Other
Hip Pain
Common Symptoms
- Pain in the groin area
- Pain on the outside of the hip
- Pain in the thigh or buttock
- Stiffness or reduced range of motion in the hip
- Limping or difficulty walking
- Pain that worsens with activity or after prolonged sitting
- Swelling or tenderness around the hip
- A clicking or catching sensation in the hip joint
Diagnosis
To diagnose the cause of hip pain, a doctor will typically start with a physical examination to assess your range of motion, strength, and the specific location of the pain. They will also review your medical history and ask about your symptoms. Imaging tests are often used to get a clearer picture of the joint. X-rays can reveal bone abnormalities, fractures, and arthritis. An MRI or CT scan may be ordered to view soft tissues like cartilage, muscles, and tendons in greater detail. In some cases, blood tests may be used to rule out systemic inflammatory conditions.
Causes
Hip pain can arise from issues in the bones or cartilage of the hip, such as arthritis, which is one of the most common causes, particularly osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Injuries are another frequent source of pain, including hip fractures, bursitis (inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the joint), tendinitis (inflammation of tendons), and muscle or tendon strains from overuse. Sometimes, pain felt in the hip originates from other areas of the body, a phenomenon known as referred pain. For example, problems in the lower back, such as a herniated disc or sciatica, can cause pain that radiates to the hip and buttock. Less common causes include avascular necrosis, where blood flow to the hip bone is reduced, and certain types of cancer.
Treatment Overview
Treatment for hip pain is directed at the underlying cause. General approaches often begin with conservative measures like rest, ice, and modifying activities that worsen the pain. Physical therapy is a cornerstone of treatment for many hip conditions, focusing on exercises to improve flexibility, strength, and range of motion. Over-the-counter or prescription medications may be used to manage pain and inflammation. For some conditions, injections of corticosteroids or other substances into the joint can provide relief. In cases of severe damage from arthritis or a fracture, surgical procedures, such as hip replacement, may be necessary.
Prognosis & Outlook
The outlook for hip pain varies widely depending on its cause, severity, and the individual's overall health. Many cases of pain from minor strains or overuse resolve within a few weeks with conservative care and rest. For chronic conditions like osteoarthritis, the goal is long-term management of symptoms to maintain function and quality of life. When surgery like a hip replacement is required, the prognosis is generally excellent, with most people experiencing significant pain relief and improved mobility.
Types & Variants
Arthritis
Pain caused by the inflammation and breakdown of cartilage in the hip joint, most commonly from osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
Bursitis
Inflammation of the bursae, which are small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion the bones, tendons and muscles near your joints.
Tendinitis
Irritation or inflammation of the tendons, the thick fibrous cords that attach muscle to bone, often due to repetitive stress.
Fracture
A break in the upper part of the femur (thighbone). Hip fractures are serious injuries, especially in older adults, and almost always require surgery.
What 1 Contributor Has Shared
Based on the story provided, the healing journey from chronic hip pain can represent a profound paradigm shift away from a purely structural model of pain towards a mind-body or neuroplastic understanding. The individual experienced long-lasting hip pain, alongside a multitude of other musculoskeletal and systemic symptoms, and was given various structural diagnoses like arthritis and femoral narrowing. However, a turning point occurred upon discovering that these structural findings could be incidental and that the pain was instead neuroplastic in nature (also known as TMS - Tension Myoneural Syndrome), meaning it was generated and maintained by the brain and nervous system, not by tissue damage.
This realization shifted the entire approach to healing. Instead of pursuing an extensive list of physical treatments and lifestyle modifications that proved ineffective (e.g., physical therapy, injections, dietary changes, posture correction), the focus turned to retraining the brain. The successful path involved deep education in pain neuroscience, combined with practices like Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), therapeutic journaling, and somatic tracking to change the brain's response to physical sensations. The core of this recovery was learning to feel safe in the body, reducing the fear associated with pain, and understanding the role of stress and suppressed emotions.
This journey offers significant hope, suggesting that even with a diagnosis tied to physical 'abnormalities', the root cause of the pain may lie in learned neural pathways. It highlights that healing is possible through self-education and dedicated mind-body practices that empower the individual to unlearn the chronic pain response. The key message is that if the brain can learn pain, it can also unlearn it.
