Your hip hurts when you walk, climb stairs, or even sit for long. Is it arthritis? A muscle problem? Something more serious? This guide explains hip pain in simple language so you understand what is happening and what to do.
Causes and what is happening inside your body
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint — the round head of the thigh bone (femur) fits into a cup-shaped socket in the pelvis. It bears your full body weight with every step. Hip pain can come from the joint itself (arthritis, AVN), the surrounding muscles (tendinitis, bursitis), or referred pain from the lower back or knee. The most common cause in people over 50 is osteoarthritis — gradual wearing of the cartilage inside the joint.
🦴 Key fact: Hip pain felt in the groin area is usually from the joint itself. Pain felt on the outer side of the hip is usually from muscles or tendons — not the joint.
How to recognise this condition — and when to see a doctor urgently
⚠️ See a doctor urgently if: Sudden hip pain after a fall — possible fracture · Hip pain with fever — possible infection · Inability to bear any weight · Pain at rest that wakes you at night
What you can do to reduce your risk and protect yourself
Treatment options from simple home care to specialist treatment
Hip pain management depends on the cause and severity. For muscle and tendon problems — rest, anti-inflammatory medicines, physiotherapy and PRP injections work very well. For early arthritis (Grade 1-3) — physiotherapy, weight loss, activity modification and PRP or BMAC therapy can significantly delay surgery. For Grade 4 arthritis — total hip replacement with modern techniques allows most patients to walk the next morning after surgery.
💡 Important: Not every hip problem needs surgery. At Dr. Sumit's clinic, every patient is assessed individually — regenerative options are always explored first before replacement is discussed.
What I tell every patient who comes to me with this condition
"The hip is one of the most forgiving joints in the body when treated early. Most patients who come to me saying they have been told they need a hip replacement — when I examine them — still have options. PRP, BMAC, physiotherapy. Give your body a chance to heal before choosing surgery."
— Dr. Sumit Dubewar · DABRM (USA) · Secunderabad
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