Hip pain can sneak up on you. It might start as stiffness after a workout, discomfort when you climb the stairs, or a dull ache that lingers after sitting too long.
You may try rest, stretching, or over-the-counter medication. Sometimes that works, but sometimes it doesn’t.
So how do you know when it’s time to move beyond self-care and see a specialist? That’s just the question our team at International Spine, Pain & Performance Center is here to answer.
Here are five signs that it’s time to see a specialist about your hip pain.
Minor muscle strains often improve within a week or two. If your hip pain persists beyond that, especially without clear improvement, it deserves evaluation.
Ongoing pain may signal issues such as:
The sooner we identify the source, the sooner you can begin targeted treatment.
Hip arthritis, for example, is a common source of hip pain. Osteoarthritis itself is one of the top 10 causes of disability, and the hip is often affected. How we approach arthritis pain is different than how we’d approach referred pain from your back. That’s just another reason proper diagnosis matters.
If hip pain interferes with daily activities like walking, sleeping, exercising, or even getting in and out of a car, it’s time to talk to us.
Loss of range of motion, feeling your hip catch, or instability aren’t part of normal aging. They often indicate joint or soft tissue dysfunction that can worsen without treatment.
Hip problems don’t always stay in the hip.
Pain may radiate into your groin, thigh, buttock, or even your knee. In some cases, what feels like hip pain may actually originate in the lumbar spine (lower back).
Our team at International Spine, Pain & Performance Center can conduct a comprehensive evaluation to determine whether your symptoms stem from the hip joint itself, surrounding muscles and tendons, or referred pain from your back.
Sharp pain, clicking, or locking in your hip may indicate structural issues such as a labral tear or cartilage damage.
Don’t ignore these symptoms, especially if you’re an athlete or active adult. Playing through the pain could exacerbate the injury.
If your hip pain follows a fall, sports injury, or sudden movement, especially if you notice swelling, bruising, or weakness, you need specialist care. Fractures, in particular, are best treated right away to prevent improper healing.
At International Spine, Pain & Performance Center, we look beyond your symptoms. We assess biomechanics, movement patterns, muscle imbalances, and joint integrity to determine the true cause of your hip pain.
Your treatment may include:
While pain relief is one of our goals, it’s not the only one. As orthopedic and sports medicine specialists, our goals are to restore performance and stability, and to support your long-term joint health.
Getting proper care for your hip pain can also help prevent future issues. For instance, addressing a labral tear early on can prevent injury-related arthritis.
Hip pain rarely resolves on its own when structural or biomechanical issues are involved.
If your pain is persistent, limiting, or worsening, schedule an evaluation with us at International Spine, Pain & Performance Center in Washington, DC, and Arlington, Virginia, and at our Mountain Spine & Pain location in Pulaski, Virginia.
