Hip Pain

Hip pain can come from the joint itself, the muscles and tendons around it, or the lower back. Common hip pain causes include muscle strains, bursitis, and arthritis. Hip pain after a fall in an older adult can be a fracture and needs care right away.

What Is It

Bursitis on the outside of the hip causes pain when lying on that side. Strains of the groin and hip flexor muscles are common in sports. Arthritis causes stiffness and groin pain that builds over time. Pain from the lower back or sciatic nerve can also be felt in the hip.

Symptoms

Pain on the outside of the hip, worse lying on that side
Groin pain
Stiffness, especially in the morning
Pain with walking or climbing stairs
A limp
Clicking or catching in the hip

Not sure where the pain is coming from? Pain shooting from the buttock down the leg is often sciatica. Pain after a fall with trouble walking may be a broken bone.

Treatment

At your visit: A provider examines your hip, back, and walking, and X-rays may be taken. Strains and bursitis are treated with rest, pain relief, and sometimes crutches. Arthritis and more serious injuries may need an orthopedic specialist.

At home:

Rest from activities that cause pain
Ice for 15 to 20 minutes, or heat for stiffness
Avoid lying on the painful side
Use over the counter pain relievers as directed

Most hip strains and bursitis improve within a few weeks.

When to Get Care for Hip Pain

Watch at Home

Mild soreness after exercise that improves with rest
Able to walk normally

Come to Urgent Care Today

Hip pain after a minor fall or sports injury
Pain that makes you limp
Pain lasting more than a week
Pain that keeps you up at night

Go to the Emergency Department

Unable to stand or walk after a fall, especially in an older adult
A leg that looks shorter or turned outward after a fall
Hip pain with fever and a hot, swollen joint
Severe hip pain in a child with fever or a limp

FAQ

What causes hip pain?

Hip pain is most often caused by muscle strains, bursitis, arthritis, or pain from the lower back. A fall can cause a hip fracture, especially in older adults.

How do I know if my hip pain is serious?

Hip pain is serious if you cannot walk after a fall, the leg looks shorter or turned outward, or the hip is hot and swollen with fever.

What is hip bursitis?

Hip bursitis is swelling of a small fluid sac on the outside of the hip. It causes pain that is worse when lying on that side or climbing stairs.

Should I walk with hip pain?

Walk only as much as pain allows. If you cannot put weight on the leg, use crutches and get it checked.

Can urgent care treat hip pain?

Yes, urgent care can treat most hip pain. At Vitality Urgent Care, a provider can examine the hip, and X-ray is available on site. No appointment or referral is needed.

When is hip pain an emergency?

Hip pain is an emergency when you cannot walk after a fall, the leg looks deformed, or the hip is hot and swollen with fever.

Last reviewed October 2026