Hip Pain Diagnosis

Memorial Hermann orthopedic specialists use a combination of questions, tests and imaging tools to determine the reason for your current pain and the root cause of the problem.

As with most conditions, early diagnosis and treatment of hip pain usually equates to a better outcome.

There are instances, however, when waiting a short time while resting the hip joint and using home remedies is best. If you may have overused the joint and your pain is not severe, icing, resting and using a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) is Plan A. If you have severe pain following an injury or have chronic hip joint pain, it is time for Plan B: see a board-certified specialist who has specific experience in hip joint treatment.

To isolate the cause of your hip pain, your orthopedist will ask you questions about your relevant personal and family medical history, and questions about your current pain, to learn:

• The specific location of your pain
• The time of day, movements or activities when you notice the pain
• Severity of the pain
• When you first noticed the pain and how it progressed
  

Your orthopedist will check your range of motion and assess what movements give you discomfort or pain. He or she may also watch you walk, take measurements of your legs, and examine your lower back, knee joints and feet. This helps in developing a comprehensive picture of your skeletal, muscular and neurological health and isolating abnormalities that may relate to your hip pain.

Vital to most diagnoses is a visual image inside the joint. X-rays, CT scans and MRI’s may be used to check for hip alignment, space between bones, bone structure abnormalities and the presence of bone spurs.

If you have certain symptoms, such as signs of infection, an autoimmune condition or an excessive build-up of fluids in the hip joint, your doctor will order blood tests to assist in the diagnosis.