“Approaches that were part of my recovery”
As described by story contributors
Pain Neuroscience Education (e.g., reading books by Sarno, Schubiner)
mind_body
Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) and Somatic Tracking
mind_body
Therapeutic Journaling (e.g., Nicole Sachs' method)
mind_body
Graded Exposure (to teach the brain safety with movement/activity)
mind_body
Nervous System Regulation (e.g., Polyvagal theory)
mind_body
Addressing Belief and Doubt about the nature of the pain
mind_body
Self-Compassion
mind_body
Visualization & Graded Motor Imagery
mind_body
Cultivating Indifference & Outcome Independence
mind_body
“Approaches I tried that didn't help me”
As described by story contributors
Physical Therapy (PT)
medical
Chiropractic Care
alternative
Acupuncture
alternative
Injections
medical
Dietary Changes (Anti-inflammatory or Keto)
diet
Stretching, Foam Rolling, & Trigger Point Release
lifestyle
Correcting Posture
lifestyle
Medication (Antidepressants, Benzos, Beta Blockers)
medical
Limiting Activity / Resting for Pain
lifestyle
Meditation (without understanding pain neuroscience)
mind_body
Emotional Journey
Emotional phases described by story contributors
Debilitation and Failed Solutions
Experiencing long-lasting, debilitating pain in the hips and many other body parts while trying a vast array of conventional and alternative treatments that provided no relief. This phase is characterized by frustration and a search for a physical 'fix'.
Discovery and Paradigm Shift
A crucial turning point involving the discovery of neuroplastic pain (TMS). This phase involves a radical shift in understanding, from believing the body is damaged to realizing the brain and nervous system are creating the pain signals.
Active Brain Retraining
Systematically applying mind-body techniques like pain neuroscience education, PRT, somatic tracking, and journaling. This is a phase of active, conscious work to unlearn the pain, reduce fear, and regulate the nervous system.
Empowerment and Recovery
Achieving full recovery and gaining a deep understanding of the mind-body connection. This phase is marked by freedom from pain, a sense of empowerment, and the ability to live without fear of sensations.
Common Turning Points
Pivotal moments described by story contributors
Discovering the work of Dr. Sarno and other mind-body practitioners, leading to a self-diagnosis of Tension Myoneural Syndrome (TMS)/Neuroplastic Pain.
Realizing that structural diagnoses from doctors (arthritis, disc bulges, etc.) were incidental findings and not the true cause of the debilitating pain.
Shifting the focus of healing from trying to 'fix' the body with physical interventions to retraining the brain and nervous system.
Key Realizations & “Aha” Moments
Perspectives shared by story contributors
Most chronic pain is neuroplastic, meaning it originates in the brain's neural circuits, not from structural damage in the body.
Structural 'abnormalities' seen on MRIs (like degenerative disc disease or herniated discs) are common in pain-free people and often not the cause of symptoms.
The brain can 'learn' pain through stress, suppressed emotions, and fear, creating 'false alarm' pain signals.
Healing is possible by retraining the brain, primarily by reducing the fear of the pain itself and regulating the nervous system.
If the brain can learn chronic symptoms, it can also unlearn them.
Challenges Contributors Described
Common obstacles mentioned by story contributors
Receiving misleading diagnoses based on incidental structural findings, which reinforces fear and a focus on physical treatments.
The ineffectiveness of a purely biomechanical approach, leading to a long and frustrating cycle of failed treatments.
Overcoming internal belief and doubt about a neuroplastic diagnosis, which is a crucial step for the mind-body approach to work.
The 'symptom imperative', where pain moves to different parts of the body (e.g., from hip to foot/wrist) once the original pain is being addressed.
Support Systems Contributors Mentioned
Types of support described by story contributors
TMS/Neuroplastic Pain Practitioners who provided reassurance for the self-diagnosis.
The work of authors and doctors in the mind-body field (Dr. Sarno, Dr. Schubiner, Dr. Hanscom, etc.) which provided the educational framework for healing.
Advice from Those Who've Been There
Suggestions shared by story contributors
- “Rule out serious medical conditions, but be critical of diagnoses based solely on common structural findings like 'degenerative disc disease'.”
- “Educate yourself on pain neuroscience to understand how the brain can create real, physical pain without tissue damage.”
- “Investigate the possibility that your pain is neuroplastic, especially if you have multiple symptoms, pain that moves, or a history of stress/trauma.”
- “Focus healing efforts on retraining the brain through techniques like somatic tracking, journaling, and reducing fear, rather than solely on physical fixes.”
- “Address the roles that stress, fear, and suppressed emotions play in creating and perpetuating the pain cycle.”
These insights reflect what individual contributors reported about their own experiences. Results vary — what helps one person may not help another. This is not medical advice.
Stories (1)
Real journeys shared by contributors
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