Is My Hip Pain Arthritis?

Hip pain can creep up gradually or appear seemingly out of nowhere. But once it arrives, it tends to make itself known during all the things you most want to do, like walking, sleeping, getting up from a chair, and enjoying a round of golf. If you’ve been wondering whether arthritis might be the cause, you’re asking a valuable question. We’re here to help you understand whether your hip pain is something that needs medical attention.

Is my hip pain arthritis? The short answer is that hip pain is very common, it has many possible causes, and while arthritis is sometimes the culprit, it is not the only one. What matters most is getting it properly assessed rather than guessing, particularly if the pain is persistent, recurring or getting worse over time.

What Is Causing My Hip Pain?

The hip is one of the largest and most heavily used joints in the body. It bears your weight, supports your movement and works constantly throughout the day, so it’s perhaps not surprising that problems can develop over time.

Hip pain affects a surprisingly significant portion of the population. According to Arthritis Research UK, around 8.75 million people in the UK have sought treatment for osteoarthritis, making it the most common musculoskeletal condition in older adults. Roughly a quarter of those cases involve the hip, which translates to well over two million people in England alone. That said, not all hip pain is arthritis, and working out the true cause matters, because the right treatment depends entirely on what is actually going on.

The location of your pain is often one of the most useful starting clues. Pain at the front of the hip or in the groin tends to point to the joint itself. Pain on the outer side of the hip is more commonly linked to tendons or bursae. Pain in the buttock or lower back that seems to travel into the hip area may actually be coming from the spine rather than the hip at all. But there are always exceptions.

Key Symptoms of Hip Arthritis

Osteoarthritis is by far the most common form of arthritis to affect the hip. It develops when the cartilage that cushions the joint gradually breaks down over time, causing the bones to move less smoothly against one another. It’s not simply a condition of old age, though the risk does increase significantly after 45, and it is more common in women than in men.

The symptoms of hip osteoarthritis tend to develop gradually rather than arriving suddenly. The most typical signs to look out for include:

• A deep ache or pain in the groin or front of the hip
• Stiffness that is often worst first thing in the morning or after sitting for a while
• A reduced range of movement that makes tasks like putting on shoes and socks more difficult
• A grinding, clicking or grating sensation when you move the joint

In more advanced cases, the pain can refer down into the thigh or even towards the knee, which sometimes leads people to assume their knee is the problem.

It’s also worth noting two other conditions that can affect the hip and are commonly confused with osteoarthritis. Osteoporosis is not arthritis, but it weakens the bones and significantly raises the risk of a hip fracture, particularly in older women. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that can also affect the hip joint, though it tends to involve multiple joints and comes with systemic symptoms such as fatigue and generalised stiffness that osteoarthritis does not typically cause.

Other Causes of Hip Pain

Several other conditions can produce pain around the hip that is easy to mistake for arthritis.

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome, which is sometimes still referred to as trochanteric bursitis, causes pain on the outer side of the hip and upper thigh. Research suggests it accounts for around 10 to 20% of hip pain presentations in primary care, and it’s particularly common in women between the ages of 40 and 60. The pain tends to be worse when lying on the affected side, climbing stairs or walking for extended periods.

Hip flexor or iliopsoas tendinopathy can cause pain at the front of the hip or groin, often in people who are active or who spend long periods sitting. Another option is a labral tear, which involves damage to the ring of cartilage around the hip socket and is a common source of pain in younger adults. 

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) occurs when the bones of the hip joint do not fit together quite as they should, creating friction during movement. This is one of the more common causes of hip pain in younger and more active people. Finally, referred pain from the lower back is also frequently mistaken for hip arthritis.

Where Do You Feel Pain With Hip Arthritis?

This is one of the questions people most often search for, and the answer may surprise you. Hip arthritis pain doesn’t always feel like it is coming from where you might expect.

Although the most common location is the groin or the front of the hip, some people feel it in the buttock. Others notice it radiating down the inside or front of the thigh toward the knee, and in some cases even further toward the ankle. Because of this, hip arthritis is sometimes misidentified as a knee problem or a groin strain. If the knee is painful but nothing seems obviously wrong with it, it’s always worth having the hip assessed as a potential source.

Pain from hip arthritis is typically described as a deep, dull ache rather than a sharp pain, and it usually worsens with activity and eases with rest, at least in the earlier stages.

What Can Be Mistaken for Hip Pain?

Lower back and spine problems are one of the most common masqueraders. Sciatica, for example, can cause pain that runs through the buttock and down into the hip and leg, and is often assumed to be a hip issue. Lumbar spinal stenosis and facet joint arthritis can produce very similar sensations.

A hernia, particularly an inguinal hernia, can cause groin pain that feels as though it is coming from the hip joint. As mentioned, knee problems can also create referred discomfort in the hip, just as hip problems can refer pain to the knee. In some cases, pelvic conditions affecting the bladder or reproductive organs can produce pain that a person describes as being in the hip.

This is precisely why a proper clinical assessment, including a thorough examination and appropriate imaging, is so valuable. Pain location alone is rarely enough to make a confident diagnosis.

“Hip pain is one of the most common reasons people come to see me, and one of the things I see most often is people who have been managing the wrong diagnosis for some time. A proper assessment makes all the difference, not only to reach the right diagnosis, but to give you a clear picture of what is going on, ” explains Mr Jerome Davidson, Consultant Orthopaedic Hip Surgeon.

When Should You See a Specialist?

Hip pain that has been present for more than a few weeks, that comes and goes without an obvious cause, or that is affecting your sleep, mobility or quality of life is worth getting checked out. It doesn’t necessarily mean something serious is happening, but guessing as to the cause is not the best approach.

Early assessment leads to earlier and more effective treatment. Whether that turns out to be physiotherapy, lifestyle changes, an injection or something else, knowing what you are dealing with puts you in a much better position. 

Mr Jerome Davidson offers specialist assessment and treatment for all types of hip pain, from the straightforward to the complex. If you would like to get to the bottom of what is causing yours, booking a consultation is the best place to start. From there, we can work with you to identify the cause of your pain, and set up a plan to help you move toward a pain-free future.