Key Takeaways
- Common causes of hip pain include arthritis, bursitis, labral tears, tendinitis, and referred pain from the lower back
- Non-surgical treatments such as joint injections, physical therapy, and regenerative medicine provide lasting relief for many hip conditions
- Early intervention can prevent hip pain from progressing and help you avoid more invasive procedures
- OC Wellness Physicians offers comprehensive hip pain treatment in Orange County with personalized care plans tailored to your condition
Understanding Hip Pain
Hip pain affects millions of Americans and can significantly limit your ability to walk, climb stairs, sit comfortably, or sleep through the night. The hip joint is one of the largest weight-bearing joints in the body, making it vulnerable to wear-and-tear injuries, inflammatory conditions, and structural damage over time.
At OC Wellness Physicians, we specialize in diagnosing the root cause of hip pain and developing non-surgical treatment plans that restore mobility and improve quality of life. Whether your hip pain developed gradually or started after an injury, our team provides expert care across our Orange County locations.
Common Causes of Hip Pain
Understanding the source of your hip pain is the first step toward effective treatment. Our physicians evaluate each patient thoroughly to identify the specific condition driving your symptoms.
Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of hip pain in adults over 50. This degenerative condition occurs when the cartilage that cushions the hip joint breaks down, leading to bone-on-bone friction, stiffness, and inflammation. Patients often notice worsening pain with activity and reduced range of motion over time.
Hip bursitis involves inflammation of the bursae, small fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction around the hip joint. Trochanteric bursitis affects the outer hip and is a frequent cause of pain when lying on the affected side, climbing stairs, or getting up from a seated position.
Labral tears affect the ring of cartilage (labrum) that lines the hip socket. These injuries can result from repetitive motions, sports injuries, or structural abnormalities like hip impingement. Symptoms include a catching or locking sensation in the hip, groin pain, and stiffness.
Hip tendinitis occurs when tendons around the hip joint become inflamed due to overuse or repetitive stress. This condition is common among runners, cyclists, and individuals who perform repetitive hip movements at work.
Referred pain from the lumbar spine is an often-overlooked cause of hip pain. Herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or sacroiliac joint dysfunction can radiate pain into the hip and buttock region, mimicking a hip joint problem.
Hip Pain Treatment Options
OC Wellness Physicians provides a range of non-surgical hip pain treatments designed to reduce inflammation, restore function, and address the underlying cause of your pain.
Corticosteroid hip joint injections deliver powerful anti-inflammatory medication directly into the hip joint under fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance. These injections can provide weeks to months of relief from arthritis-related hip pain and bursitis.
Hyaluronic acid injections (viscosupplementation) help restore the natural lubricating fluid within the hip joint. This treatment is particularly beneficial for patients with osteoarthritis who have not responded adequately to other conservative measures.
Physical therapy strengthens the muscles surrounding the hip joint, improves flexibility, and corrects movement patterns that contribute to hip pain. Our physicians coordinate with experienced physical therapists to create targeted rehabilitation programs.
Regenerative medicine options, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, harness your body’s natural healing mechanisms to promote tissue repair within the hip joint. These treatments may benefit patients with early-stage arthritis or soft tissue injuries.
Sacroiliac joint injections are used when hip pain originates from the SI joint rather than the hip joint itself. Diagnostic and therapeutic SI joint injections can confirm the pain source and provide targeted relief.
Medication management with anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, or neuropathic pain agents may be incorporated into your treatment plan to manage symptoms while other therapies take effect.
What to Expect During Your Visit
Your first appointment at OC Wellness Physicians begins with a comprehensive evaluation. Your physician will review your medical history, discuss your symptoms, and perform a physical examination focused on hip range of motion, strength, and pain patterns.
Diagnostic imaging, including X-rays or MRI, may be ordered to evaluate the hip joint structure and identify conditions like arthritis, labral tears, or bursitis. In some cases, diagnostic injections are used to pinpoint the exact source of pain.
Based on your evaluation, your physician will develop a personalized treatment plan that may include one or more of the therapies described above. Our goal is to reduce your pain, improve your mobility, and help you return to the activities you enjoy without surgery.
Follow-up visits allow your care team to monitor your progress, adjust treatments as needed, and ensure you are meeting your recovery goals.
Schedule your hip pain consultation today
Frequently Asked Questions About Hip Pain Treatment
What causes hip pain that gets worse at night?
Nighttime hip pain is commonly caused by trochanteric bursitis, hip arthritis, or tendinitis. Lying on the affected side can compress inflamed bursae, while reduced activity at night allows inflammatory chemicals to accumulate in the joint. Our physicians can identify the specific cause and recommend treatments to improve your sleep quality.
Can hip pain be treated without surgery?
Yes. Many hip conditions respond well to non-surgical treatments including joint injections, physical therapy, regenerative medicine, and medication management. At OC Wellness Physicians, we focus on conservative approaches that address the root cause of hip pain and help patients avoid surgery whenever possible.
How long do hip joint injections last?
The duration of relief from hip joint injections varies by patient and condition. Corticosteroid injections typically provide relief for several weeks to several months. Hyaluronic acid injections may provide longer-lasting improvement for some patients with osteoarthritis. Your physician will discuss expected outcomes based on your specific diagnosis.
When should I see a doctor for hip pain?
You should seek medical evaluation if your hip pain persists for more than a few weeks, interferes with daily activities, wakes you at night, or is accompanied by swelling, redness, or difficulty bearing weight. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent hip conditions from worsening and reduce the need for more invasive interventions.
Do you accept insurance for hip pain treatment?
OC Wellness Physicians accepts most major insurance plans including PPO, HMO, Medicare, and workers’ compensation. Our staff can verify your coverage and discuss payment options during scheduling. Contact our office for specific insurance questions.
Areas We Serve
OC Wellness Physicians provides hip pain treatment across multiple Orange County locations for your convenience.