Wear and tear (hip osteoarthritis)
Typical signs are groin pain, start-up pain and reduced mobility. More under Osteoarthritis.
Symptoms · Hip
Hip pain in Aachen.
Hip pain can be felt in the groin, at the side of the hip or in the buttock. The cause does not always lie in the hip joint itself: tendons, bursae or the back may also be responsible.
In short
What matters is where exactly the pain is and which movement triggers it. X-ray and ultrasound are available on site.
Causes
Common causes of hip pain.
Irritation at the side of the hip
Tendon or bursa irritation causes pain on the outer side, often when lying on the affected side.
Overuse of muscles and tendons
Common with sport or after unaccustomed strain. More under Trauma Surgery & Sports Medicine.
Joint impingement
Pain with bending and rotation, particularly in younger, athletic people.
Pain referred from the back
Problems of the lumbar spine or the sacroiliac joint can radiate to the hip and buttock. More under Back pain.
Hip pain in children
Children and adolescents who limp or have hip or knee pain should be assessed promptly. More under Paediatric orthopaedics.
Warning signs
When to seek medical advice promptly.
Not every hip pain is urgent. With the following signs, however, you should not wait.
Emergency: After a fall with severe pain, especially in older people, please go directly to the emergency department or call the out-of-hours medical service.
At the practice
What happens at our practice.
It starts with a detailed conversation, followed by a physical examination in which we check, among other things, the mobility of the hip joint. X-ray and ultrasound are available on site, so we can often add findings during the same appointment.
If an MRI scan is useful, we refer you to colleagues. We do not perform operations ourselves; we advise you independently and rely on conservative treatment first. We take over post-operative follow-up care.
Treatment options
Which treatment is appropriate depends on the cause. Depending on the findings, options may include physical therapy measures, injections, acupuncture or ACP autologous blood therapy. We discuss possibilities, benefits and limits in a personal conversation.
Self-help
What you can do yourself.
- Temporarily reduce activities that clearly trigger the pain
- Keep moving within a low-pain range, for example cycling or swimming
- Keep an eye on excess weight, as it puts extra load on the hip
Last updated: October 2026 · Responsible for content: Dr med. Andreas Kochs and Dr med. Henrik Rode. This information does not replace a medical examination.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about hip pain.
When should I see an orthopaedist for hip pain?
Promptly if you have any of the warning signs above; otherwise when symptoms last for several weeks, keep returning or limit your daily life.
How can I recognise hip osteoarthritis?
Typical signs are groin pain, start-up pain after sitting and increasingly limited mobility. The diagnosis is confirmed by examination and X-ray.
Do I need an MRI for hip pain?
Not always. Often a conversation, examination, X-ray and ultrasound are enough. If an MRI would influence treatment, we refer you to colleagues.
Can hip pain come from the back?
Yes, this happens. That is why we also examine the spine and the sacroiliac joint when needed.
Book an appointment
Your path to better mobility starts here.
Book your appointment online via Doctolib or call us during consulting hours.