This Issue Is Likely Causing The Sharp Stabbing Pain In Your Hip
A few issues can cause pain and dysfunction in your hip joints. Hip osteoarthritis and referred pain from the lower back can easily cause hips to be painful. However, people who are feeling sharp, stabbing pains in their hip are likely dealing with an issue called femoroacetabular impingement .
FAI occurs when the rim of cartilage around the socket of the hip joint, or labrum, is damaged or torn. Typically, this condition leads to symptoms such as:
- Sharp, stabbing pain in the groin area or outer hip
- Discomfort when sitting, particularly in low seats
- Catching, popping, snapping or clicking sensations in the hip
Is Walking Good For Hip Pain
Even if you have arthritis in a weight-bearing joint like your knee or hip, walking is the best way to begin the transition from inactive to active. Walking can help relieve arthritis pain, but its not the only thing it can do for you. The benefits of walking are many.
It can reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, depression, anxiety, dementia, Alzheimers, Parkinsons and other neurodegenerative diseases, as well as improve your quality of life, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons . Walking can also help you lose weight, which is good for your waistline and overall health.
Urgent Advice: Ask For An Urgent Gp Appointment Or Get Help From Nhs 111 If:
- you have severe hip pain that started suddenly but you’ve not had a fall or injured your hip
- your hip is swollen and feels hot
- the skin around your hip has changed colour
- you have hip pain and feel generally unwell and have a high temperature or feel hot and shivery
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.
- Severe pain:
-
- always there and so bad it’s hard to think or talk
- you cannot sleep
- it’s very hard to move, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, wash or dress
- Moderate pain:
-
- makes it hard to concentrate or sleep
- you can manage to get up, wash or dress
- Mild pain:
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I Have Pain That Shoots Down My Hip And Leg Help
Modern daily life can put strain on our hip joints and our legs. And the more overweight you are, the higher the risk of joint pain.
Weight loss is often the best course of action in dealing with joint pain, and with almost 70% of Northern Americans being overweight, its common to leave the explanation at that. Yet, its not only joint problems that cause issues in the hips and legs. Hip pain can often radiate down the leg and masquerade as a source of discomfort in your knee or lower leg and, with doctors and specialists pushing the concept of joint stiffness and problems, its easy to generalize and cast your own diagnosis. While joint stiffness shares a common denominator with any hip/leg issue, in that it makes daily activities harder to perform, there are often other factors at play. Hip pain can stem from anywhere in the area, with this pain fed down the nerves that travel down into the lower leg. This can cause affliction in the thigh, the knee, and down towards your feet. So whats the potential diagnosis? Here are some of the most common causes of pain that radiate from the hip and down your leg.
Pain On The Side Of Your Hip Is More Likely From Tendinitis Tight Muscles Or Another Condition

Hip bursitis an inflammation between your thighbone and nearby tendons is commonly diagnosed when patients have pain on the outer side of the hip. However, several other conditions can cause similar pain, and require different treatments. “Doctors often assume that pain on the outer side of the hip is due to bursitis. But 90% of the time, it’s not bursitis,” says Dr. Lauren Elson, a physiatrist with Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.
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What To Do About A Constant Sharp Stabbing Pain In The Hip
The hips joints help swing your leg while youre walking the dog. They also allow you to swing your leg out when getting out of the car and make many other common movements possible. However, even these normal daily activities can be a trial if your hip is painful.
Unfortunately, people are all too likely to develop hip pain. Medical researchers report that up to 40% of athletes develop chronic hip pain, and up to 15% of adults over 60 also experience pain in this joint. There is one issue that commonly causes constant sharp, stabbing pain in the hip. Luckily, there are also several treatment options that can help you deal with this issue.
Hip Pain Diagnoses By A Professional Pain Management Specialist
For a professional hip pain specialist, it is essential to diagnose the root cause of hip pain in order to provide effective and efficient treatment and care. There are a lot of things and conditions that lead to serious hip pain. Hence, to offer proper pain-relieving treatment for the hip, Dr. Silky Patel may ask the following questions:
- Do you experience sudden and sharp hip pain or dull aching in hip joints?
- Did you have a fall or accident recently or are you having hip pain without any physical injury?
- Is the pain concentrated in the inside area or outside of the hip?
- Along with hip pain, do you experience joint stiffness, skin tenderness, or reduced range of movement
- Do you feel extreme pain while climbing stairs or putting weight on your leg?
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Common Causes Of Hip Pain And When To Seek Treatment
Kelsey Koziel
September 10, 2015 | Blog
This blog post was updated in January 2021, and is part of the Ultimate Guide to Hip Pain Relief.
