ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Hip Pain

What is hip pain?

23 January 2026

This is a very common condition because the hip supports the weight of the entire body and is one of the largest joints. The pain can range from a simple discomfort to intense pain that affects not only the hip and the area around it but also the buttocks, groin, thighs, or knees.

Because the hip is fundamental for body movement—getting up, walking, leaning, or climbing stairs—it can be extremely painful and diminish the quality of life.

Although hip pain is often caused by the wear and tear of the joint over the years, anyone can experience it, but there are certain factors that can predispose to it, such as:

  • Arthritis.
  • Osteoarthritis.
  • Bursitis.
  • Groin muscle strain.
  • Herpes zoster (Shingles).
  • Joint or bone infectious processes.
  • Osteoporosis.
  • Bone necrosis (Avascular necrosis).
  • Torn glenoid labrum.
  • Tendinitis.

Signs and symptoms Hip Pain

The characteristic symptoms consist of:

  • Limping (Gait disturbance).
  • Hip pain, even when sitting or lying down.
  • Low back pain (Lumbalgia).
  • Painful episodes that worsen when moving.
  • Difficulty bending the hip or stooping down.
  • Swollen buttocks.
  • High temperature (Fever).
  • Discomfort that radiates to other areas, such as the knees.
  • Problems walking or standing.
  • Limited range of motion in the hip and legs.
  • Intense heat in the affected area.

Diagnosis and treatment Hip Pain

Your doctor can help with your hip pain when the causes are diagnosed and treated promptly. Once they analyze your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical exam to try to locate the pain and areas sensitive to touch.

To help identify the cause of your hip pain, they will request, in addition to laboratory tests like blood analysis, the following imaging studies:

  • Ultrasound.
  • X-rays.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
  • Computed Tomography (CT) scan.

Hip pain usually improves after receiving treatment with analgesics, anti-inflammatories, and muscle relaxants. But if the pain does not subside, you may require physiotherapy and weight loss, in addition to intramuscular cortisone administration.

In more extreme cases, you may need a hip arthroplasty (joint replacement), joint washout (debridement), or a bone fusion, among other surgical procedures.

At the Center for Orthopedics and Traumatology, we seek to improve the lives of patients restricted or immobilized by musculoskeletal disorders or injuries. We specialize in the care of the locomotor system by integrating the latest medical, biological, and technological advances, in strict adherence to the highest international standards of patient care.

Related centers and departments Hip Pain

Orthopedics and Traumatology Center
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Sources: 

  • medlineplus.gov
  • cigna.com
  • mayoclinic.org
  • topdoctors.es
  • medicalnewstoday.com
  • medigraphic.com
  • Haro-Gómez HL, Merida-Herrera E, Torres-Fernández BJ, et al. Albúmina sérica preoperatoria como un predictor de complicaciones posterior al reemplazo total de cadera en pacientes con artritis reumatoide. Acta Ortop Mex. 2018 Jul-Ago;32(4):193-197.
  • Cano MI. Evaluación por ultrasonido del paciente pediátrico con dolor de cadera y claudicación. Anales de Radiología México. 2011;10(4):214-224.
  • Miravete GA, Estrada ZKM, Camacho GJ. Fibrolipoma intermuscular de cadera. An Med Asoc Med Hosp ABC. 2021;66(2):128-131. doi:10.35366/100482. 

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