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Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Yes, for assessment and a treatment plan. The cause of hip pain is identified from the history and a guided movement screen on video, anti-inflammatory tablets or gels prescribed, and physiotherapy or imaging arranged where needed; injections, X-rays and fracture care happen in person.
- What it is: pain from the hip joint (osteoarthritis, labral tears, inflammatory arthritis), from the tendons and bursa on the outer hip (gluteal tendinopathy, affecting about 1 in 4 women over 50), or referred from the lower back, the pelvis or a hernia.
- Location rule: true hip-joint pain sits in the groin and can refer to the thigh or knee; pain over the bony point of the outer hip, worst lying on that side, is tendon or bursa; buttock pain radiating down the leg is usually the back.
- How long: a simple strain settles in 2 to 4 weeks, gluteal tendon pain improves over 6 to 12 weeks of strengthening, and hip osteoarthritis is managed over years, with exercise and weight control delaying or avoiding surgery for many.
- After 50: new pain and stiffness across both hips and shoulders, worst in the morning, with fatigue, can be polymyalgia rheumatica, which needs prompt blood tests and responds quickly to steroids.
- Emergency: after a fall, being unable to stand or bear weight, or a leg that looks shortened or turned outward, can mean a hip fracture: call 112 or get to an emergency department now; a hot, swollen hip with fever needs the same.
After a fall or injury, being unable to stand or bear weight on the leg, or a leg that looks shortened or turned outward, can mean a hip fracture: get to an emergency department now or call 112, do not book an online appointment. A hip that is hot and swollen with fever (possible joint infection), or sudden severe pain in someone with osteoporosis or on long-term steroids, also needs urgent in-person care.
Can an online doctor treat hip pain?
Yes, for most causes. Hip pain is assessed from where it sits, what provokes it and how you move, and all three come across on video, so a consultation can often provide enough information to work out the likely cause, rule out red flags and agree a plan.[1] A suspected fracture after a fall, or a hot swollen joint with fever, needs in-person care today.
How an online consultation helps with hip pain
- Location decoded: “Hip pain” means different things. Groin pain often points to the joint itself; outer-hip pain usually points to the tendons and bursa beside it; buttock or back-of-thigh pain often comes from the spine, not the hip at all.
- Age patterns used properly: The likely causes differ across the decades, so the doctor uses your age to steer the assessment rather than treating every hip the same.
- The fracture question, asked first: After any fall, the consultation screens for the features that mean an emergency department rather than an appointment.
- A plan, not just a painkiller: Most hip pain improves with targeted exercise and load management; the doctor sets that up and prescribes pain relief where it helps, opioids excepted, as they are not prescribed online.
📷 Before your appointment: point to where it hurts with one finger and photograph or note it, and if you can, film a few steps of walking. Whether the pain is in the groin, the outer hip or the buttock is the single most useful thing you can show the doctor.
What the doctor checks in an online hip pain consultation
The assessment is structured around location, pattern and safety. In a hip pain consultation, the doctor will typically check:
- Exactly where it hurts: groin (hip joint), outer hip over the bony point (tendons and bursa), or buttock and back of thigh (often the spine or sciatic nerve).[1]
- The injury and fall history: any recent fall, and whether you could weight-bear afterwards, asked early because it changes the destination.
- A movement screen on camera: how you walk, whether you limp, and which movements provoke pain, such as putting on socks or turning in bed.
- The pattern over time: gradual stiffening pain that worsens with activity suggests osteoarthritis; sharp outer-hip pain when lying on that side suggests tendon or bursa trouble.
- Red-flag screen: fever, feeling unwell, night pain that never eases, a cancer history, unexplained weight loss, osteoporosis or long-term steroids.
- Medication and safety history: stomach, kidney and heart history before any anti-inflammatory is considered, plus what you have already tried.
- Function and load: walking distance, stairs, work demands, and any recent spike in running, standing or activity.
