How to Diagnose Hip Pain

According to Emedicine, hip pain can be notoriously difficult to diagnose. If you've fallen and broken the head of your femur within the hip socket, symptoms are pretty clear-cut. However, hip pain can also be caused by soft tissue strain, infections, arthritis, or body-wide diseases such as sickle cell anemia. To complicate the picture, hip pain may actually originate outside the hip joint in the knee, abdomen, or pelvis.

Instructions

• 1

  Decide if your hip pain is acute or chronic. Acute pain occurs suddenly, often after a fall, and can be quite intense. Chronic pain tends to be dull, and often comes and goes throughout the day.

• 2

  Identify triggers that seem to cause pain. Did your pain follow an injury or overuse of your hip? Does it start after you've overdone your exercise routine? Does it come on during everyday activities?

• 3

  List other signs and symptoms. Is the joint swollen? Does it lock when you move? Are you able to move your leg normally? What happens when you try to bear weight?

• 4

  Identify home care measures that help your pain. Do you feel better after taking over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen? Does your pain go away when you rest? How do you feel when you apply ice or sit in a hot bath?

• 5

  Make an appointment with your doctor. If you have acute hip pain and aren't able to walk, let him know it's an emergency. If you've identified chronic pain that doesn't get much better with home care, schedule a visit during office hours. Provide a quick summary of your pain based on the questions you've already answered.

• 6

  Complete diagnostic tests. After examining you and considering your medical history, your physician may order an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI of your hip. In some cases, you may be sent for a bone scan to see if the joint is inflamed. If the doctor suspects a body-wide disease, he may order blood tests.

• 7

  Follow your doctor's recommendations. While acute conditions like a hip fracture can be seen on X-rays, chronic problems can be difficult to sort out. Your doctor may prescribe medications, physical therapy, and/or home care measures to see how your joint responds. Keep careful notes, and let her know what makes the pain better or worse.