Don't Let Hip Pain Hold You Back
Our hip specialists create personalized treatment plans.
Hip Pain: Causes and Treatments
Hip pain is common in adults and has many causes, including overexertion during exercise or sports, prolonged sitting, or wear and tear from aging.
You may feel hip pain when walking, climbing stairs, bending, or trying to sleep. Most hip pain has a clear cause and improves with rest and at-home treatments.
If your hip pain persists and interferes with your daily activities, make an appointment with a Corewell Health orthopedic specialist. Our experts listen to your concerns, diagnose and treat your hip pain, and help you get back in motion.
What hip pain feels like
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint where the thigh bone meets the pelvis. The top of the thigh bone forms the ball, and the pelvis forms the socket.
Where you feel hip pain can help point to the cause:
- Pain in the front of the hip or groin often involves the hip joint itself
- Pain on the outside of the hip may come from surrounding muscles, tendons, or bursae
- Pain that starts in the lower back and moves into the hip may be referred
Hip pain can begin after intense activities, such as working out or playing competitive sports, or during everyday movements. Some people notice hip pain at night that makes it hard to sleep or stiffness in the morning when first getting up.
What causes hip pain
Overuse, joint conditions, structural problems in the hip, or injuries such as fractures can cause hip pain. Identifying the cause helps guide the right treatment.
Hip osteoarthritis
The cartilage that cushions the hip joints wears down over time, causing the bones to rub against each other. Hip osteoarthritis typically causes groin pain and stiffness, especially upon waking, after prolonged sitting, or when walking and climbing stairs. Pain often worsens at night.
Hip osteoarthritis is the most common cause of hip pain in adults over 50.
Hip bursitis
Hip tendinitis
Muscle strain (hip flexor strain)
Hip impingement (femoral acetabular impingement, FAI)
Hip labral tear
Hip fracture
Referred pain
When to see a doctor for hip pain
Knowing when to see a doctor for hip pain can help identify the cause and start the right treatment.
See a doctor if your hip pain:
- Lasts more than several days, even after rest and at-home treatments
- Causes stiffness that limits walking or movement
- Interferes with sleep
Seek emergency care if you have:
- A fever with hip pain
- A visible deformity of the hip or leg
- Pain that makes it hard to stand, sit, or bear weight
- Severe hip pain after a fall or injury
Treating hip pain
Hip pain treatment focuses on relieving pain and helping you return to normal activities. Most hip pain can improve with at-home treatments, physical therapy, or injections. More complex hip conditions that cause chronic pain and interfere with daily life may require minimally invasive surgery.
At-home treatments
Hip pain from overuse and physical exertion often improves on its own with at-home treatments.
The RICE method — rest, ice, compression, and elevation — helps reduce swelling and lets the hip rest from physical activity.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications can help with inflammation. Check with your doctor before starting a new medication and take as directed.
If hip pain persists after self-care, make an appointment with an orthopedic specialist. They will complete a physical exam and review your symptoms. You may need imaging tests, such as an X-ray or MRI.
Physical therapy
Injections
Hip surgery
Find relief from hip pain
From diagnosis to treatment, expert hip care is designed around your needs.