The hip is a large joint that supports your body, as you stand, walk, run, bend and stretch, so there are plenty of causes of hip pain. Hip pain involves any pain in or around the hip joint, but you may also feel pain in your groin, thigh or knee originating from a hip problem.
The most common cause of hip pain in adults which will typically require surgical intervention is osteoarthritis, commonly known as wear-and-tear arthritis.
When osteoarthritis affects the hip, it typically presents as:
• Mild inflammation of the tissues surrounding the hip joint
• Damage to cartilage, the resilient tissue lining the bones
• Development of bony growths (osteophytes) around the periphery of the hip joint
These will result in pain, stiffness, and challenges in performing specific activities.
What causes hip pain?
Osteoarthritis is the most common cause but, occasionally, hip pain may stem from:
What treatments are there for hip pain?
Hip pain often improves with rest and over-the-counter pain relievers. It can sometimes be caused by overexercising, so also reduce excessive exercise, make sure you stretch before and after exercising and consider low-impact exercises like swimming or cycling instead of running.
If at-home measure do not improve symptoms, the first step is to arrange a consultation with a hip specialist to discover the underlying cause. Mr Sulaiman Alazzawi will take a full history of your symptoms, as well as perform a physical examination and order any relevant diagnostic tests and scans if required.
When should you seek medical attention?
If you have a sudden onset of hip pain or a fever or rash accompanies ongoing hip pain, then seek arrange to see your local GP. If hip pain is the result of a severe fall or accident, the leg appears deformed, extensively bruised, or bleeding, you are unable to move the hip or bear weight on the leg, and you have a fever and feel unwell, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Mr Sulaiman Alazzawi is a Consultant Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon based at St Georges University Hospital and the South West Elective Orthopaedic Centre in Epsom. He specialises in hip and knee replacements and treating painful joint replacements. His private practice is based at Fortius Clinic and Parkside Hospital in Wimbledon and Spire St Anthony’s Hospital in Sutton.
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