Condition information
Understanding your pathway
What is hip pain?
Hip pain may be felt in the groin, outer hip, buttock or thigh and can affect walking, stairs and sleep. Pain in this region does not always come from the hip joint itself. Assessment helps distinguish joint symptoms from tendon problems, referred pain and other possible explanations. [1][2]
What can contribute?
Osteoarthritis, injury, tendon problems and irritation around the outer hip are possible contributors. Pain may also be referred from the lower back. Previous hip surgery changes the questions that need to be considered. An implant problem or infection should be assessed before symptoms are attributed solely to persistent pain. [1][3][4]
Common presentations and symptoms
You may notice pain when walking or putting on shoes, reduced hip movement or difficulty lying on one side. Groin and lateral hip symptoms can point towards different problems. A sudden inability to bear weight after a fall needs prompt assessment, even if an injury initially seems minor. [1][3][4]
Assessment and diagnosis
The clinician reviews walking, hip movement, strength and relevant back or neurological findings. X-rays or other investigations are selected according to the clinical question. For typical osteoarthritis, symptoms and examination are important; a scan does not measure how much pain someone should feel or dictate treatment by itself. [1][3][4]
Management options
Supported exercise, activity planning and weight management where relevant are core options for hip osteoarthritis. Medicines and injections have individual risks and limitations. Persistent severe restriction may warrant an orthopaedic opinion. Joint injections and articular nerve procedures address different targets and should not be presented as interchangeable treatments. [1][3][4][5]
When should I seek urgent care?
Seek urgent medical care after a fall with severe hip pain or inability to bear weight, or for a hot, swollen joint with fever. New leg weakness or bladder or bowel problems requires urgent assessment. Call 000 for serious injury or sudden breathlessness or chest pain. [1][3][4]
Multidisciplinary care and self-management
Persistent pain can affect more than one part of life. Physiotherapy, psychological support and medical care may be combined according to your needs. Psychological care addresses the effects of pain and ways of coping; it does not imply that pain is imagined. Discuss an activity plan you can sustain rather than alternating between doing too much and stopping completely. [5][2]
Preparing for your consultation
Bring a current medicine list, relevant scan reports and details of treatments you have tried. Describe what each treatment changed, any adverse effects and the activities you most want to regain. You may wish to bring a support person. Ask what the assessment can clarify, what remains uncertain and which decisions can reasonably wait.
Follow-up and questions to ask
Agree how progress will be judged: for example, walking tolerance, sleep, work participation or confidence with a daily task. Ask when to review the plan and what changes should prompt earlier contact. Discuss potential benefits, limitations, costs and alternatives before starting treatment. If a plan is not helping, review its purpose instead of assuming that more of the same treatment is always needed. [6]
Sources and further reading
Sources support the statements cited above. Overseas guidance may describe different services or eligibility rules. A procedure leaflet explains a technique and its risks; it does not establish that the treatment is effective for every condition.
- Hip pain — Healthdirect Australia
- Chronic pain — Healthdirect Australia
- Osteoarthritis in over 16s: recommendations — NICE
- Leg pain — Healthdirect Australia
- Options for chronic pain management — Healthdirect Australia
- Procedures in pain medicine clinical care standard — Faculty of Pain Medicine, ANZCA