ConditionsGeneral orthopedics
Hip pain
The hip hides its pain well: the joint itself hurts in the groin — not on the side, as many people think. Pain on the side usually comes from the tendons and the small fluid-filled sacs (bursae) around it; groin pain comes from the joint itself. They're different problems that get confused every day.
From joint wear (arthritis) to tendinitis and bursitis, to impingement in young patients and athletes: the hip has a long list of possible problems, and the right treatment starts with pinpointing exactly where your pain is coming from.
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Zone: Hip
Common symptoms
- Groin pain when walking, climbing stairs, or getting up from a chair
- Stiffness when you put on socks or shoes, or cross your legs
- Pain on the outside of your hip when you lie on that side
- Limping, or taking shorter steps without realizing it
- A feeling that your leg just isn't what it used to be
See yourself in several of these? In 2 minutes, measure how much it's limiting your hip and whether there are signs that shouldn't wait.
Start my free assessmentWhen to worry
- Suddenly not being able to put weight on your leg
- A leg that looks deformed or shorter after a fall
- Fever along with hip pain
These signs shouldn't wait.
Treatment options
We always start with the simplest step.
Step 1
Conservative (non-surgical) treatment
Strengthening your glutes and core, stretching, weight control, and medication during flare-ups. In the hip, strong muscle around the joint is literally an extra shock absorber.
Step 2
Image-guided injections
The hip sits deep: injecting it accurately takes image guidance. Placed correctly, an injection brings the inflammation down right in the joint or bursa — and confirms the source of the pain along the way.
Step 3
Surgery and hip replacement
Hip replacement is one of the most successful surgeries in all of medicine — it transforms lives when the wear is advanced. But it's the last step, not a shortcut: you get there when the joint has given all it had to give.
How I treat it
«Some hips can be nursed along for many years — and in some, putting off the replacement just puts your life on hold. I'll tell you honestly which one is yours.»
Dr. Angel M. Ancona Pérez — Orthopedics & Spine Surgery
Prof. License 9552456 · Specialty License 12085805
The first thing I settle with your hip is the geography of your pain: is it coming from the joint (the groin), from the tendons (the side), or actually coming down from your lower back? Each one calls for a different exam, different tests, and a different treatment — and getting that wrong at the start is the most common mistake I see in poorly treated hips.
If it's the joint and there's wear, I'll tell you with numbers where it stands: some hips can be nursed along for many years with conservative treatment — and in some, putting off the replacement just puts your life on hold. My job is to tell you honestly which one is yours — and walk with you down either road.
Frequently asked questions
The side of my hip hurts — is it arthritis?
Probably not: hip arthritis typically hurts in the groin. Pain on the outside — especially when you lie on that side — usually comes from the gluteal tendons or the bursa. It's a less serious problem, with a very good outlook when treated properly.
Do hip replacements wear out quickly?
Today's implants last 20–25 years or more in most studies — far from the old '10 years' myth. In older patients it's usually the only hip surgery they'll ever need; in younger patients we plan it knowing it may need revision surgery someday — and even so, the years it gives you are usually worth it.
Can I exercise with hip arthritis?
Yes — the right exercise is treatment, not a risk. We favor low-impact options (cycling, water workouts, targeted strength work) and adjust whatever triggers pain. A hip that doesn't move gets stiff and weak — exactly the opposite of what it needs.
Could this help someone else?
Does this pain sound familiar?
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