Hip
Hip pain
Pain felt in the hip joint, groin, outer thigh or buttock — most often from wear-and-tear arthritis, inflamed tendons or the bursa, or referred from the lower back — which is usually manageable but occasionally signals a fracture, a joint infection or a serious cause that needs urgent care.
Education and reference only. This explains the common causes of hip pain and the warning signs that need urgent help, in plain language — it is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a clinician. If you feel very unwell or are worried, seek medical help.
Quick answer
What is hip pain?
Hip pain is common and the exact site of the pain offers useful clues to its origin. Pain felt deep in the groin or front of the hip usually comes from the joint itself, as with osteoarthritis, whereas pain over the bony point on the outer thigh more often comes from inflamed tendons or the bursa that cushions them.
- Get urgent help: Go to A&E if you cannot put weight on your leg or stand after a fall, especially if you are older or have thin bones — this may be a broken hip. Go to A&E if your hip becomes hot, swollen and very painful with a fever, as this can mean an infected joint.
- Self-care: For hip pain that a clinician has confirmed comes from a non-urgent cause such as arthritis or tendon strain, gentle movement is better than complete rest: keep the joint moving within comfortable limits and avoid long periods of sitting that stiffen it.
About hip pain
Hip pain is common and the exact site of the pain offers useful clues to its origin. Pain felt deep in the groin or front of the hip usually comes from the joint itself, as with osteoarthritis, whereas pain over the bony point on the outer thigh more often comes from inflamed tendons or the bursa that cushions them. Pain in the buttock that shoots down the leg is frequently referred from the lower back rather than the hip joint. In older people the hip becomes more vulnerable because bones thin with age, so a fall — sometimes a surprisingly minor one — can cause a fracture, classically leaving the person unable to put weight on the leg with the foot turned outwards. A hot, swollen, very painful hip with fever is a different emergency, suggesting infection in the joint. Most hip pain, however, builds up gradually and responds to weight management, activity adjustment and exercises that strengthen the surrounding muscles.
When to get help
Call 999 or go to A&E if hip pain comes with any of these warning signs:
- Go to A&E if you cannot put weight on your leg or stand after a fall, especially if you are older or have thin bones — this may be a broken hip.
- Go to A&E if your hip becomes hot, swollen and very painful with a fever, as this can mean an infected joint.
- Seek urgent help if hip or thigh pain follows a fall and your leg looks shortened or turned outwards.
- Seek urgent help for hip pain with unexplained weight loss, night sweats or a deep constant ache that is worse at night.
- Seek urgent help if you lose control of your bladder or bowels, or develop numbness around the back passage, alongside hip or back pain.
When to see a doctor
Get emergency help if hip pain follows a fall and you cannot bear weight, or if the hip is hot, swollen and feverish. Book an urgent appointment for hip pain with weight loss, night sweats or pain that is constant and worse at night. For gradual hip pain that limits walking, disturbs sleep or is not improving with rest and gentle exercise over a few weeks, arrange a routine appointment so the cause can be confirmed and a treatment and exercise plan started.
Not sure how urgent it is? It is always OK to call NHS 111 for advice, day or night.
What can cause it
Common causes of hip pain
Hip pain has many possible causes. Each links to a full, plain-language guide to that condition — what it is, how it's treated and when to seek help.
What helps
Self-care and what you can do
For hip pain that a clinician has confirmed comes from a non-urgent cause such as arthritis or tendon strain, gentle movement is better than complete rest: keep the joint moving within comfortable limits and avoid long periods of sitting that stiffen it. Losing excess weight reduces the load through the joint, and low-impact activities such as swimming, cycling or walking on level ground are easier on the hip than running or jumping. Strengthening the muscles around the hip and buttock under guidance from a physiotherapist improves support and pain. A warm bath or heat pack can ease stiffness, while a supportive mattress and sleeping with a pillow between the knees can reduce night pain. Avoid the specific movements that consistently flare your pain.
Answers
Hip pain: frequently asked questions
Is hip pain always coming from the hip joint?
No. Pain felt around the hip can be referred from the lower back, as with sciatica, or come from tendons and the bursa on the outside of the hip rather than the joint itself. The exact site of the pain helps a clinician work out the source.
When does hip pain need emergency care?
Go to A&E if you cannot stand or put weight on the leg after a fall, particularly if you are older or have thin bones, or if the hip becomes hot, swollen and painful with a fever. These suggest a fracture or a joint infection.
Will exercise make my hip arthritis worse?
Generally no. For arthritis, gentle regular movement and strengthening the muscles around the hip usually reduce pain and stiffness, while complete rest tends to make the joint stiffer. A physiotherapist can guide safe exercises for you.
Can losing weight help hip pain?
Yes. Carrying less weight reduces the load passing through the hip joint with every step, which can ease pain from arthritis and improve how far you can walk comfortably.
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NICE CKS: Hip pain.
- Versus Arthritis: hip pain.
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