsening.

7. Get Physical Therapy: Engaging in regular physical activity helps maintain joint lubrication and strengthens muscles around the hips, easing strain. Physical therapists can assess your condition and prescribe specific exercises for improvement.

How to Prevent Hip Pain

Safe and regular exercise, healthy weight management, and a bone-building diet can go a long way to preventing hip pain for years to come. Check out these tips for healthy, happy hips.

1. Move the hip joint with gentle stretches, easy aerobic exercise, aquatic therapy, or mild resistance training to improve circulation and mobility. These can help prevent pain that’s caused by arthritis or overuse.

2. Physical therapy for preexisting injuries or damage to the joints can keep hips in working order.

3. Don’t ignore minor injuries. Treat them so they don’t become major injuries, which can lead to hip pain down the road.

4. For those working at a desk job, switching up your posture by changing chairs, standing while you work, or taking frequent walking or stretching breaks can help the onset of hip pain.

5. Stretch before brisk exercise to ensure the joints are loose, your blood and joint fluids are circulating, and the connective tissues are warm and elastic. Don’t forget to cool down afterward.

6. Listen to your body. If you experience pain in your joints, you might be overdoing it. Take a break to stretch and check in with your joints and muscles.

7. Wear appropriate shoes to cut down on stress not only to the feet but to the ankles and knees, which can lead to hip problems. Avoid exercising on hard, unforgiving surfaces as well. Mild pleasant exercise can go a long way toward preventing hip pain

8. Lose a few pounds; excessive weight puts pressure on the joints, making them less flexible.

Rest adequately after periods of exercise to allow your joints and tissues to complete recovery.

9. Eat a healthy diet to ensure you are building strong bones.

10. Regular exercise helps keep the muscles strong and improves circulation to all of the tissues; when muscles and tissues are flexible and strong, they are less likely to be injured.

11. If you need additional help with walking, don’t ignore your options. Canes, walkers, crutches, and other assistive devices are meant to help you maintain good posture, which is essential for avoiding pain in the back, neck, and hips.

When to See a Hip Pain Specialist

Mild hip pain is often managed with over-the-counter pain relievers, rest, activity modification, and ice, without requiring further intervention. However, individuals experiencing worsening pain, difficulty bearing weight, or pain during walking should seek prompt medical attention. Diagnostic tests, such as X-rays and additional imaging if needed, help rule out fractures or serious conditions. Post-surgical patients with persistent pain beyond expected recovery should also consult a doctor. Timely treatment is crucial to prevent strain on other joints, which can occur when patients change their movement patterns to minimize hip pain.

Make an appointment if:

1. You have persistent or intermittent hip pain.

2. Performing a specific activity, such as running, causes recurring hip pain.

3. You have experienced a loss in range of motion in your hip.

4. Hip pain wakes you from sleep.

5. Hip pain is accompanied by:

- swelling, tenderness in soft tissues around the joint, or redness in the skin in the region of the hip.

- popping or clicking sounds while walking or running

- weakness or instability, and stiffness or reduction in your range of motion

What to Expect at Your Appointment with a Hip Pain Specialist

At your appointment, your doctor will ask about your hip pain, including when it started and what you think caused it. During your physical exam, you’ll also work together to check your hip’s strength and movement.

Before making a diagnosis, your doctor may order tests like:

1. X-rays: Images that can show fractures, injuries, or arthritis in the hip and other bones.

2. Ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans: Detailed images that let your doctor see inside your muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissues.

3. Blood tests: Tests that check for infection or different types of arthritis.

How to Find a Hip Pain Specialist Near Me

It is super important when looking for a hip pain specialist to find a board-certified one in your area. You should also research the type of hip pain you are experiencing. The best way to find a doctor is by word of mouth. Ask around for a recommendation for a doctor who treats hip pain.

There are three main things you want to look for in a doctor who treats hip pain such as:

1. First, look for a doctor who is a board-certified physician. Therefore, they will have formal training. During this training, they learn about musculoskeletal issues. After completing their education, an orthopedist will take their board certification exam. So, make sure yours is certified!

2. Then, check with your insurance company. It’s a good idea to see doctors covered under your insurance plan. Or, if you are OK to self-pay, skip this step.

3. Next, you should find a doctor that specializes in a specific area of concern. A hip pain specialist usually works on diagnosing and preventing injuries to the hip. Therefore, finding an experienced one is crucial.

Sources:

Wellness and Pain

Cleveland Clinic

Capital Surgical

Childrens Hospital

HSS

Aurora Health Care

Medibank

MedicineNet

Van Thiel MD

Center for Spine and Ortho

Synergy Rehab

Hinge Health

Victory Rehab

Very Well Health

Simon Bridle

Coastal Ortho Team

Spine Ortho Center