Adult Hip Pain

Posted: Apr 8, 2018 | Last Updated: Jan 22, 2020

If you have felt hip pain recently, you're not alone. Recent studies suggest that almost 14% of adults over 60 had hip pain in the last six weeks.

Unfortunately, the non-localized pain of many hip conditions can make diagnosis difficult. The hip joint is also deep in the pelvis, and so makes it necessary to see a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment. At Orthopaedic Associates of Muskegon, we want to inform our patients about their conditions and help them understand what to expect from the diagnostic process. If you have any questions, please reach out to us!

Common Problems and Symptoms

Common sources of hip pain include osteoarthritis (OA), trochanteric bursitis (TB), muscle strains, and femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).

Signs of OA include:

- Persistent pain in an adult, often brought on by activity
- Accompanied by morning stiffness and night pain
- Pain can be localized to the groin and associated with decreased motion of the hip

Signs of TB include:

- Pain over an area of bursa 
- Pain may worsen with movement
- May swell and become stiff if left untreated

Signs of muscle strain include:

- Pain brought on with resistance to a specific muscle or group of muscles
- Weakness of the muscle
- Pain at rest

Signs of FAI include:

- Pain that may have been present for years and recently became worse
- Decrease in motion of the hip
- Impingement maneuvers can help determine this condition by rotating the hip

If you think you may be experiencing any of these symptoms, please contact us so we can provide a diagnosis and start treating your condition.

Diagnosing Your Hip Pain

The first step in figuring out the cause of your hip pain is to look at your personal history. This is because genetics can play a large part in your risk of developing certain conditions. For example, you inherit almost 50% of your risk of hip osteoporosis. If you have injured your hip in the past, that may reveal your risk of developing other hip conditions.

The next step is a physical exam to try to find the source and type of pain you are feeling. We may touch your hip or have you move it to help locate the pain. A certain type of pain in a certain location can be a really helpful sign when diagnosing your hip pain.

After that, we may order imaging tests. We use X-rays for diagnosing many common problems, but some conditions need more detail. We use MSK ultrasound for certain tendon and soft tissue injuries around the hip and groin. For other issues, an MRI offers even greater detail to diagnose several of these conditions.

We Can Help

If you or someone you know is suffering from hip pain, please reach out to us! Request an appointment online or call our office at 231-733-1326. Let us help you get back to feeling yourself again!