Hip pain in adults
Osteoarthritis
The symptoms of osteoarthritis can vary greatly from person to person, but if it affects the hip, it will typically cause:
- mild inflammation of the tissues in and around the hipjoint
- damage to cartilagethe strong, flexible tissuethat lines the bones
- bony growths (osteophytes) that develop around the edge of the hip joint
This can lead to pain, stiffness and difficulty doing certain activities.
There's no cure for osteoarthritis, but the symptoms can be eased using a number of different treatments. Surgery isn't usually necessary.
The followingadvice may be helpful:
- lose weight if you're overweight to relieve some of the strain on your hip
- avoid activities that make the pain worse, such as downhill running
- wear flat shoes and avoid standing for long periods
- consider seeing a physiotherapist for some muscle-strengthening exercises
- take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Read about hip pain in adults, including the possible causes, when to seek medical advice, and how to manage it at home.
Osteoarthritis
The symptoms of osteoarthritis can vary greatly from person to person, but if it affects the hip, it will typically cause: mild inflammation of the tissues in and around the hipjoint damage to cart
Overactivity
If your hip pain is related to exercising or other types of regular activity: cut down on the amount of exercise you do if it's excessive always warm up before exercising and stretch afterwards
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