Without a fully functional hipbone, you would not be able to stand, walk, run or dance. So, when you suffer from chronic hip pain and certain day-to-day activities suddenly become troublesome, it can feel as if your entire life is being put on hold. Keep reading to learn more about common causes of hip pain and when to seek treatment from a specialist.
The ball-and-socket hip joint fits together in a way that allows for fluid, repeated motion and a fair amount of wear and tear. Whenever you use the hip , a cushion of cartilage helps prevent friction as the hip bone moves in its socket. The hip joint isnt indestructible. With age and use, the cartilage can wear down or become damaged. Muscles and tendons in the hip can get overused. The hip bone itself can be fractured during a fall or other injury. All of the above can cause hip pain.
Labral Tear Of The Hip
The labrum is a cup-shaped rim of cartilage that lines the ball-and-socket joint, and reinforces the shape of your hip . When this cartilaginous ring around the acetabulum tears or becomes damaged, then variable symptoms are practically inevitable. Pain in the groin area is common, but can also creep across the hip and down each buttock. The discomfort that stems from a labral tear is felt at its worst after exercise or any other vigorous activities. As times onward march continues, and without treatment, this pain will become more prevalent throughout less strenuous movements, such as resting or sleeping.
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What Does A Slipped Hip Feel Like
Pain in the hip can be caused by activity and may be alleviated with rest. Pain in your lower back, especially when sitting or lying down.
This may be a sign of a spinal cord injury or a degenerative spinal condition, such as spondylolisthesis or spinal stenosis .
It may also be the result of an infection or other medical condition that affects the nerves that control the muscles and tendons that support the spinal column. In some cases, the pain can be so severe that it interferes with your ability to walk or perform other activities of daily living .
If you have any of these signs or symptoms, see your doctor right away.
Immediate Need For Medical Attention
If you have a sudden onset of pain, thats a sign that you need immediate medical care. Hip pain thats intense, involves sudden swelling, or shows signs of infection requires a visit to urgent care or the emergency room.
If youve been in an accident and the joint appears deformed or youre unable to move or bear weight on your hip or leg, this also requires emergency assistance.
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When To Visit A Doctor Knowing Your Hip Pain Is Serious
For minor hip pain and problems, you may not have to visit a pain doctor for non-invasive treatment. It may be possible to take care of yourself at home by taking proper rest. Hip pain treatment at home includes taking proper rest, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication, and by applying hot and cold packs. Avoid bending down, lifting heavy weights, and prolonged sitting.
If you are still dealing with pain after trying the above treatment and seeking if your hip pain is serious, then it is recommended to schedule a consultation with a hip pain management expert. Seek immediate attention if you are experiencing serious hip pain along with the following:
- Inability to move your legs or hips freely
- Fever and/or Bleeding and Exposed Bone
- Extreme pain when putting pressure or weight on the affected leg
- Deformed joints
Does Hip Arthritis Show Up On Xray

Delays in diagnosis and treatment can be caused by X-rays not detecting hip arthritis in many patients. The researchers looked at information from thousands of Americans who had hip replacements.
The study, published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism, found that about one-third of the patients had no hip or knee pain at the time of surgery, and the rest had mild to moderate pain.
However, the majority of patients with hip and knee arthritis were diagnosed with osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that causes pain, stiffness and loss of range of motion.
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What Are Some Home Remedies I Can Try For Hip Pain
If you are experiencing hip pain, you try several things at home, including rest, applying ice packs or heating pads to the hip, and taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen or naproxen to help with swelling in the joint. Your primary care doctor may also be able to recommend at-home exercises you can try to stretch and strengthen the muscles surrounding the hip.
Dr Silky Patel Can Help Alleviate Serious Hip Pain
Dr. Silky Patel is double board-certified in Pain Management and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Being a leading and experienced hip pain specialist, she can offer treatment and care for a wide variety of conditions such as Osteoarthritis and Avascular Necrosis, AVN, to alleviate severe hip pain. She has helped many people to relieve severe hip pain and find relief from their symptoms.
Schedule a friendly consultation with Dr Silky Patel to get a long-lasting hip pain solutions and live a pain-free life. Contact her at or through her social media handles on , , , , and .
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Gynecological Or Pelvic Floor Issues
The pain you feel in your hip could actually be coming from elsewhere in your pelvis.
“The pelvis contains many systems, and everything is jammed in there, close together. Sometimes, there can be confusion about where the pain is coming from,” Nho says.
If the pain is limited to your groin and coincides with ovulation or your period, the cause could be endometriosis or fibroids rather than a problem with the hip. Urological and gastrointestinal issues, such as gastroenteritis and prostate cancer, could also cause pain that’s easily mistaken for a hip injury.
