Hip Pain

Expert Pain Medicine & Medical-Legal Evaluation

Get Lasting Relief From Ongoing Hip, Outer-Thigh, And Deep Gluteal Pain

Hip pain can make it difficult to walk, climb stairs, exercise, sleep comfortably, or move through everyday activities. Some patients experience a deep ache within the hip joint, while others develop tenderness along the outside of the hip or pain that extends into the buttock and upper leg.

Our pain management team helps identify the likely source of your symptoms and recommend treatment options based on your condition, medical history, and goals.

Click on the tiles below to jump to the common hip pain conditions we treat: 

Hip arthritis

Greater trochanteric bursitis

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome

Piriformis syndrome

Deep gluteal pain

Pain along the outside of the hip

Hip Arthritis Treatment

Hip arthritis develops when the joint surfaces become irritated or worn over time. This can lead to pain, stiffness, reduced mobility, and difficulty with weight-bearing activities.

Patients may experience a deep ache in the hip or groin, although pain may also be felt in the buttock, thigh, or knee. Symptoms often worsen with walking, standing, climbing stairs, getting into or out of a car, or rising from a seated position.

Treatment options may include:

  • Fluoroscopy-guided hip joint injections
  • Ultrasound-guided hip joint injections
  • Steroid injections
  • PRP when appropriate

Image guidance helps the provider place treatment accurately within the hip joint. Steroid injections may be considered when inflammation is contributing to pain, while PRP may be discussed in appropriate cases based on the patient’s condition, imaging, and treatment history.

The goal is to reduce pain, improve movement, and help patients return to daily activities with greater comfort.

Greater Trochanteric Bursitis And Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome Treatment

The greater trochanter is the bony area along the outside of the hip. A fluid-filled sac called the greater trochanteric bursa helps reduce friction between this area and the surrounding muscles and tendons.

When the bursa or nearby soft tissues become irritated, patients may develop pain and tenderness along the outside of the hip. This is commonly referred to as greater trochanteric bursitis or greater trochanteric pain syndrome.

Symptoms may include:

  • Tenderness over the outside of the hip
  • Pain while lying on the affected side
  • Discomfort when walking or climbing stairs
  • Pain with prolonged standing
  • Symptoms that worsen after activity
  • Aching that spreads into the outer thigh
  • Pain when rising from a chair

Treatment options may include:

  • Greater trochanteric bursa injections
  • PRP in selected cases
  • Trigger point injections

A bursa injection may be used when inflammation around the greater trochanter appears to be contributing to symptoms. PRP may be considered in selected cases when tendon or other soft-tissue involvement is suspected.

Trigger point injections may also be used when tight or painful muscles around the hip and buttocks are contributing to discomfort.

Piriformis Syndrome And Deep Gluteal Pain Treatment

The piriformis is a small muscle located deep within the buttocks. It sits near the sciatic nerve and helps support hip movement and stability.

Piriformis syndrome or deep gluteal pain may develop when the piriformis or surrounding tissues become irritated, tight, or inflamed. In some cases, nearby nerve irritation may also contribute to symptoms.

Patients may experience:

  • Deep aching in the buttocks
  • Pain that worsens while sitting
  • Discomfort with walking or climbing stairs
  • Pain during certain hip movements
  • Tenderness in the deep gluteal region
  • Symptoms that extend into the back of the thigh
  • Burning, tingling, or nerve-like discomfort in some cases

Treatment options may include:

  • Piriformis injections
  • Sciatic nerve evaluation
  • Peripheral nerve evaluation
  • Medication management
  • Rehabilitation coordination

A piriformis injection may be used to target the muscle and surrounding tissues when symptoms suggest that this area is contributing to pain.

Because deep gluteal pain may also involve the sciatic nerve or another peripheral nerve, a focused evaluation can help determine whether the symptoms are primarily muscular, nerve-related, or caused by another nearby structure.

Image-Guided Hip Injections

Hip and gluteal pain can come from structures located deep beneath the skin. Image guidance allows the provider to visualize the treatment area and place the injection more accurately.

Depending on the condition, treatment may be performed using

The type of imaging and injection selected will depend on the suspected pain source, the patient’s anatomy, prior care, and physical examination findings.

Patient Stories

What To Expect At Your Visit

Your evaluation may include a physical exam, a review of your symptoms and medical history, and a discussion of whether imaging, prior records, or additional diagnostic steps are needed to better understand your condition and recommend appropriate next steps.

We may ask about:

  • Where your shoulder pain begins and whether it travels
  • Which movements make your symptoms worse
  • Whether you have difficulty lifting or reaching
  • Whether the shoulder feels weak or unstable
  • Whether pain interferes with sleep
  • Whether stiffness has developed gradually or suddenly
  • Whether symptoms followed an injury or repetitive activity
  • Prior medications, injections, imaging, therapy, or surgery
  • How your symptoms affect work, exercise, and daily activities

Your provider may also evaluate your shoulder range of motion, strength, areas of tenderness, pain with specific movements, and signs of joint, tendon, bursa, or nerve involvement.

From there, we can discuss which treatment options may be appropriate for your specific diagnosis and goals.

A More Targeted Approach To Shoulder Pain

Not all shoulder pain comes from the same source. Arthritis, adhesive capsulitis, rotator cuff tendinopathy, bursitis, or suprascapular nerve pain may require different treatment strategies.

Our approach focuses on:

  • Identifying the likely source of your pain
  • Distinguishing joint pain from tendon, bursa, or nerve-related symptoms
  • Reducing unnecessary trial-and-error treatment
  • Using image-guided injections when appropriate
  • Providing targeted procedures based on your condition
  • Considering PRP in appropriate cases
  • Coordinating rehabilitation when needed
  • Evaluating nerve ablation or stimulation in selected cases
  • Helping you understand your treatment options clearly
You do not have to keep guessing whether your pain is coming from the shoulder joint, rotator cuff, bursa, or a nearby nerve. A focused evaluation can help clarify the cause and guide your next step.

Schedule A Shoulder Pain Consultation

If shoulder pain, stiffness, weakness, or limited movement is interfering with your sleep, work, exercise, or daily activities, our team can evaluate your condition and discuss available treatment options.

Request A Medical-Legal Consult

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