Rapid Orthopedic Care

Pain in the “hip” is a fairly a common complaint that can be caused by numerous conditions. The exact location of your pain often provides the most important information about the potential cause of your hip pain.

Problems within the hip joint itself tend to result in pain on the inside of your hip or your groin. If the pain is located on the side of the hip, the upper thigh or in the buttock, the pain is usually caused by problems with the connective tissues or muscles that surround your hip joint.

It is very common for lower back problems to cause pain in the outer hip, or buttock. This is not true “hip pain” as this type of pain is not coming from a problem within the hip joint.

Hip pain may be caused by arthritis, injuries or other problems.

Arthritis

The most common type of arthritis affecting the hip joint is osteoarthritis. Other types of arthritis include Rheumatoid arthritis, Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis, and septic arthritis (an infection in the hip joint). Bursitis of the hip is a type of hip pain caused by inflammation that is outside of the hip joint. Pain related to bursitis is often located on the outside of the hip (above the outer thigh).

Sacroiliitis is a type of “hip” pain that is caused by inflammation in the sacroiliac joint. That is the joint the joins the lower back bones to the pelvis. This type of pain can be experienced in the lower back region below the waist line, buttock, and groin.

Injuries

Injuries of the hip include hip fractures, labral tears, inguinal hernias, sprains, and tendintis.

Pinched nerves

Pinched nerves can be associated with pain that is experienced in the hip region. The most common cause is “sciatica” due to a pinched nerve in the lower back (usually caused by a disc problem). The condition called “meralgia paresthetica” is associated with pain, numbness, and tingling in the upper outer thigh.

When should I seek attention at ROC for hip pain?

Get immediate transportation to ROC if your hip pain is much than usual, caused by an injury and especially if is accompanied by severe pain around the joint, buttock or groin, difficulty walking, or tenderness in the muscles around hip and buttock.

When should I seek attention in an Emergency Room for hip pain?

You should seek immediate emergency medical attention for the following:

• A joint that appears deformed
• Inability to move your leg or hip
• Inability to bear weight on the affected leg
• Intense pain
• Sudden swelling
• Any signs of infection (fever, chills, redness)