Treatment: Visit your primary care physician for a complete workup. Depending on the diagnosis, they may refer you to another specialist, such as a gynecologist or a gastroenterologist, for treatment.
Ways To Prevent Hip Pain When Walking
Hip pain when walking is a common ailment, but is linked to various causes. It may not be preventable if linked to a chronic illness, such as arthritis or osteoporosis.
If hip pain occurs due to bad posture while sitting or inactivity, people may prevent it by stretching, adjusting posture, and weight management.
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Unexplained Hip Pain & What To Do About It
When it comes to pain in the leg joints, it seems like the knees get all the attention. But the fact is, unexplained hip pain is a common medical complaint among both women and men, whether you lead an active or sedentary lifestyle.
About seven percent of adults in the U.S. have chronic hip pain according to the CDC, and that doesnt include juvenile patients or adults with sudden hip pain. You might not hear about hip pain as frequently as you hear about knee pain, but that doesnt mean it cant be caused by a serious problem, nor does it mean its OK to ignore hip pain painful symptoms.
You use your hips a lot probably even more than you realize and that means there are a lot of issues that can cause pain and related symptoms. Like any joint pain, determining that underlying cause is the key to treatment and the key to feeling better. You can help Dr. Van Thiel diagnose the cause of your hip pain by considering what your symptoms feel like and whats causing them to occur.
Why Does My Hip Pop In And Out Of Place
Whenever a hip starts to click, it is usually due to snapping hip syndrome, a hip disorder. SHS occurs when the muscles around the hip joint start to click. The most common symptoms of SHS are pain, swelling, and tightness in the hips.
Other symptoms may include pain in your lower back, lower legs, knees, or ankles. If you have any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor right away to rule out other conditions that may be causing your symptoms.
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Expert Answers For Hip Instability Or Dislocated Hip
Whether your hip instability or hip dislocation is due to an accident, sports injury, or congenital condition, we have the expertise and experience to get you moving again.
Our orthopedic team offers:
- Expert treatment: Our team of more than 70 orthopedic and sports medicine doctors has years of experience and specialized training in joint care. That expertise means you can rely on us to find the cause of hip instability and recommend the right treatment for you.
- Minimally invasive treatment options: Our surgeons offer hip arthroscopy a minimally invasive procedure using small incisions to tighten ligaments and stabilize the hip. Minimally invasive procedures cause less damage to your body than traditional surgery, leading to faster recoveries and a lower risk of infection after procedures. Learn more about minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery.
- Comprehensive care: Youll find all the providers you need in our single, integrated health system. Here, our orthopedic specialists and sports medicine doctors work closely with primary care doctors and physical therapists to provide personalized treatment to help you move more comfortably and confidently.
- Convenient locations: Locations across eastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois mean you can find a doctor and physical therapist close to home. See our locations.
Is Sudden Sharp Hip Pain That Comes And Goes Common For Hip Osteoarthritis Patients

Hip osteoarthritis affects each patient in unique ways, but its something that many of us might have to deal with as we get older. In fact, its estimated that about 19% of men and 29% of women will develop hip osteoarthritis in their lifetime.
There are two types of pain that patients with this type of arthritis typically report. The first is a dull aching or throbbing sort of pain. The second is episodes of sudden sharp pain in the hip that come and go. Studies also show that hip osteoarthritis pain is more predictable than that of knee osteoarthritis. This means that there are certain steps you can take to reduce it.
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Common Hip Flexor Injuries And Treatments
The hip flexor muscles are a group of muscles attached to the hip joint that allow you to both bring your knee toward your chest as well as bend at the waist. In other words, the hip flexor muscles are fundamental to everyday movement. When these muscles are injured, they are painful and limit your ability to live a normal life.
Injuries can occur in either the inner hip muscles, anterior compartment of the thigh, medial compartment of the thigh, or gluteal muscles however, the pain of an injury is rarely felt in just one area. This makes the cause of hip pain difficult to pinpoint.
This article contains descriptions of common hip flexor injuries as well as conservative, at-home treatments for managing mild to moderate symptoms. To accurately diagnose the source of your pain and receive the most effective treatment, contact a hip specialist.
Causes Of Groin Pain That Comes From The Hip
Groin pain that originates in your hip can vary in how it feels. It can be either sharp or dull, and either sudden or gradual. Its type and severity will depend on its cause.
If your pain results from problems in your muscles, bones, tendons, or bursae, it will probably become worse when you move.
Learn what conditions originating in your hip might be causing your groin pain, and the best treatment options.
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