Hip pain is a very common condition that can be caused by several different problems. The location of your hip pain can provide more insight as to what could be causing the pain. For example, pain on the inside of your hip or groin may be caused by problems with the hip joint. Pain on the outside of the hip, glutes, or upper thigh can be caused by muscle, tendon, ligament or soft tissue problems.
In some cases, hip pain can be caused by conditions or diseases in other parts of the body, such as the lower back. This type of pain is known as referred pain.
Minor hip pain can be due to anatomic abnormalities that could warrant an evaluation by a physician. If you have minor hip pain you could try:
Seek immediate medical attention if these methods don’t work, your hip pain is caused by an injury and is accompanied by:
In order to diagnose hip pain, your doctor will likely need to perform a physical exam. This exam can include a few questions regarding the joint pain and walking to observe the abnormal hip in motion.
Your doctor may also perform a range of fluid tests (blood samples, joint fluid, urine) and imaging tests to diagnose your condition. Imaging tests will provide a detailed look into your cartilage, bones and other tissues that may be causing your hip pain. These tests can include:
Some common hip diagnoses include:
While accidents can happen sometimes, you can be proactive and prevent hip pain by:
The world-renowned staff at Banner Health is here to help you with any hip pain or problems you may encounter.