If you’re experiencing hip pain, knowing the precise location of the pain can make it easier to understand what’s causing the pain and treat the symptoms. In this blog, we at Memorial Pain Clinic will provide you with hip pain location diagram images to illustrate different areas of pain in the hip.
Our Tulsa, OK, pain management treatment professionals utilize the latest techniques, including epidural injections, nerve blocks, and radiofrequency ablation, to target the specific sources of your discomfort. If you’re experiencing hip pain and need expert guidance, contact Memorial Pain Clinic and schedule your hip pain treatment in Tulsa today.
Call (918) 200-9944 to schedule an appointment with us to get started on your journey toward a pain-free life.
Hip Joint Anatomy
The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint where the head of the femur (thigh bone) fits into the acetabulum, a cup-shaped socket in the pelvis. This design allows for a wide range of motion, including walking, running, and bending. The joint is stabilized by muscles and other soft tissues which work together to support movement, all while keeping the femoral head safely within the hip socket.
There’s also a layer of cartilage surrounding the femur and acetabulum, which cushions the bones and allows for smooth, pain-free motion. Additionally, the joint is lined with synovial fluid, which lubricates the joint and reduces friction.
What Causes Hip Pain?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, some of the most common causes of hip pain include hip arthritis, hip injuries, hip bursitis, and other structural conditions within the hip joint. Some of the more specific hip pain causes include:
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Bursitis
- Tendinitis
- Hip labral tears
- Hip fractures
- Muscle strains
- Hip sprains
- Piriformis syndrome
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Sports injuries
- Infections (e.g., septic arthritis)
- Nerve compression as a result of a herniated disc
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
- Hamstring tendinopathy
- Pubic symphysis dysfunction
- Inguinal hernias
- Obturator or inguinal nerve entrapment
How to Diagnose Hip Pain
To diagnose hip pain, a doctor will start with a detailed medical history and physical examination, assessing the location, intensity, and nature of the pain. They may perform specific physical tests to evaluate hip movement and identify areas of tenderness or discomfort.
Diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays, MRI, or CT scans, may be used to visualize the bones, cartilage, and soft tissues, helping to identify conditions like fractures, arthritis, or labral tears in the hip joint. In some cases, blood tests or joint fluid analysis may be required to analyze hip health and rule out infections or inflammatory conditions.
Types of Hip Pain
Hip pain can manifest in various areas of the hip, each associated with specific hip conditions. Below are some sections of the hip and common areas where people experience hip pain. You can use each hip pain location diagram to help you better understand where exactly your pain is originating from and what might be causing it.
If you have hip pain originating from any of these areas of the hip, contact Memorial Pain Clinic today. We can provide you with treatment options designed to help you live your life free of hip joint discomfort.
Lateral Hip Pain
Lateral hip pain occurs on the outer side of the hip, where the bony prominence known as the greater trochanter is located. If you’re experiencing pain in this area, you may notice discomfort when lying on your side, walking, or climbing stairs.
Some common areas of lateral hip pain include:
- Gluteus Medius Pain: located slightly above the greater trochanter; often associated with gluteus medius tendinopathy.
- Iliotibial (IT) Band Pain: located along the lateral thigh from the hip to the knee; often associated with IT band syndrome.
- Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Pain: located on the outer thigh and can extend down to the knee; often associated with meralgia paresthetica.
Posterior Hip Pain (Back of Hip Pain)
Posterior hip pain is felt at the back of the hip and often extends into the buttock area. If you’re experiencing pain in the back of the hip or buttock area, you might feel discomfort as a result of sitting, standing, or engaging in activities that involve hip extension.
Pain in the posterior hip can manifest in several specific areas, including:
- Sacroiliac Joint Pain: located where the lumbar spine meets the pelvis, just above the buttocks; often associated with sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
- Posterior Hip Capsule Pain: located deep within the hip joint where the hip capsule lies; often associated with posterior hip impingement.
- Piriformis Muscle Pain: located deep in the buttock region, running from the sacrum to the top of the femur; often associated with piriformis syndrome or pain as a result of prolonged sitting.
- Ischial Tuberosity Pain: located at the bony prominence at the bottom of the pelvis; often associated with ischial bursitis and hamstring tendinopathy.
- Gluteus Maximus Pain: located in the large gluteus maximus muscle; often associated with gluteus maximus strain or tendinopathy, and deep gluteal syndrome, which can cause posterior hip pain and buttock pain.
Anterior Hip Pain (Front Hip Pain)
Anterior hip pain occurs in the front of the hip and groin area, where the hip flexor muscles and hip joint are located. Signs of anterior hip pain include discomfort during activities that involve hip flexion, such as running, squatting, or sitting for long periods.
Common areas of pain within the anterior hip include:
- Rectus Femoris Tendon Pain: located at the front of the hip, where the rectus femoris tendon attaches to the pelvis; often associated with rectus femoris tendinopathy or strains.
- Iliopsoas Bursitis Pain: located where the iliopsoas muscle passes over the pelvis; often associated with iliopsoas bursitis.
- Anterior Hip Capsule Pain: located deep within the front of the hip joint where the anterior hip capsule lies; often associated with anterior hip impingement or capsulitis, labral tears, arthritis, and repetitive stress on the hip joint.
