When you feel hip pain, discomfort in the joint connecting your thigh bone to your pelvis. Also known as groin or outer thigh pain, it often gets mistaken for back issues—but it’s your hip joint sending the signal. This isn’t just "getting older." It can be arthritis, a muscle tear, bursitis, or even a problem in your lower spine that’s radiating down. Many people ignore it until walking becomes painful or sleeping on that side is impossible.
Arthritis, the wear-and-tear or autoimmune breakdown of joint cartilage is the most common cause, especially after 50. But muscle strain, tightness in the hip flexors or glutes from sitting too long or overtraining can mimic it too. Then there’s bursitis, inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the hip joint, often from repetitive motion or pressure. And if you’ve had a fall, even a minor one, a stress fracture might be the real culprit—something an X-ray might miss if you don’t ask for it.
What you do next matters. Painkillers might hide the symptom, but they don’t fix the cause. Physical therapy can rebuild strength and movement if caught early. Weight loss reduces pressure on the joint—every pound lost cuts four pounds off your hip. And if your pain is constant, worse at night, or makes you limp, it’s time to rule out something serious like avascular necrosis or a labral tear. You don’t need surgery right away, but you do need answers.
The articles below cover real cases and science-backed solutions. You’ll find what actually works for hip pain—from how to spot early warning signs, to what medications help (and which ones don’t), to when a hip replacement becomes the only smart choice. No fluff. No guesses. Just what patients and doctors have learned through experience and data.
Hip pain from labral tears and arthritis doesn't have to mean surgery. Learn how activity modification, targeted exercises, and smart movement changes can reduce pain, delay progression, and keep you moving longer.
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