Left untreated, hip pain can lead to arthritis in later life. No matter what causes hip pain in young adults, scheduling an evaluation with Dr. In other cases, a minimally-invasive procedure called arthroscopy might be used to “fix” an underlying problem. Physical therapy, over-the-counter pain medicines, rest, and other nonsurgical treatments are often adequate in relieving hip pain. But the good news is, most types of hip pain can be treated much more conservatively. Early Treatment is CriticalĪ lot of people worry that hip pain means they’re going to need joint replacement surgery. Compression of nerves in the thigh and the lower back are the most common sources of nerve-related hip pain. If a nerve gets trapped or compressed, you can experience pain and numbness anywhere along the length of the nerve. Shooting pain or numbness: A sharp, electricity-like pain is a sign of nerve involvement. Snapping hip often occurs on its own, but in some cases, it’s associated with a more serious underlying problem.īuttock pain: Sometimes, a strain or muscle tear in the buttock area can cause hip pain, as well as pain along the side of the thigh. As you move your hip, the tendon releases and “snaps.” Sometimes, you can hear a “pop” when the tendon snaps free. “Snapping” sensations: “ Snapping hip” most commonly occurs when a tendon gets “caught” on a bony prominence in the hip joint. Sometimes, bursitis occurs alongside a deformity, but strenuous activity can also cause bursitis. Bursitis occurs when tiny sacs inside the joint become inflamed.

Tenderness: If the hip feels tender when touched or pressed, it could be bursitis. And since hip deformities don’t always cause a lot of pain, it’s important to look for other symptoms. Hip pain might be the most obvious sign of a hip problem, but it’s not the only one. Recognizing the Signs of Hip Problems in Young Adults Over time, the added pressure degrades the cartilage on the rim, resulting in pain and, eventually, arthritis. The shallow shape means the ball part presses against the rim of the socket. In hip dysplasia, the hip socket is shallow, preventing a good “fit” with the round ball part of the joint. Like FAI, hip dysplasia involves a deformity that develops as the hip joint grows. Hip dysplasia is another type of hip deformity that can cause hip pain in young adults, although it’s more commonly associated with pain in older patients. Other symptoms include thigh pain and the sensation of “clicking” or “sticking” inside the joint. Labrum damage typically causes pain in the front of the hip. In FAI, the malformation increases pressure and friction on the labrum, weakening and sometimes tearing it. The labrum is a tough ring of cartilage that helps hold the ball in place inside the socket. In addition to causing pain and increasing the risk of arthritis, FAI can also damage the hip labrum. In fact, in a study of 134 college football players, 95 percent had hip deformities associated with FAI, even though the players had no symptoms. In one study, hip shape abnormalities were present in 87 percent of young patients complaining of hip pain.Īlthough FAI can cause a lot of pain, it doesn’t always cause significant symptoms. The added wear inside the joint also means it’s a lot more likely arthritis will develop in later years.įAI is a common cause of hip pain in teenage athletes. The resulting inflammation causes pain during the teen years and well into young adulthood.

As the hip moves, friction between the ball and socket can wind up damaging the cartilage that lines and protects the joint. The malformation means the ball and socket don’t fit together well. Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a condition that occurs when either the ball or socket portion of the joint is malformed. But the fact is, when hip pain develops in a teenager or a young adult, often an underlying hip deformity is to blame. Hip Pain in Young Adults & Teensĭuring the teen years, it’s easy to dismiss discomfort as “growing pains” in the hips. And that means the treatment for relieving pain can also vary. The causes of hip pain in young adults can vary. Low back problems and other wear-related issues are other common causes of hip pain in older adults. Friction inside the joint increases, and so do inflammation and pain. Years of stress and strain on the joint eventually causes the protective cartilage layer to break down. In older men and women, a lot of hip pain is caused by arthritis. And in fact, hip pain in teens is more common than you may you think. But hip pain in young adults is common too. It’s true, hip pain does become more common as we get older. Most of us think of hip pain as a problem that occurs when we’re older, maybe beginning in our 50s or beyond.

Normal female adult right hip xray