Where Does Your Hip Hurt?

The location of hip discomfort or pain can suggest what might be causing it:

• Along the outside of your hip (lateral pain): Pain in this area could indicate bursitis, especially if it increases when you press on the affected hip. Numbness, tingling, or burning suggests a compressed nerve, typically in your lower back.
• Down the front of your hip or in the groin area (anterior pain): Pain that comes on gradually could signal osteoarthritis, while sudden pain could indicate a fracture or osteonecrosis.
• In the back of your hip or lower part of your buttocks (posterior pain): Pain is less common at this site, but it could stem from a lower back problem.

This article first appeared in UC Berkeley Health After 50.