Look Into Newer Cutting
Beyond these interventional pain management options, look into other more cutting-edge treatments for your pain. Since these are newer, they dont have the research backing to indicate their effectiveness. But, they may help in cases where other treatments havent worked. Your options may include:
- Stem cell therapy
How Common Is Hip Pain At Night
You might think hip pain is a lot more common during the day. After all, thats when your hips get the most movement. But the fact is, hip pain at night only is pretty common too. To some degree, whether you have hip pain at night depends on whats causing your pain to begin with. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of hip pain and stiffness, and unfortunately, those symptoms can follow you around all day and all night. Muscle strains and hip bursitis inflammation of tiny fluid sacs in the joint are other typical causes of hip pain.
Those sorts of pain tend to be more common during the day when youre bearing weight on your hips or using them for movement. Outer hip pain tends to be related to muscles, tendons and ligaments. Like arthritis, these symptoms are nearly as likely to occur at night as during the day. The important thing to remember is that no matter whats causing your hip pain and when it occurs, it needs to be evaluated. Having your hip pain properly diagnosed is the first step toward getting relief. Plus, early evaluation and treatment can prevent underlying problems from getting worse.
What Exercises Can Help Stiff Painful Hips After Sitting
Even if it seems challenging at times, there are many different exercises that can help with hip pain after sitting. When a painful hip joint remains inactive for a period of time, symptoms can intensify. An estimated 90% of people with hip pain have difficulty sleeping, and fatigue can intensify pain. These exercises help not only with stiff, painful hips but may also help to improve their quality of sleep.
Exercises that can help with hip pain after sitting include:
- Targeted strength training
Recommended Reading: Pain In The Buttocks And Hip
What Causes Hip Pain When Sitting Or Lying Down And What Can You Do About It
When an injury or condition is affecting your hips, you can expect to feel pain when using your hips. However, you might be surprised to feel pain in your hips when sitting or lying down.
Learn more about what causes hip pain when sitting and lying down and what kinds of treatment options are available.
Perform Hip Pain Stretches Before Every Workout

Our post 10 Common Causes Of Hip Pain From Running shows six hip stretching routines you can try before each workout. It also gives advice on:
Other options for more structured hip stretches include yoga and Pilates. These workouts have the double benefit of strengthening your core, too.
If these at-home remedies for your hip pain havent helped, talk to your doctor about the following suggestions. Treating your hip pain with non-invasive, small lifestyle changes is always preferred. But if those dont work, there are treatments that can relieve your pain. Pain isnt normal and its not sustainable if its severely affecting the rest your body needs.
Recommended Reading: Exercising With Arthritis In The Hip
Relieving Bedtime Hip Pain
In addition to medical treatment, there are some things you can do to avoid hip pain while you sleep. One of the biggest causes of nighttime hip pain is sleeping on your side a position most Americans prefer. Sleeping on an injured or arthritic hip puts pressure on the joint, so itâs really no surprise that your symptoms are worse.
But hip pain can worsen even if you sleep on your opposite side. Thats because when you lie on your unaffected side, the painful hip can lean forward, a position that also puts strain on the joint.
In both these instances, placing a firm pillow between your knees can help by supporting your top hip and keeping the joint in a more natural alignment. If youre a back sleeper, a pillow under your knees can help relieve hip discomfort by reducing stress on your back.
In addition to using a pillow for support, these other tips may also help:
- Gentle stretching during the day to help relieve strain
- Investing in a more supportive mattress
- Avoiding alcohol before bed
- Setting a normal sleep schedule
- Taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines before bed
- Using ice to reduce inflammation
- Having joint injections to relieve pain
Many people with chronic hip pain benefit from physical therapy to help strengthen the hip joint and relieve inflammation in and around the joint.
Recommended Reading: Pain Relief For Hip Arthritis Uk
Why Might Your Back And Hips Hurt When Lying Down
Lower back pain is an extremely common condition, which can have a variety of causes and can also lead to pain in the hips. It is one of the most common reasons why people seek medical advice.
In some cases, your back and hips might hurt more when you are lying down. Why is that, and what can you do about it?
Have you considered clinical trials for Lower back pain?
We make it easy for you to participate in a clinical trial for Lower back pain, and get access to the latest treatments not yet widely available â and be a part of finding a cure.
Also Check: How To Treat Hip Arthritis Without Surgery
You May Like: Ice Pack For Hip Pain
Seated Figure 4 Piriformis Stretch
- Sit upright in a chair with both feet on the ground.
- Bring the ankle of one leg up onto the knee of your opposite leg.
- Apply a gentle pressure with one hand on the top of your bent knee
- Lean forward until you feel a stretch in your buttocks.
