Hip pain can happen for a lot of different reasons, so it’s not usually a “clear sign” of one specific thing. It could mean anything from something minor to something more serious. Some common causes include:
- Muscle or tendon strain – from sports, exercise, or overuse.
- Arthritis – inflammation in the hip joint.
- Bursitis – inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion your hip.
- Injury – like a fall or a hip fracture.
- Referred pain – sometimes pain from the lower back, pelvis, or knees shows up in the hip.
The exact cause depends on factors like your age, activity level, where exactly the pain is, and whether there’s swelling, stiffness, or other symptoms.
If hip pain is sudden, severe, or comes with swelling, redness, fever, or inability to walk, it’s important to get medical attention right away.
If you want, I can help you figure out some ways to tell the likely cause based on your symptoms. Do you want me to do that?