- Hip Flexor Pain: located in the front of the hip where the hip flexor muscles are; often associated with hip flexor strain or tendinopathy, and hip flexor tightness or weakness.
- Femoral Acetabular Impingement (FAI) Pain: located deep in the groin area or front of the hip joint; often associated with abnormal contact between the femoral head and the acetabulum, athletes, or those with congenital hip abnormalities.
- Labral Tear Pain: located deep in the groin or anterior hip, near where FAI pain is located; often associated with labral tears.
Outer Hip Pain
Outer hip pain is located on the lateral side of the hip, near the greater trochanter, and may radiate down the outer thigh. If you’re experiencing pain in this area, you might feel discomfort when lying on your side, walking, or moving your leg out to the side.
Some specific areas of outer hip pain include:
- Greater Trochanteric Pain: located on the outermost point of the hip; often associated with greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS), trochanteric bursitis, or tendinopathy of the gluteal muscles.
- Tensor Fasciae Latae (TFL) Pain: located on the outer side of the hip near the front of the iliac crest; often associated with tensor fasciae latae strain or tightness, which can also contribute to IT band syndrome.
Hip and Groin Pain
Hip and groin pain is typically felt in the front of the hip, extending into the inner thigh or groin area. Signs of pain in this region include discomfort during activities that involve hip flexion, such as lifting your leg, running, or squatting.
Hip and groin pain can arise from various specific locations, some of which include:
- Inguinal Hernia Pain: located in the lower abdomen and groin area; often associated with inguinal hernias and is often aggravated by lifting heavy objects or straining during bowel movements.
- Adductor Region Pain: located in the inner thigh and groin area where the adductor muscles attach to the pelvis; often associated with adductor strain or tendinopathy, and characterized by sharp pain when squeezing the legs or making sudden changes in direction.
- Pubic Symphysis Pain: located in the center of the groin, where the pubic bones meet at the front of the pelvis; often associated with pubic symphysis dysfunction or osteitis pubis.
- Obturator Nerve Pain: located in the inner thigh and groin area; often associated with obturator nerve entrapment.
When to Call a Doctor About Your Hip Pain
You should call a doctor about your hip pain if it is severe, persistent, or worsening despite self-care measures. Seek medical attention if you experience pain following a significant injury or trauma, if you have difficulty walking or moving your hip, or if the pain is accompanied by swelling, redness, or fever.
Additionally, if your hip pain is affecting your daily activities or quality of life, or if you have underlying conditions that might complicate the pain, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional for a thorough evaluation and appropriate treatment.
If you have a hip fracture or are suffering from another condition, the sooner you receive treatment, the better. This is especially true for older adults and those who need less conservative treatments like hip surgery or hip replacement.
Hip Pain Treatment Options
At Memorial Pain Clinic, we offer a range of advanced treatments to address various types of hip pain. Below are some of our hip pain treatments and general pain management options designed to help you reduce pain, enhance mobility, and improve your overall quality of life.
Epidural Injections
Our epidural injections in Tulsa provide relief from hip pain by delivering powerful anti-inflammatory medication directly into the epidural space around your spinal nerves. This targeted approach reduces inflammation and alleviates nerve irritation, which can significantly decrease pain radiating to the hip.
By focusing on the source of your discomfort, these corticosteroid injections can help improve mobility and reduce reliance on oral pain medications, offering you a more comfortable and active life.
Medication Management
At Memorial Pain Clinic, our Tulsa medication management options provide relief from hip pain by offering a carefully tailored combination of medications that address your specific pain symptoms. By balancing anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, and analgesics, we aim to reduce pain while minimizing side effects for mild to moderate hip pain.
Our approach ensures that you receive the right medications in the right doses to effectively manage your hip pain, helping you maintain a better quality of life and stay active.
Nerve Blocks
Our Tulsa nerve block injections at Memorial Pain Clinic offer relief from hip pain by targeting the specific nerves responsible for transmitting pain signals from the hip area. By injecting medication around these nerves, we can effectively interrupt the pain pathways, providing significant and often immediate pain reduction.
This targeted treatment not only alleviates discomfort but also enhances your ability to move and function, allowing you to return to your daily activities with less pain.
Radiofrequency Ablation
At Memorial Pain Clinic, we are proud to offer radiofrequency ablation treatment in Tulsa, which provides relief from hip pain by using radiofrequency energy to heat and deactivate specific nerves responsible for transmitting pain signals.
This minimally invasive procedure disrupts the pain pathways, offering long-lasting relief from chronic hip pain associated with conditions like arthritis or nerve impingement. By reducing pain at its source, radiofrequency ablation helps improve your mobility and overall quality of life, allowing you to enjoy daily activities with greater comfort.
Contact Memorial Pain Clinic for Hip Pain Treatment in Tulsa, OK
If you’re struggling with hip pain and seeking effective treatment options, look no further than Memorial Pain Clinic in Tulsa, OK. Our dedicated team of pain management specialists is committed to providing personalized care to address the underlying cause of your discomfort.
Whether you’re dealing with chronic pain from arthritis, a recent injury, or other hip conditions, we offer a variety of advanced treatments tailored to your needs.
Whether you’re looking for hip pain treatment or simply joint pain treatment in Tulsa, our team is here to guide you through every step of your pain management journey, ensuring you receive the highest level of care and support.
Call (918) 200-9944 or contact us online to schedule an appointment with us and discuss your options.
