Hip Pain overview and Basics

Hip pain is a condition that can affect people of all ages and from all walks of life. However, most severe cases come from older adults with osteoporosis and hip fracture. That’s not the only health problem affecting your hips, however. The truth is that most hip pain sufferers can find treatments that work for them, but some cases are severe enough to cause long-lasting problems.

To find the best treatment for you, the doctor needs to ask many questions and perform a physical exam. Thus, it is essential that you know a few basics about hip pain, how it feels, what structures are possibly affected, and the associated signs and symptoms.

We usually spend much time worrying about heart disease, metabolic problems, and other ailments. But we don’t typically spend nearly enough time on our hips.

That’s understandable, of course. Our hips have a lot going on. They’re pretty complicated. And there’s no shortage of information out there. Many books, magazines, websites, and YouTube videos try to give patients some understanding of hip anatomy. But unfortunately, a lot of the information out there is misled by advertisements and economic interests or is very complex and only suitable for healthcare professionals.

So we thought we’d try to clear up some of the confusion and give you the basics you should understand about hip pain. We’re also devoting a series of articles to explaining the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and other aspects you want to know about this ailment.