How to Help an Aching Hip: Tips for Managing and Treating Hip Pain

Hip pain is very common. Don't let it keep you from your favorite summer activities! Learn how to treat hip pain at home and when to see a health care provider from Christopher Blackman, MD, in this 2 Your Well-Being discussion with WFMY News 2.

What are the most common causes of hip pain?

“When people are just getting back into exercising and they start increasing their activities too quickly, they can get pain along the side of their hip, which can be more of a tendinitis or bursitis.”

“Other people can have pain just waking up in the morning. They can hurt on the side of their hip. And that can also be more of a tendinitis or bursitis.

“But if it starts getting into the groin area, and other things like that, it can be pointing toward like something like arthritis.”

“But it's very common to have hip pain. 9 out of every 10 patients that come see me with hip issues don't need surgery. They just have pain on the side of their hip, and it can be radiating from the back or up from the knee.”

If my hip hurts, should I stop moving around as much?

“A lot of people will just stop what they're doing, and then keep from doing their normal activities. But we really want people to still stay mobile – but it is worth listening to your body.”

“The first things you can do are the common things like intermittent ice and heat, or even over the counter anti-inflammatory medications. There are topical medications on the market that people can try.”

“Usually, you can let the pain go on for just a short amount of time. But if it starts really detrimentally affecting your day, and becoming the focus of your daily life, that’s when you should seek other treatment, or seek out someone like myself or other orthopedic surgeons to take a look at you to see what else might be going on.”

What should I avoid doing if I have hip pain?

“I wouldn't go on long exercise runs or walks where you’re going up and down hills quite a bit, or even getting on your treadmill and putting it on a big incline. Those things could aggravate your hip. I also think that it's worth avoiding high impact aerobic activities and instead slowing down, doing less of those impactful things that can irritate your hip.

When should I see a doctor about hip pain?

“If you’re having pain after going to CrossFit or doing other activities, for example, then rest for a few days. Take some oral anti-inflammatory medications. Give it about a week, slowly getting back into what you were doing. And then if you're experienced still experiencing pain, then it's worth getting that checked out.

Learn more in the full video interview above.