Hip Pain Causes and Symptoms: Our Ultimate Guide

What are the Most Common Causes of Hip Pain?

There are many different possible causes of hip pain. It could be caused by an injury or by a long-term problem such as arthritis. Some of the more common reasons for hip pain and their symptoms include:

Sprains or strains after doing intense or repetitive exercise.

You may feel pain, swelling or have bruising.

Hip fractures after a fall or injury.

A fracture will likely cause severe pain and prevent you from being able to move your hip or bear weight on the injured side.

Some longer-lasting hip problems may include:

Osteoarthritis, which is caused by breakdown of the cartilage at the end of the bones and sometimes bony growths that can develop, causing redness and swelling.

Symptoms include joint pain, stiffness and for some people, swelling, tenderness and a grating or crackling sound when moving their joint. The pain usually feels worse while walking or after moving around. Osteoarthritis generally affects people over the age of 45.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints, which may feel worse after not moving for some time.

Hip pain may be mild to moderate and develop gradually over time, or it can develop within a few days. Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in women, smokers and those with family members who have the condition.

Should Your Hip Pain Be a Cause for Concern?

There are many causes of hip pain that should be medically diagnosed and treated. If you’re concerned, you should seek advice from a healthcare professional.

When to see a doctor

• If your hip pain is stopping you doing normal activities or affecting your sleep
• If your hip pain is getting worse or keeps coming back
• If you experience hip stiffness for more than 30 minutes after waking up

When to seek immediate help or call 111

• If you have severe, sudden hip pain but you've not had a fall or injured your hip
• If your hip is swollen and feels hot
• If the skin around your hip has changed colour
• If you have hip pain, feel generally unwell and have a high temperature or feel hot and shivery

When to call 999 or go to A&E

• If you have severe hip pain after a fall or injury
• If you're unable to walk or put weight on your leg
• If you have any tingling or loss of feeling in your hip or leg after an injury

How To Manage Mild Hip Pain

While many causes of hip pain will need to be managed by a doctor, sprains, strains and minor injuries can usually be treated at home. Here are some things you can try:

Rest: With a sprain or strain, you may need to rest and refrain from exercising for 2 to 3 days if the pain is stopping you from moving.

Cold: You may want to try putting an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas) in a towel on the painful area for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours during the day only, for the first 2 to 3 days if needed. (Do not leave cold packs on the body when you’re sleeping.)

Gentle Movement: Once the pain starts to subside, keep the joint and muscles moving to avoid stiffness from developing. You can try gentle regular hip stretching exercises if you are able. Whilst it’s best to keep moving if you can, try not overdo it and avoid putting too much pressure or strain on your hip or repetitive movement that might worsen your pain Speak to a healthcare professional if the pain worsens or prevents you from moving.

Medicine for pain and inflammation

• Paracetamol or ibuprofen may help with pain relief. Ibuprofen also has anti-inflammatory properties.
• Nurofen Express 200mg Liquid Capsules contain ibuprofen that helps to relieve rheumatic and muscular pain.
• Alternatively you can also try creams or gels, such as Nurofen® Joint and Back Pain Relief Max Strength 10% Gel. It contains ibuprofen, which has anti-inflammatory properties, and can be massaged onto painful areas to help relieve pain from sprains, strains and sports injuries.

Physiotherapy and Massage therapy

• Physiotherapy or massage may help to keep you moving if you have arthritis or other types of hip pain, or your doctor may recommend physiotherapy to assist with recovery and improve your strength and movement after surgery.

Weight Management

• If you're overweight, losing weight may help reduce pressure on your hip joints particularly if you have arthritis. If you’re struggling to manage your weight it’s a good idea to speak to your doctor or a dietitian about effective strategies that can help.

The information provided is for general advice only and is not intended to diagnose any condition or as a personalised product or treatment recommendation. If you are concerned, or if your symptoms continue, please seek advice from your GP, pharmacist or physiotherapist.

FAQs

How do I know if my hip pain is serious?

Severe pain, injury from a fall or constant pain are not the only reasons to seek medical advice for hip pain. Read more about when to get medical advice or help here.

What is the usual cause of hip pain?

There can be several causes of hip pain, read more about some of the common reasons, here.

When might you need a hip replacement?

Surgery may be required to repair, strengthen or replace a hip joint if significant damage within the hip joint is causing severe and ongoing pain.

What does hip arthritis feel like?

Rheumatoid arthritis causes pain swelling and stiffness, in the joints and may unexpectedly become worse for a time (known as “flare-ups”). Joints might also be stiff for longer than 30 minutes in the morning. Osteoarthritis of the hip may cause pain, stiffness, swelling and tenderness and cause problems moving the joints, along with a grating or crackling sound when moving. It might not feel stiff in the mornings or the stiffness goes away in less than 30 minutes. Read more here about osteoarthritis.

Always read the product label and the leaflet inside the packet carefully and follow the instructions before taking any medicines. Speak to a pharmacist or your doctor, if you are unsure of how to take any medicines.

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