What causes hip pain, by age and pattern
Hip pain has a shortlist of causes that shifts with age, and location narrows it further: true groin pain points to the joint, outer-hip pain to the soft tissues beside it, and buttock pain often to the spine. Matching age to pattern is how the doctor reaches a likely cause quickly and safely.
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Age group | Common causes | Where it is usually felt |
|---|---|---|
| Children and teens | Irritable hip after a virus, growth-plate conditions; always assessed in person | Groin, thigh or referred to the knee |
| Young and active adults | Muscle or tendon strain, hip impingement, labral irritation | Groin or deep in the front of the hip |
| Middle age | Gluteal tendon or bursa pain (outer hip), early osteoarthritis | Outer hip, or groin for the joint |
| Older adults | Osteoarthritis; fracture after a fall; polymyalgia rheumatica in over-50s | Groin and thigh; both hips in polymyalgia |
Two patterns deserve a flag of their own. Osteoarthritis of the hip typically causes groin and thigh pain, stiffness after rest, and trouble with socks, shoes and turning; it is the most common cause of hip pain in older adults and often responds well to exercise and analgesia.[3][4] And in people over 50, new pain and stiffness across both hips and both shoulders, worst in the morning, can be polymyalgia rheumatica, which needs prompt blood tests because it responds dramatically to the right treatment.[2]
Is my hip pain actually from my hip?
Often it is not, and this catches people out. Pain felt in the buttock or the back of the thigh frequently comes from the lower spine or an irritated nerve root rather than the hip joint, while pain over the bony point on the outside of the hip is usually the gluteal tendons or bursa, not the joint inside.[1] Genuine hip-joint pain is classically felt in the groin, and can even show up as knee pain because of how the joint refers. Getting the source right matters, because spine-driven pain, tendon pain and joint pain are treated in different ways. If the picture points to the back, the back pain assessment is the better route; if it points to the tendons, the approach follows tendon-pain principles.
Which hip pain treatment might the doctor recommend?
Treatment follows the cause and the red-flag screen. This is the decision framework the doctors use, aligned with cited guidance:[1]
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Presentation | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When referral or in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outer-hip pain, worse lying on that side (gluteal tendon or bursa) | Load management, targeted exercise, topical or short oral anti-inflammatory | Usually yes | No improvement after a good rehab trial |
| Groin and thigh pain, stiffness after rest (osteoarthritis pattern) | Exercise plan, weight management, analgesia as needed | Usually yes | Severe limitation or night pain despite care: orthopaedic opinion |
| Over 50 with new pain and stiffness of both hips and shoulders | Prompt inflammatory-marker bloods for suspected polymyalgia rheumatica | Yes to organise; bloods done locally | New headache, jaw or scalp pain, or visual change: emergency care |
| Unable to weight-bear after a fall, or leg shortened and turned out | Emergency department now | No | Possible hip fracture; needs X-ray and surgical assessment |
| Hot, swollen hip with fever or feeling unwell | Call 112 or go to an emergency department now | No | Possible septic arthritis; the joint can be destroyed within days |
Not sure which row is your hip? A doctor can tell you in one consultation.
See available times →What actually helps hip pain
For the common soft-tissue and osteoarthritis causes, the evidence points the same way as the rest of the joint world: keep the hip moving, build the muscles around it, and manage load rather than resting into weakness.[1] For gluteal tendon and bursa pain, the specific trap is compression: crossing your legs, standing hip-dropped on one side, and lying on the painful side all squeeze the tendons and keep them angry, so the first fixes are postural before they are pharmacological. For hip osteoarthritis, strengthening and aerobic exercise reduce pain and improve function, and losing excess weight takes several times its own load off the joint with every step.[4] None of this is fast, and the doctor will not pretend otherwise; meaningful change comes over weeks of consistency.
