Joint & Extremity
Hip Pain
From bursitis to total hip replacement — modern hip care.
Hip pain can come from inside the joint (arthritis, labral tears) or outside (bursitis, tendinitis, referred pain from the back). The location and pattern of the pain — groin pain vs. side-of-hip pain vs. buttock pain — points to which structure is involved. Our team handles the full range, from cortisone injections to muscle-sparing direct anterior hip replacement.
Understanding the Condition
What is Hip Pain?
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint where the head of the femur fits into the acetabulum of the pelvis. It's lined with cartilage, sealed by a labrum (a cartilage rim around the socket), and surrounded by powerful muscles that move and stabilize it.
Groin or front-of-hip pain usually comes from inside the joint — arthritis, labral tears, femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Side-of-hip pain (over the bony prominence) is usually trochanteric bursitis or gluteus tendinitis. Buttock pain is often referred from the lumbar spine or sacroiliac joint, not actually a hip problem.
Common Causes
- Hip osteoarthritis (most common cause of true hip joint pain in adults)
- Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)
- Labral tears
- Trochanteric bursitis (lateral hip pain)
- Gluteal tendinopathy
- Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head
- Hip fractures (especially in older adults)
- Referred pain from lumbar spine
Common Symptoms
- Groin pain with walking, sitting, or putting on socks
- Side-of-hip pain when lying on that side
- Stiffness, particularly after rest
- Decreased range of motion (difficulty crossing legs)
- Catching or clicking in the joint
- Pain that radiates to the knee
- Limp
When to Seek Care
When Should You See a Specialist?
See a specialist for hip pain lasting more than 4 weeks, pain that limits walking or daily activity, sudden inability to bear weight (urgent — possible fracture), or any night pain that disturbs sleep. New patients seen within one week.
Treatment Options
How We Treat Hip Pain
We always begin with the least invasive treatment that's likely to work for you. Surgery is reserved for cases where conservative care has been given a fair trial — or when the situation truly requires it.
Conservative (Non-Surgical) Care
- Activity modification and weight management
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Physical therapy with hip and core strengthening
- Image-guided cortisone injections
- PRP injections for select cases
- Stretching and posture correction
Surgical Options
- Direct anterior hip replacement — muscle-sparing approach, faster recovery
- Total hip replacement (posterior or lateral approach)
- Hip resurfacing for select younger active patients
- Hip arthroscopy for labral tears or FAI
- Hip revision for failed prior replacements
- Trochanteric bursectomy for refractory bursitis
Recovery & Outlook
What to Expect After Treatment
Direct anterior hip replacement patients are walking the day of surgery with fewer movement restrictions than traditional approaches. Most return to driving in 2–4 weeks and full activity by 8–12 weeks. Hip implants last 20–25+ years in most patients.
Hip Pain — Frequently Asked Questions
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Get Expert Help for Hip Pain
Our specialists can diagnose your condition and design a personalized treatment plan that gets you back to the life you love.