- Keep your shoulders relaxed and back straight during the exerciseo
Urgent Advice: Ask For An Urgent Gp Appointment Or Get Help From Nhs 111 If:
- you have severe hip pain that started suddenly but youve 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:
Also Check: Hip Labral Tear Surgery Scar
Don’t Miss: Pants With Slits On The Hips
Most Back Pain When Lying Down Is Still A Sprain Or Muscle Spasm
Most back pain is due to a simple problem such as a muscle sprain or spasm. Back pain may increase when lying down simply because the pressure is put on the injury.
Back pain after a fall may worsen when lying down for similar reasons or merely because of nasty bruising that responds to pressure. This kind of back pain typically resolves quickly with time, over-the-counter painkillers, and stretching.
You should still check with your doctor if you have back pain at night to make sure it is not a more serious problem.
If you have a fever or loss of bowel and/or bladder function, back pain is an emergency regardless of when it occurs.
What Causes Back Pain That Worsens When Lying Down
Back pain that gets worse when lying down should be taken more seriously than back pain which gets worse in other positions. Back pain that gets worse when sitting is often a herniated disc, as sitting puts more pressure on the spine and discs. Herniated discs are relatively simple to treat and generally get better quickly.
Some things which can cause pain when lying down:
Ankylosing spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis that primarily affects the spine. Inflammation and swelling develop between the vertebrae, causing severe, chronic pain. Because swelling tends to get worse with immobility or inactivity, AS is often worst when you first get up in the morning or if you lie still for too long.
AS can run in families and typically develops in adolescence or early adulthood but may be triggered by an infection or other environmental factors. Risk factors are family history and frequent gastrointestinal infections. There is no cure for AS, but there are treatments to manage the pain.
Sciatica
Sciatica happens when a herniated disk, bone spur, or alteration of the spine compresses part of the nerve that runs from your lower back to one leg. A diagnostic feature is that the pain radiates down the back of one leg.
Mild sciatica usually goes away over time, but if it lasts longer than a week or is worsening, you should see your doctor.
Pregnancy
Spinal infections
Spinal tumors
Don’t Miss: How To Lose Hip Fat Men
What Are The Stages Of Osteoarthritis Of The Hip
Stage 1: Small wear and tear of the hip joints, as well as minor bone spurs, which are generally accompanied by little to no discomfort.Stage 2: The cartilage begins to deteriorate, and bone spur growths are frequently evident on X-rays at this stage.Hip pain, soreness, and stiffness are all common symptoms of this condition.
Consult With A Hip Pain Professional

Chiropractors are trained to take an in depth look at your entire body and treat any underlying conditions that could be resulting in your nighttime hip pain. We can give you personalized, specific treatments to better manage your condition including adjustments, stretching, lifestyle modifications, sleep position recommendations, and more to alleviate your pain.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for in-person advice or care from a medical professional.
Read Also: Does Hip Replacement Cure Avascular Necrosis
Why Do I Get So Much Hip Pain At Night
If you have particularly severe hip pain, caused by advanced arthritis for example, it can affect your ability to relax and fall asleep. Instead, you may find yourself fidgeting around and trying to find a position thats comfortable. As well as the physical pain, many people find lying in bed at night is when they worry most about things:
- What’s causing my hip pain?
- Why is hip pain worse at night
- Will I lose my independence?
- Will I need an operation?
In certain conditions, like advanced osteoarthritis, aching hip pain may be bad enough that it wakes you from sleep. While you may be able to cope with interrupted sleep once in a while, long-term sleep deprivation can have a big impact on your mental health, your ability to concentrate, your general physical health and even your relationships.
Whether your hip pain is affecting your ability to sleep or the quality of your sleep, its important to see a doctor for proper assessment. Its easy to book an appointment with an experienced hip Consultant at one of our local hospitals, at a time that’s convenient for you.
Unfortunately, pain from your hip joint can affect different parts of your body. It might cause you to experience pain in your groin area, down the front of your thigh and in some cases, the pain could affect the whole of your leg. We look at how hip pain during the night can disrupt your sleep and productivity during the day. We explain how specialists at our hospitals can help diagnose and relieve your hip pain.
Move Of The Month: Seated Pretzel
Stretches the buttocks, hips, and outer thighs.
Reps: 24
Hold: 1030 seconds
Starting position: Sit up straight in a chair and rest your left ankle on your right thigh above your knee. Place your hands on your thighs.
Movement: Keeping your spine neutral, slowly hinge forward from your hips until you feel a stretch in your left hip and buttock. Hold. Slowly return to the starting position. Repeat with your right ankle on your left knee. This is one rep.
Tips and techniques: Keep your spine neutral, not rounded, and your chest lifted as you lean forward. Keep your shoulders down and back, away from your ears, as you stretch. For a deeper stretch, gently press down with the hand on your bent leg.