Treatment options for hip pain
What you can do yourself
Keep walking within comfort, and avoid the two extremes of pushing through sharp pain and stopping altogether. For outer-hip pain, stop crossing your legs, avoid lying on the sore side, and stand evenly on both feet rather than hanging on one hip. Use heat for stiffness and ice for a hot flare. Short-term pain relief from a pharmacy can make movement possible; a pharmacist can advise what suits you. Add graded strengthening once the sharpest pain settles.
Prescription treatment
A prescription is never issued without a consultation. Where suitable, the doctor may prescribe a short course of an anti-inflammatory (NSAID) at the lowest effective dose after checking your stomach, kidney and heart history, or a topical anti-inflammatory for the outer hip.[1][5] Opioids (codeine, tramadol and stronger) and other controlled medicines are not prescribed through online consultations, and they are a poor fit for the ongoing, movement-based problems that cause most hip pain. Steroid injections for stubborn bursa or joint pain, and joint replacement for advanced osteoarthritis, are in-person options the doctor can refer you towards when the time is right. Suspected polymyalgia rheumatica is treated with a specific steroid regimen started after blood tests, which the doctor arranges.
When hip pain is treated online, and when you need in-person care
Treated online: outer-hip tendon and bursa pain; hip osteoarthritis assessment and ongoing management, including exercise planning and analgesia reviews; muscle and tendon strains; suspected polymyalgia rheumatica, with bloods arranged and treatment started; and hip pain that is really coming from the back, redirected to the right pathway.
In-person care: a suspected fracture after a fall, an inability to weight-bear, or a leg that looks shortened and turned out goes to the emergency department now. A hot, swollen hip with fever means 112, because septic arthritis cannot wait. Any child or teenager with hip pain is assessed in person, promptly, as some causes are time-critical. Severe osteoarthritis limiting your life despite good care is referred for an orthopaedic opinion, and over-50s with girdle stiffness plus new headache, jaw or scalp pain or visual change need emergency assessment.
When to get in-person care
Go to an emergency department or call 112 now if, after a fall, you cannot stand or bear weight, or the leg looks shortened or turned outward: this can be a hip fracture. Call 112 for a hip that is hot and swollen with fever (possible joint infection). Seek urgent in-person care for sudden severe hip pain with osteoporosis or long-term steroid use, any child with hip pain, or hip pain with unexplained weight loss, night sweats or a cancer history.
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: open daily 7am–11pm CET. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, exact price up front.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about hip pain: a private video call: you describe what you feel, the doctor asks what matters, and you agree the right plan together.
- Leave with your plan: everything agreed before you hang up: your plan, and a prescription to use at a pharmacy near you where medication is clinically right for you. If your doctor decides you need to be seen in person, you get a full refund.
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Hip pain can have more than one cause. Tick every symptom you have to see each condition page that mentions it. It finds the right page, not a diagnosis: a doctor gives you that on a video call.
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Frequently asked questions about hip pain
What causes hip pain?
Hip pain in younger adults is usually a muscle or tendon strain, a labral tear, hip impingement or pain referred from the back; from mid-life the commonest causes are osteoarthritis of the hip joint, gluteal tendinopathy and bursitis on the outer hip, and pain referred from the lower back or pelvis. Less often hip pain comes from inflammatory arthritis, a stress fracture, a hernia, polymyalgia rheumatica or, rarely, bone disease.
Is my pain from my hip joint or somewhere else?
Location is the biggest clue. True hip-joint pain is usually felt in the groin and can refer to the front of the thigh or even the knee, with stiffness putting on socks. Pain over the bony point on the outside of the hip is usually tendon or bursa. Pain in the buttock that runs down the leg, worse sitting or bending, is more often the lower back than the hip at all.
What are the symptoms of hip osteoarthritis?
Hip osteoarthritis causes groin pain that builds with walking and standing and eases with rest, stiffness for a few minutes in the morning or after sitting, difficulty with socks, shoes and getting out of a car, a limp by the end of the day, and sometimes pain referred to the knee. It develops over years, often with better and worse stretches, and affects about 1 in 10 people over 60.
Can an online doctor prescribe pain relief for hip pain in Europe?
