Are You Sick?

Hip Pain

Is this your symptom?

Pain in the hip
Includes minor muscle strains from too much standing, walking or sports (overuse)
If pain is caused by an injury, see Hip Injury care guide

Causes of Hip Pain

Muscle Overuse (strained muscles). Hip pain is often from hard muscle work or sports. Examples are too much walking or running. This type of pain can last from hours up to 7 days.
Trapped Nerves. The nerves in the back can become trapped or squeezed where they pass through narrow spaces as they leave the spine. Sciatica is from pressure on a nerve in the back. It causes tingling, weakness or pain in the leg which may go into the hip (and down to the toes). If symptoms do not go away with rest or treatment, surgery may be needed to release the nerve.
Viral Illness. Mild muscle aches in both legs also occur with many viral illnesses, such as flu.
Shingles. The zoster virus can cause leg pain making the skin very sensitive or painful before a rash (shingles rash) appears.
Septic Arthritis (serious). This is a bacterial infection of a joint space. Main symptoms are fever and severe pain when you move the joint. It may not be possible to move the joint at all. This needs care right away.
Bursitis. Many joints are covered by fluid-filled sacs called bursas. They help the joint move smoothly. These bursa can get inflamed or infected, causing pain and swelling. The area may look red and feel warm to touch. See your doctor right away if you have these symptoms.
Tendinitis. Inflammation of tendons where they attach to the bone, caused by overuse. This causes tenderness in the area and pain when the limb is moved or used. Often needs a long period of rest from the activity that caused it. Physical therapy (PT) and/or a steroid shot may be needed to reduce the pain.
Joint Inflammation. Examples are rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and gout. The hip is often affected by osteoarthritis, from wear and tear on the joint. Inflammation like gout may affect just one joint. Others affect multiple joints at the same time. Early treatment may help prevent long-term damage to the joints involved.
More serious causes of hip pain:
- Bone cancer or bone infection (osteomyelitis). Fractures can happen during normal activity without there being an injury. Do not ignore ongoing leg pain.
- Referred pain. Pain is sometimes felt in the hip when there is not actually a problem with the hip itself. This is called referred pain. It may arise from the back or could be from a problem in the knee.

Pain Scale

Mild: you feel some pain, but it does not keep you from any normal activities. Work, activities and sleep are not changed.
Moderate: the pain keeps you from doing some normal activities. It may wake you up from sleep.
Severe: the pain is very bad. It keeps you from doing all normal activities.

When to Call for Hip Pain

When to Call for Hip Pain
Call 911 Now Not moving or too weak to stand Leg is cold, pale and very painful or numb You think you have a life-threatening emergency Call Doctor or Seek Care Now You had a recent hip replacement Hip is red, warm to touch and painful Muscles are weak (loss of strength) Loss of feeling lasts more than 1 hour Severe pain when hip is touched or moved Bright red area on skin with lines tracking out from the area You feel weak or very sick You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent	Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours Rash or area of blisters on the leg Swollen hip Can't put full weight on the hip or walk normally Pain gets worse over several days You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent Contact Doctor During Office Hours Hip pain lasts more than 7 days Hip pain keeps you from work or other activities Hip pains happen often You have other questions or concerns	Self Care at Home Caused by overuse Mild hip pain

Call 911 Now

Not moving or too weak to stand
Leg is cold, pale and very painful or numb
You think you have a life-threatening emergency

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

You had a recent hip replacement
Hip is red, warm to touch and painful
Muscles are weak (loss of strength)
Loss of feeling lasts more than 1 hour
Severe pain when hip is touched or moved
Bright red area on skin with lines tracking out from the area
You feel weak or very sick
You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

Rash or area of blisters on the leg
Swollen hip
Can't put full weight on the hip or walk normally
Pain gets worse over several days
You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

Hip pain lasts more than 7 days
Hip pain keeps you from work or other activities
Hip pains happen often
You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

Caused by overuse
Mild hip pain

Care Advice

What You Should Know about Mild Hip Pain:

Strained muscles, tendons and ligaments are common after using them too much during sports or other activities. They can also happen from a fall.
Examples are running or walking too much or doing leg weights at the gym. They could be strained from starting a new sport.
Weekend warriors who are out of shape get the most muscle pains.
Here is some care advice that should help.

Pain Medicine:

To help with the pain, take an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil). Ibuprofen works well for this type of pain.
Use as needed, but do not take more than the maximum recommended dosage as stated on the package.
If you are not sure what to take, ask a pharmacist.

Cold Pack for Pain:

For pain or swelling, use a cold pack. You can also use ice wrapped in a wet cloth.
Put it on the sore area for 20 minutes.
Repeat 4 times on the first day, then as needed.
Caution: avoid frostbite by wrapping the ice pack. Do not put ice directly onto the skin.

Use Heat after 48 Hours:

If pain lasts more than 2 days, put heat on the sore area.
Use a heat pack, heating pad or warm wet washcloth.
Do this for 10 minutes, then as needed.
Reason: increases blood flow and improves healing.
Caution: avoid burns by wrapping the heat pack. Do not put it directly onto the skin.