Pain Management Specialists & Private Medical Practice in San Diego, La Mesa and Chula Vista, California
Hip pain has a way of quietly changing your life. At first, it might be subtle—a slight stiffness when you stand up, a mild ache after a long walk, or discomfort when climbing stairs. It’s easy to brush it off, to tell yourself it will go away on its own. But over time, it can become something more persistent. You may begin to notice that simple movements—getting out of bed, sitting for long periods, walking, or even sleeping—start to feel uncomfortable. Activities you once enjoyed may become harder to do. And slowly, without realizing it, your world may start to feel a little smaller.
Hip pain can begin in the joint, surrounding tendons or bursae, nearby nerves, or the lower back. The location of symptoms and the movements that provoke them help guide diagnosis and care.
The hip is one of the largest and most important joints in your body.
It is a ball-and-socket joint, where:
This design allows for a wide range of motion, including:
Because the hip supports much of your body weight, it is especially vulnerable to wear, strain, and injury over time. Hip pain can be:
Understanding what’s causing your pain is the first step toward effective treatment.
Hip pain doesn’t always feel the same for everyone.
You may experience:
Some patients feel pain primarily in the groin area, while others feel it on the outer hip or even in the buttocks. The location of your pain can provide important clues about its cause.
Hip pain can develop for many different reasons—some related to injury, others to long-term wear and tear.
One of the most common causes of hip pain is osteoarthritis. This occurs when the cartilage that cushions the joint wears down over time. Symptoms include:
Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction in the joint. When they become inflamed, it leads to bursitis. Symptoms include:
Tendinitis occurs when tendons become inflamed due to overuse. Common in:
The labrum is a ring of cartilage that surrounds the hip socket. A tear can cause:
Overstretching or tearing of muscles around the hip can lead to pain and stiffness.
Occurs when bones of the hip joint rub against each other abnormally.
Conditions such as sciatica can cause pain that radiates into the hip.
More common in older adults or after falls.
Sometimes hip pain originates from another area, such as the lower back.
A proper diagnosis is essential to effective treatment.
Your provider will ask:
This includes:
Used to pinpoint the exact source of pain.
Treatment depends on the cause, severity, and impact on your daily life.
Helps:
Reduce inflammation and provide targeted relief.
Specifically target inflamed bursae.
Interrupts pain signals for longer-lasting relief.
Uses your body’s own healing factors to support recovery.
For chronic or complex hip pain, neuromodulation therapies may be considered.
These therapies work by:
Patients often experience:
Surgery may be recommended when:
Procedures may include:
Regular movement helps maintain joint health.
Focus on:
Reduces stress on the hip joint.
Avoid strain during lifting or movement.
Hip pain can affect more than your physical ability—it can impact your independence.
You may feel:
Arrange an evaluation when hip pain persists, worsens, or limits movement. Seek urgent care for:
Call 911 for a serious injury or sudden neurological symptoms.
California Pain Consultants evaluates hip pain in the context of your mobility, health history, and goals so treatment can focus on the most likely source and the activities that matter to you.
Medical reference: MedlinePlus: Hip Injuries and Disorders. Related California Pain resources: Radiofrequency ablation · Conditions and treatments. This article is for general education and does not replace an individualized medical evaluation. Treatment recommendations depend on diagnosis, health history, current medications, and personal goals.
Hip pain may begin in the joint or in nearby muscles, tendons, bursae, nerves, or the lower back. These answers explain evaluation and treatment options.
Pain from the hip joint is often felt in the groin or front of the thigh, while outer-hip pain may involve tendons or a bursa. Pain in the buttock can also come from the spine or sacroiliac region.
Common causes include osteoarthritis, bursitis, tendon problems, muscle strain, labral injury, fracture, and referred pain from the back. Age, injury, activity, and medical history help guide the evaluation.
A clinician examines walking, range of motion, strength, tenderness, and movements that reproduce pain. X-rays are often useful for bones and arthritis, while ultrasound, MRI, or laboratory testing may be considered for other suspected causes.
Yes. Irritated spinal nerves, facet joints, or sacroiliac structures can cause pain around the buttock or hip. Numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain below the knee may suggest a nerve-related source.
Depending on the diagnosis, care may include activity modification, physical therapy, gradual strengthening, weight management, assistive devices, and appropriate medications. Treatment should protect function without unnecessarily avoiding all movement.
Consider specialist evaluation when pain persists, limits walking or sleep, or has not improved with initial orthopedic or primary care. A pain specialist can help distinguish joint, tendon, bursa, spine, and nerve sources.
A guided injection may help selected patients with inflammation or arthritis and can sometimes clarify whether the hip joint is the pain source. Relief varies, and the risks and frequency limits should be discussed beforehand.
Gentle walking may maintain mobility for some conditions, but the safe amount depends on the diagnosis and symptoms. Sharp pain, limping, or worsening symptoms are signals to reduce activity and seek individualized guidance.
No. Many causes are treated without surgery, and even hip arthritis may be managed conservatively for a time. Replacement is considered when joint damage and disability are substantial and expected benefits outweigh surgical risks.
Seek urgent care after a fall if you cannot stand or the leg appears shortened or rotated. Also seek prompt care for a hot swollen joint, fever, sudden severe pain, new weakness, or loss of bowel or bladder control.
Your comprehensive treatment plan will help you eliminate chronic pain and get you back into a healthy life.
Imagine if chronic pain wasn’t holding you back every day. We believe you should be treated the way we would treat our own mom or dad which is how we have treated our patients for the past 15 years.
Just follow this simple plan:
Request your
appointment at a
clinic near you!
Consult with your personal expert mental health team and develop a plan.
Find the relief and dignity you have been searching for.
You can defeat chronic pain.
We can help.
It’s wrong to miss out on the best parts of life because of chronic pain. You don’t have to put up with feeling older than you are. We can help you regain your vibrant life again.
At California Pain Consultants, we know that you want to get back to living a pain-free life. To do that you need a pain management team you can trust. The problem is there are so many pain clinics that do not listen to you and treat you like a statistic which makes you feel frustrated.
We understand your pain and suffering. We believe you should be treated the way we would treat our own mom or dad which is how we have treated our patients for the past 15 years.
So, request an appointment today. And in the meantime, watch this patient success story. So, you can stop struggling with pain and instead get back to living your life again.
If you suffer from chronic pain, contact us today. We can help you get back on your feet with your personal comprehensive treatment plan.
