How long should hip pain last before seeing a doctor?

When Should You See an Orthopedic Doctor for Hip Pain? Hip pain is usually temporary, especially after an injury. However, if the pain lasts for more than six weeks, you may want to consider consulting one of our orthopedic hip specialists at our University Orthopaedic Center.


When should I go to the doctor for hip pain?

Seek immediate medical attention

Inability to move your leg or hip. Inability to bear weight on the affected leg. Intense pain. Sudden swelling.

How do I know if my hip pain is serious?

Go to a hospital or get emergency help if:
  1. Your hip pain is acute and caused by a serious fall or other injury.
  2. Your leg is deformed, badly bruised, or bleeding.
  3. You are unable to move your hip or bear any weight on your leg.


What will doctor do for hip pain?

Treating Your Hip Pain

In some situations simple rest will alleviate your pain naturally over time. In other situations, your doctor may prescribe medication or physical therapy to aid your recovery. In more severe cases, your doctor could recommend surgery.

How long is too long for hip pain?

Most problems should have improved within 6 weeks. If your hip problem hasn't improved within 6 weeks of following this advice, it's a good idea to talk to a healthcare professional about your symptoms.


When to See a Doctor about Chronic Hip Pain



Should I keep walking with hip pain?

Walking is good for hip pain and you should try to walk as much as you can each day. You'll find that in time and with consistency, your hip pain will diminish, and in a best case scenario, it will disappear altogether.

What happens if you ignore hip pain?

Untreated Hip Pain Can Lead to Compensatory Injuries

Whether the cause is an injury or arthritis, or both, ignoring any hip dysfunction can increase the risk of injury in other parts of the body. This is because our musculoskeletal system is a highly interconnected system.

What is the one leg test for hip pain?

Stand on One Leg Test – Finally, if you are concerned about your hips, try the one-legged test. Try standing on one leg for at least a minute, and if you can't do so, even when supporting yourself, it's time to consider hip replacement..


What does a pinched hip nerve feel like?

In the hip, a pinched nerve can cause a: sharp, searing, or burning pain in the hip, thigh, or groin. dull, achy pain in the hips and buttocks. tingling, “pins and needles” feeling, or numbness in the hip or down the leg.

What is the fastest way to cure hip pain?

  1. Exercise. It's important to have a regular exercise routine for many reasons, and decreasing hip pain is one of them. ...
  2. Over-the-Counter Pain Medicine. ...
  3. Get Some Rest. ...
  4. Apply Ice. ...
  5. Use Compression. ...
  6. Elevate the Injury. ...
  7. Apply Heat. ...
  8. Do Stretches.


How do I know if I tore something in my hip?

Symptoms of a hip flexor tear or strain

Pain when lifting the leg to the chest or stretching the hip muscles. Swelling, bruising or tenderness in the hip or thigh area. Muscles spasms in the thigh or hip that occur when walking or running.


What does bursitis feel like in hip?

Symptoms of bursitis of the hip

Symptoms include joint pain and tenderness. You may also see swelling and feel warmth around the affected area. The pain is often sharp in the first few days. It may be dull and achy later.

Should I be worried if my hip hurts?

Call your health care provider if your pain doesn't go away, or if you notice swelling, redness, or warmth around the joint. Also call if you have hip pain at night or when you are resting. Get medical help right away if: The hip pain came on suddenly.

When should you get an MRI for hip pain?

Doctors will request hip MRIs for a variety of reasons. You may be sent for this testing if you have unexplained hip pain or abnormal x-ray results. Trauma and birth defects can also be a cause for this imaging, as well as suspected cancer or other disorders in this region.


Is it my hip or sciatica?

The pain of hip pathology usually is centered at the groin, and it is rare for it to radiate below the knee joint. Sciatica symptoms may, on the other hand, may radiate down the legs into the toes.

What does a pulled hip muscle feel like?

The most common symptom of a hip flexor tear or strain is pain located at the front of the hip. You may experience hip pain as you walk or run. Other symptoms associated with hip flexor tears or strains include: Sharp pain in the hip or pelvis after trauma.

How do I know if my hip pain is muscular or joint?

Joint and muscle pain represent two different medical conditions. While muscle pain is pain felt when the body is in motion, joint pain is more often felt when the body is at rest.


Where do you feel pain if your hip needs replacing?

The pain is commonly felt in the groin but pain can also refer into the front of the thigh, back and the knee joint. 20% of hip pain can actually appear as knee pain. There are people who have osteoarthritis that get very little or no pain at all. In more severe cases the pain can wake people during the night.

What are the first signs of needing a hip replacement?

You are limping or experiencing limpness in one leg.

Not only is it an indicator of hip issues, but excessive or long-term limping can cause other issues including frequent falls, imbalance, or feelings of numbness in the hands or legs.

Why is my hip giving me so much pain?

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are among the most common causes of hip pain, especially in older adults. Arthritis leads to inflammation of the hip joint and the breakdown of the cartilage that cushions your hip bones.


Does hip pain always require surgery?

If you're feeling pain in your knee or hips, you may be putting off a trip to the doctor for fear that you'll have to have joint replacement surgery. But fear not. Only about one of every five patients with arthritis of the knee or hip are treated with surgery, says orthopedic surgeon William Petersilge, MD.

What does hip pain feel like when you need a hip replacement?

The loss of cartilage leads to pain and inflammation. Pain due to arthritis in the hip is usually felt in the groin or thigh rather than the buttock. It may radiate down your thigh to your knee. Swelling in the joint can also make it harder for you to move your hip.

How should you sleep if your hip hurts?

Try sleeping on your back or, if you're a side sleeper, sleep on the side that doesn't hurt and put a pillow between your knees to keep your hips aligned. Around your hip bone and other joints are small sacs filled with fluid that cushion the joint when it moves.


Is it better to rest or exercise with hip pain?

The answer is to switch to non-weight-bearing exercise that takes the burden off of your hips and knees. "It allows you to move more freely, with less pain, and you wind up feeling better afterward," says Vijay A. Daryanani, a physical therapist and personal trainer with Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Outpatient Center.

What helps hip pain while sleeping?

The best solution? Sleep on your back. If changing your sleep position is hard, try putting a pillow between your knees or slightly behind your back to relieve pressure and keep your hips aligned. A mattress topper or more supportive mattress might also help.