Also Check: How Long Is Total Hip Replacement Surgery
How To Sleep With Hip Pain
Being able to relieve night-time hip pain could mean youre able to get a deeper, more refreshing sleep. Experiencing hip pain when sleeping on either side can negatively impact your life. Whether your pain is being caused by a hip injury such as a hip fracture, hip bursitis, hip impingement or osteoarthritis in the joint, there are a few things you can try that may help relieve your symptoms:
- Pain relief medication Over-the-counter medication like paracetamol or ibuprofen may help to take the edge off your pain as you go to bed. There are certain tablets that are a bit more effective at helping with sleep as well as pain, will be able to advise you on these where appropriate.
- Exercise and stretching: Gentle, appropriate exercise and stretching may help to relax the hip and ease your pain. A physiotherapist will be able to show you specific exercises, stretches and movements that would be best for you.
- Do whatever is comfortable: You know your body better than anybody, and youll know which positions are best for you. You wont be damaging the joint any further by lying on one side in particular, for example.
What Can We Do If The Diagnosis Isnt Clear
If you are still in pain after trying more conservative treatment options such as anti-inflammatories and physical therapy, and the x-ray or MRI imaging studies arent showing us what exactly is wrong, we can do a series of numbing injections to clear the fog. Essentially, we will numb up an area of the hip or lower back and see what happens.
If there is no response to the numbing injection in the hip area for example, then that is obviously not where the root cause of the pain is located. However, if your pain has dispersed after a numbing injection, then we have located the area of the root cause. These injections act as both a therapeutic and diagnostic tool we can use as physicians.
Another route we can take is an EMG or nerve conduction test. Needles can be put into your leg to see the conduction or activity of nerves. If some nerves are slow or are not signaling correctly, then we know that an angry nerve is the culprit of the symptoms.
Also Check: Pain In Hip And Buttocks
Practice Good Sleep Hygiene
Good sleep hygiene means getting into a routine that encourages restful and deep sleep. Hip pain at night can certainly affect your ability to sleep. However, it will be harder for it to do so if youre already practicing good sleeping habits. These include:
- Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day
- Reducing alcohol use before bed
- Avoiding prolonged use of sleeping pills
- Avoiding computer or television screens for at least two hours before going to sleep
- Keeping your bedroom cool
- Minimizing the clutter and distraction in your bedroom, by making it for sleep only
Standing Hip Flexor Stretch
- Start in a standing position, one leg in front of you.
- The leg you are going to stretch will be positioned behind your body. Rest hands on hips.
- Keeping your back straight and upright, squeeze your buttock muscles and slowly shift your weight forward until you feel a gentle stretch in the front of your hip.
- Your hips and shoulders should face forward. Do not arch your back.
Don’t Miss: Where Is The Hip Bursa Located
When To See A Healthcare Provider
Any pain might be a cause for concern. Sleep is a vital bodily function. When you sleep, your body can rest and recuperate. But if you suffer from hip pain at night, your sleep may not feel very healing. Your disturbed sleep may cause a cycle of frustration, exhaustion, and joint aches.
If your pain lasts several days and/or prevents you from doing your normal tasks, then you may want to visit a healthcare provider.
Your pain may be relatively new, low to moderate in severity, or you may have an injury that doesnt require you to visit the emergency room or a specialist. Perhaps you are uncertain of the cause of your hip pain. In these situations, you may wish to consult your primary care provider.
If your pain is more severe, chronic, or might result from arthritis or a musculoskeletal condition, your primary care provider may refer you to a specialist.
An orthopedist is a medical professional who specializes in joint and bone conditions, such as osteoarthritis. A rheumatologist focuses on autoimmune conditions like RA. If you have arthritis, these specialists can provide specific insights and treatments to help you mitigate your symptoms.
Are You Worried About Hip Pain At Night

Alternatively, when lying on the other side, these same soft tissue structures may be placed in a stretched position, causing hip pain when lying down. In more severe cases of hip osteoarthritis, or in the rare case of inflammatory joint disease affecting the hip, the night pain may be due to the build-up of inflammation within the joint.
When there is significant pain at night, it may feel like the hip is always painful, no matter the position. However, some adaptations may alleviate the symptoms. If you prefer a side lying position, a cushion or pillow can be placed between the knees to prevent any stretching of the soft tissue structures.
A specialist memory foam mattress topper may also help matters if the pain arises when lying on the painful side. If possible, it may be advisable to sleep on your back. In which case, a pillow or blanket under the knees can also place the hip joints in a more neutral position, thereby relieving pain.
In rare circumstances, hip pain through the night or hip pain when sleeping may be a sign of an underlying medical problem. As such, if individuals suffer significant hip pain at night and/ or have any more systemic symptoms such as fever, sweats or widespread pain, it is advised that they seek an urgent assessment.
If currently under treatment from a doctor or physiotherapist, it is advisable to let them know these symptoms at the earliest opportunity.
Also Check: Best Mattress For Back And Hip Pain