What's causing your hip pain?
What causes hip pain?
The most common causes of hip pain are arthritis, labral tears, hip impingement (FAI), tendon problems on the outside of the hip and bursitis. Where the pain sits is the biggest clue: groin pain usually points to the joint itself, outside pain to the gluteal tendons, and buttock pain often to the lower back.
Pick the guide that matches what you feel. Each one explains the likely causes, the warning signs and the treatment options in plain language.
Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Stride, MD, board-certified orthopedic surgeonLast reviewed October 2026
By location
Pain in the Front of the Hip and Groin
Front of hip and groin pain usually comes from inside the hip joint itself.
Causes & treatment →Hip pain · Outside of hipPain on the Outside of the Hip
Pain on the outside of the hip is most often greater trochanteric pain syndrome, an irritation of the gluteus medius and minimus tendons and the bursa over the bony point of the hip.
Causes & treatment →Hip pain · Back of hipPain in the Back of the Hip and Buttock
Pain in the back of the hip and buttock most often comes from the lower back, such as a pinched nerve or sciatica, or from the sacroiliac joint.
Causes & treatment →By symptom
Is It Your Hip or Your Back?
Hip joint pain is usually felt in the groin or front of the thigh and flares with putting on socks or getting out of a car.
Causes & treatment →Hip pain · symptomHip Clicking, Popping and Snapping
Hip clicking or snapping, called snapping hip syndrome or coxa saltans, usually comes from a tendon sliding over bone.
Causes & treatment →Hip pain · symptomHip Stiffness and Loss of Motion
A stiff hip is most often caused by hip osteoarthritis, which reduces rotation and makes socks, shoes and getting out of a car harder.
Causes & treatment →Hip pain · symptomHip Pain at Night
Hip pain at night is most often caused by greater trochanteric pain syndrome, where lying on the side compresses the gluteal tendons, or by hip osteoarthritis, which can ache at rest as it advances.
Causes & treatment →Hip pain · symptomHip Pain When Walking
Hip pain when walking is most often caused by hip osteoarthritis, which brings a groin ache and a limp, or by gluteal tendinopathy, which causes outer hip pain.
Causes & treatment →Hip pain · symptomPain After Hip Replacement
Pain after hip replacement is normal for the first several weeks and usually fades steadily over about 3 months.
Causes & treatment →