Hip pain location varies depending on the underlying cause, often indicating whether the issue is within the joint itself or in the surrounding soft tissues.
Understanding exactly where you feel hip pain can be crucial for identifying its source. The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint, and pain can originate from the bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, muscles, or bursae around the joint.
Pain from the Hip Joint Itself
According to medical information, problems located within the hip joint tend to manifest pain in a specific area:
- Problems within the hip joint itself tend to result in pain on the inside of the hip or the groin.
This location is typical for issues like arthritis (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis), labral tears, or femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).
Pain from Surrounding Soft Tissues
Conversely, pain felt in other areas around the hip is often related to structures outside the joint itself:
- Hip pain on the outside of the hip, upper thigh or outer buttock is usually caused by problems with muscles, ligaments, tendons and other soft tissues that surround the hip joint.
Common conditions causing pain in these external areas include:
- Outside of the hip: Trochanteric bursitis (inflammation of the bursa over the bony prominence on the outside of the hip), gluteus medius tendinopathy.
- Upper thigh: IT band syndrome (inflammation of the iliotibial band), muscle strains (like quadriceps or hip flexors).
- Outer buttock: Piriformis syndrome, gluteal muscle strains, or sometimes referred pain from the lower back (like sciatica).
Here's a quick summary table:
| Pain Location | Common Source | Examples (General) |
|---|---|---|
| Inside of the hip or groin | Hip Joint (internal) | Arthritis, Labral Tear, Femoroacetabular Impingement |
| Outside of the hip | Soft Tissues (external) | Trochanteric Bursitis, Gluteus Medius Tendinopathy |
| Upper thigh | Soft Tissues (external) | IT Band Syndrome, Muscle Strain (Quadriceps/Hip Flexors) |
| Outer buttock | Soft Tissues (external) | Piriformis Syndrome, Gluteal Strain, Referred Pain |
Pinpointing the exact location of pain is a key step in diagnosing the cause of hip discomfort.