Yes, after a consultation. Suitable options such as anti-inflammatory tablets or gels for hip pain can be prescribed for use at a pharmacy near you, alongside an exercise plan and physiotherapy referral. Opioids such as codeine or tramadol and other controlled medicines are not prescribed online, and guidelines advise against them for long-term hip pain anyway; a steroid injection is arranged in person.
Do I need an X-ray or scan for hip pain?
Not usually at the start. Most soft-tissue and early osteoarthritis hip pain is diagnosed from the story and a movement assessment, and imaging rarely changes early treatment. An X-ray is needed urgently after a fall if a fracture is suspected, and is useful when surgery is being considered; an MRI is reserved for suspected stress fractures, labral tears or hip pain that is not improving.
What is the pain on the outside of my hip when I lie on it?
That pattern, sharp pain over the bony point that is worst lying on that side, is typically gluteal tendon or bursa pain rather than the joint. It is aggravated by compression: lying on the painful side, crossing your legs, standing on one leg, and climbing stairs. It responds to avoiding those positions, a pillow between the knees at night, and a progressive strengthening programme over 6 to 12 weeks.
When is hip pain an emergency?
After a fall, if you cannot stand or bear weight, or the leg looks shortened or turned outward, go to an emergency department now or call 112: this can be a hip fracture. A hot, swollen hip with fever needs the same, as it may be a joint infection, and sudden severe hip pain in someone with osteoporosis, on long-term steroids or with a history of cancer needs urgent in-person assessment.
Can hip osteoarthritis be treated without surgery?
Often, yes, especially in the earlier stages. Exercise to strengthen the muscles around the hip joint, weight management and sensible pain relief improve pain and function for many people and can delay or avoid surgery for years. Joint replacement is a highly effective operation kept for hip pain that limits daily life despite those measures, and the online doctor can refer you for it.
How long does hip pain take to get better?
A simple muscle or tendon strain around the hip settles in two to four weeks. Gluteal tendinopathy and bursitis improve over six to twelve weeks of strengthening and load management. Hip osteoarthritis is managed rather than cured, with many people staying stable for years. Hip pain that is not improving after six weeks of proper care, or any hip pain with weight loss or night pain, needs review.
What can I do at home for hip pain?
At home, keep walking and moving within what hip pain allows, use heat for stiffness and a cold pack after activity that flares it, take paracetamol or an anti-inflammatory as advised, sleep on the good side with a pillow between the knees, avoid crossing your legs and standing on one leg, use a stick in the opposite hand if limping, and start daily hip-strengthening exercises such as bridges and side-steps.
How can I prevent hip pain, or stop it getting worse?
Prevent hip pain worsening by keeping weight in a healthy range, building and keeping the strength of the gluteal muscles with two sessions a week, staying active with walking, cycling or swimming, increasing training gradually rather than suddenly, wearing supportive shoes, and treating back and knee problems that change how you walk. For osteoporosis risk, bone-protecting treatment prevents the fracture behind the worst hip pain.
Is hip pain different in pregnancy or in older people?
In pregnancy, hip and pelvic girdle pain is common as ligaments loosen and posture changes, and is managed with physiotherapy, a support belt, paracetamol and sleeping with a pillow between the knees, with anti-inflammatory tablets avoided. In older people, hip pain after even a minor fall is a fracture until an X-ray says otherwise, and new pain across both hips and shoulders after 50 is tested for polymyalgia rheumatica.
- Osteoarthritis in over 16s: diagnosis and management (NG226), NICE, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2022.
- Polymyalgia rheumatica, HSE, Health Service Executive (Ireland), reviewed 2023.
- Osteoarthritis fact sheet, WHO, World Health Organization, 2023.
- Exercise for osteoarthritis of the hip, Cochrane, Cochrane Collaboration, 2014.
- Topical NSAIDs for chronic musculoskeletal pain in adults, Cochrane, Cochrane Collaboration, 2016.
- Hip pain in adults, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed November 2025.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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