Diagnosis and treatment depend on what part of your hip hurts and your medical history.
Hip pain can affect the entire hip or just the inner or outer part.
It may affect one or both hips.
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When the cartilage is damaged, movement can become difficult and may be painful.
The thinning of the cartilage alsonarrows the spacebetween the bones.
In advanced cases, bone will rub on bone, causing pain and stiffness, especially with movement.
Friction between bones may also lead tobone spursbone growth at the edge of bones.
It can cause joint pain, swelling, and pain when walking or performing other movements.
Bursae (plural of bursa) cushion bones and other tissues.
It happens when the bursa covering the greater trochanter becomes damaged or inflamed.
It can cause pain and difficulty with walking.
Fractures
Ahip fractureis a break in the top of the femur.It is treated with surgery.
Others can walk but have vague pain in the hip, buttock, thigh, groin, or back.
Hip fractures are more common in older adults and often occur after a fall or other trauma.
They are also common in people withosteoporosis(a bone-weakening disease).
It may also affect the ability to walk and cause pain with walking.
Infection or Inflammation
Infections and inflammatory conditions of the hip joint can cause severe pain with walking.
This includesosteomyelitis,toxic synovitis, andsacroiliitis.
Osteomyelitis of the hip is inflammation of the hip bone sparked by a bacterial infection.
Toxic synovitis is an inflammatory condition of the hip joints that primarily affects children.
It causes pain across the hip area that worsens when bearing weight.
Severe abdominal cramping from menstruation can cause pain that radiates to the back, hips, and legs.
Adenomyosisis when the endometrial lining spreads into the muscular layer of the uterus.
It causes an enlarged uterus, heavy menstrual bleeding, painful periods, and hip and pelvic pain.
Additional risk factors for hip pain include:
Is My Hip Pain From the Joint or Muscle?
It may be a hip issue, or it may not be related to the hip.
Hip pain when walking can be a problem with the hip joint or with hip muscles.
The affected joint will typically swell if hip pain is related to a joint problem.
The joint will hurt not just while walking but also when resting.
Muscle spasmsaccompany muscle pain, which subsides with rest.
Pain might also be felt near the groin.
Check Your Walking Form
A good walking form may help when youve had hip pain when walking.
They can run tests to determine the cause of symptoms and treat your condition.
Treating Moderate to Severe Hip Pain
Treatment for hip pain will depend on the cause.
Additionaltreatment options for hip paininclude:
Discuss your treatment options with a healthcare provider.
Does Walking Make Hip Pain Worse?
Walking can be helpful for managing pain.
Contact a healthcare provider for advice on how much rest and activity can help manage hip pain.
Summary
Hip pain while walking is a common complaint.
Some of these issues are serious and chronic, while others are short-term and can improve over time.
In some cases, you may need long-term care, like physical therapy.
Surgery is typically a last-resort option and is used in cases of fracture or joint damage.
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