Hip pain can show up in the groin, the outer hip, the buttock or even the thigh, and it can make walking, sleeping on your side or getting in and out of a car uncomfortable. Pain in this area doesn’t always come from the hip joint itself. At Innovation Spine Medical, we pinpoint the source of your hip pain, including whether it may be coming from your lower back, before recommending treatment.
Pain in the groin or front of the hip
Pain on the outer side of the hip, often worse when lying on that side
Stiffness or reduced range of motion
Pain with walking, climbing stairs or standing up
Clicking, catching or a limp
Pain that spreads into the thigh or knee
Wear of the cartilage in the hip joint, often felt as groin pain and stiffness.
Inflammation of the bursa or irritation of the gluteal tendons on the outer hip, often called greater trochanteric pain syndrome.
A tear in the ring of cartilage around the hip socket can cause groin pain and clicking.
Strains of the hip flexors, groin or gluteal muscles from activity or injury.
Problems in the lower back or sacroiliac joint can cause pain felt in the hip or buttock.
Consider an evaluation if hip pain lasts more than a few weeks, limits walking or sleep, or keeps returning. Chronic hip pain that has lasted three months or longer usually benefits from a careful diagnosis.
Seek emergency care after a fall if you can’t put weight on the leg or the leg looks shortened or turned, or if the hip is hot and swollen with fever.
Call our office if you notice redness, warmth or drainage at an injection site, a fever, pain or swelling that keeps getting worse, or new numbness or weakness.
Seek emergency care right away if you have trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat.
Your provider reviews your symptoms, tests your hip’s motion and strength, and checks your lower back and SI joint, since they can cause similar pain. X-rays, MRI or ultrasound may be reviewed or ordered.
Depending on your diagnosis, treatment may include:
a regenerative option for some tendon problems and early arthritis.
Hip joint problems often cause groin pain, while back-related pain is more often felt in the buttock and may travel down the leg. An exam helps tell the difference.
Outer hip pain at night is often linked to bursitis or irritated gluteal tendons.
Many causes of hip pain improve with physical therapy, activity changes and injections. Surgery is considered when other options don’t help enough.
A plan that addresses the cause and builds strength around the hip usually helps most. Your provider will tailor it to you.
Schedule an evaluation at our Rego Park office to get to the source of your hip pain.
