Hip Pain Symptoms

Hip pain is a discomfort or sense of pain around your hip joint.3 

Hip joint pain can vary from a temporary annoyance to a bigger issue requiring attention from a healthcare provider.3

This can manifest in hip flexor pain, hip joint, or lower back pain.

  • Surface pain: If you feel pain close to the surface above or around your hip, it may indicate an issue with your hip flexor muscles, surrounding tendons, or ligaments.3
  • Deeper inside your hip joint: This may indicate pain from your bones or cartilage.3
  • Radiating discomfort: Hip pain can occasionally move to other areas like your lower back and groin.3 This type of pain is called referred pain.4

Hip Pain Causes

Hip pain can be a symptom of other medical conditions, such as arthritis, bursitis, structural issues, or injuries to your hip.5 Hip injuries and pain are more common in athletes, such as dancers and gymnasts, who perform hip flexion and extension in various directions, placing stress on the hip.5

Other causes of hip pain include:

  • Arthritis: Arthritis can cause inflamed and painful joints and can cause symptoms of swelling, discomfort, and pain.5
  • Bursitis: Bursitis is a painful swelling in a small, fluid-filled sac called a bursa. Inflammation and swelling of the hip bursa can cause pain and discomfort.5
  • Injuries: Hip pain can result from any injury that damages the parts of your hip joint or surrounding muscles.5

What causes hip pain at night?

Experiencing hip pain at night can be detrimental to your sleep. Here is a breakdown of why your hips may hurt at night:

  • Sleep position: Finding the right sleeping position can be crucial to avoiding hip pain during sleep.6 This can worsen existing issues, especially if you sleep on the same side as where you are experiencing pain.7
  • Prolonged immobility: Long periods of immobility during sleep can lead to stiffness and discomfort.6 Sleeping with a pillow between your legs may temporarily relieve discomfort.6

Hip Pain Treatment

The treatment for hip pain will depend on what is causing it. Your healthcare provider may suggest various treatments depending on the severity of your pain and its cause.8

At-home remedies

Try to avoid activities (such as strenuous exercise) that make your hip pain worse.7 Opt for more comfortable shoes and try to avoid standing for long periods of time.7

OTC solutions for hip pain

Your healthcare provider may recommend taking medication.8

Topical analgesics, such as Biofreeze’s range of products, applied to the affected area can also help alleviate muscle and joint pain.9

When to seek medical advice

Get in touch with your healthcare provider to see what treatment is best for you. You need to seek professional medical advice if:7

  • Your hip discomfort persists
  • You have a rash or fever
  • You begin to limp and experience trouble with stairs and walking