What Is Hip Pain?
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint where the top of the thigh bone fits into the pelvis. Smooth cartilage lets the joint move, strong muscles and tendons around it power walking and climbing, and fluid-filled sacs called bursae cushion the outside of the hip. Where you feel the pain is an important clue. Pain in the groin or front of the hip often comes from the joint itself, pain on the outside of the hip usually involves tendons or a bursa, and pain in the buttock may start in the lower back.
Common Causes of Hip Pain
Hip Osteoarthritis
Wear of the cartilage inside the joint can cause groin pain and stiffness, especially when putting on shoes and socks or getting out of a car. Learn more about arthritis treatment.
Bursitis and Tendon Pain on the Outer Hip
Irritation of the bursa or the gluteal tendons on the outside of the hip causes tenderness that is often worse when lying on that side, climbing stairs or standing up after sitting. See tendonitis treatment.
Muscle Strain and Trigger Points
Strained hip flexor or buttock muscles, and tight knots within them, can cause aching, stiffness and pain with movement.
Cartilage Tears
A tear in the labrum, the ring of cartilage around the hip socket, may cause groin pain along with clicking or catching.
Pain Coming From the Lower Back
A problem in the lower back can be felt in the buttock and hip. When the pain also travels down the leg, it may be sciatica rather than a hip problem.
Hip Pain Symptoms
Initial Symptoms Include:
- Aching in the groin, outer hip or buttock
- Stiffness after sitting or first thing in the morning
- Discomfort climbing stairs or getting in and out of a car
Over Time, Additional Symptoms Include:
- Pain when lying on the affected side
- A limp, or being able to walk less far
- Clicking, catching or reduced range of motion
- Pain that spreads into the thigh
When to See a Doctor
Make an appointment if hip pain lasts more than a few weeks, keeps you awake or changes the way you walk.
Seek emergency care right away if:
- You fall and cannot stand or put weight on the leg, or the leg looks shorter or turned outward
- The hip is very painful and you have a fever or chills, which can be a sign of infection
- Hip or buttock pain comes with numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or loss of bladder or bowel control
- The pain is sudden and severe with no clear cause
Why Choose Dr. D’Alessio for Hip Pain
- Physician-Led Care
Dr. Donna D’Alessio is board-certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, a medical specialty focused on restoring movement and function for people with muscle, joint and nerve conditions. - Joint, Tendon or Back
Groin pain, outer hip pain and pain coming from the lower back each call for different care, so the plan starts with finding the true source. - Close to Home
Our office is on Main Road in Towaco, in Montville Township, and is convenient for patients from Boonton, Parsippany and Kinnelon.
Learn More About Dr. D’Alessio
How Dr. D’Alessio Evaluates Hip Pain
Dr. D’Alessio asks exactly where you feel the pain, when it started, which activities bring it on and what you have already tried. She watches how you walk, checks how the hip moves and how strong the surrounding muscles are, and presses on tender areas around the joint. She may also examine your lower back, since back problems are a common source of pain felt in the hip. If she needs more information before recommending treatment, she will explain what and why.
Hip Pain Treatment Options in Montville, NJ
Treatment depends on the source of your pain, your health history and your goals. Non-surgical options offered through our pain management practice include:
Ultrasound-Guided Joint Injections
Ultrasound-guided joint injections use ultrasound to place medication precisely. A steroid injection may calm inflammation in an arthritic hip.
Ultrasound-Guided Bursa Injections
When an inflamed bursa on the outside of the hip is the problem, an ultrasound-guided bursa injection can target the tender area directly.
PRP Joint Injections
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), prepared from a small sample of your own blood, may help relieve pain from hip arthritis and irritated tendons.
Trigger Point Injections and Massage Therapy
For tight, painful muscles around the hip and buttock, trigger point injections and massage therapy can relieve muscle tension and may make movement easier.
What to Expect
Most injections take place during a short office visit, and many patients return to their usual routine soon afterwards. Some soreness, bruising or swelling where the needle went in is common and usually settles. You will receive aftercare instructions for your treatment, and some treatments, such as PRP, may be given as a series. Dr. D’Alessio will explain what is realistic for your hip and adjust the plan if needed.
Interested in Finding Out More?
If hip pain is making it hard to walk, sleep or keep up with your day, our team in Montville is here to help.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the outside of my hip hurt when I lie on it?
Pain on the outer hip that is worse when lying on that side often comes from an irritated bursa or gluteal tendons rather than the hip joint itself. An examination can tell the difference.
Is my hip pain actually coming from my back?
It can be. Problems in the lower back often cause pain in the buttock and hip, and pain that travels below the knee suggests a nerve is involved. Dr. D’Alessio examines both areas.
Can PRP help hip pain?
PRP injections may help relieve pain from hip arthritis and some tendon problems. Whether PRP suits you depends on the cause of your pain, which Dr. D’Alessio will discuss at your consultation.
When is hip pain an emergency?
Get emergency care if you fall and cannot stand or put weight on the leg, if the hip is very painful and you have a fever, or if hip or buttock pain comes with numbness in the groin or loss of bladder or bowel control.
I live outside Montville. Can I be seen for hip pain?
Yes. Patients from across New Jersey visit Montville Medspa & Pain Center for non-surgical pain care.
Related treatments
Pain Management in Montville
Pain can affect every aspect of your life, from mobility and mood to sleep and productivity.
Non-Surgical Arthritis Pain Relief in New Jersey
Arthritis is a chronic condition marked by inflammation in one or more joints, causing pain, stiffness, swelling, and limited mobility.
PRP Joint Injections in Montville, NJ
At Montville Medspa & Pain Center, we understand how debilitating joint pain can be.
Sciatica & Herniated Disc Treatment in Montville, NJ
Sciatica is pain that travels from the lower back into the leg, often because of a herniated disc. Dr. D’Alessio looks for the cause and explains the non-surgical options that may help.