Hip Pain

The hip is the joint between the upper legs and the lower pelvis. The bones, cartilage, tendons, and muscles of your hip joint support your body and allow you to move around.

Hip pain can range from a minor ache to severe pain in one or both of your hips. The pain may be felt on the inside of the hip joint near the groin, or the outside near the buttocks and upper thigh. You may also have swelling or stiffness.

Follow these instructions at home:

Managing pain, stiffness, and swelling

• If directed, apply ice to the injured area.
  • Put ice in a plastic bag.
  • Place a towel between your skin and the bag.
  • Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day
• Sleep with a pillow between your legs on your most comfortable side.
• Avoid any activities that cause pain.

General instructions

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Do any exercises as told by your health care provider.
• Record the following:
  • How often you have hip pain.
  • The location of your pain.
  • What the pain feels like.
  • What makes the pain worse.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You cannot put weight on your leg.
• Your pain or swelling continues or gets worse after one week.
• It gets harder to walk.
• You have a fever.

Get help right away if:

• You fall.
• You have a sudden increase in pain and swelling in your hip.
• Your hip is red or swollen or very tender to touch.

Summary

• Hip pain can range from a minor ache to severe pain in one or both of your hips.
• The pain may be felt on the inside of the hip joint near the groin, or the outside near the buttocks and upper thigh.
• Avoid any activities that cause pain.
• Record how often you have hip pain, the location of the pain, what makes it worse and what it feels like.