Is Your Hip Pain from Hip Arthritis?

Are you noticing hip stiffness after sitting, an ache in the groin or discomfort after a long walk? Or it could be that your hip pain is causing you discomfort when climbing stairs, getting out of the car or making it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis, affecting 1 in 11 Australians, and about 25% of individuals older than 55 will experience hip arthritis. This cause of pain, stiffness and reduced movement can have a significant impact on daily life, but non-surgical and surgical treatment is available to help manage symptoms and provide some relief. 

If you are experiencing hip pain, speak to your GP about referral to Ortho ARC Brisbane for specialist review and treatment planning.

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What does hip arthritis feel like?

Hip arthritis does not always cause pain on the outside of the hip. The discomfort may be felt deep in the groin, at the front of the thigh, in the buttock or even referred to the knee.

Symptoms can settle and return during early stages, but as the condition progresses, pain and stiffness can affect work, exercise and household tasks. Symptoms may include:

  • Groin pain during walking or standing
  • Stiffness after sitting or getting out of bed
  • Pain that increases with activity
  • Reduced hip movement
  • Difficulty putting on shoes or socks
  • Limping or favouring one side
  • Pain that worsens at night or in cold weather
  • Trouble finding a comfortable sleeping position
  • A grinding or locking sensation when you move your hip
  • Less confidence on stairs or uneven ground

When should you see a specialist for hip pain?

Speak with your GP if your hip pain has continued for several weeks or is affecting everyday activities. We encourage you to request a specialist referral if:

  • Your walking distance is getting shorter
  • You have started limping
  • You rely on pain medication regularly
  • Stairs, shoes, socks or car transfers are becoming difficult
  • Pain interrupts your sleep
  • You have been diagnosed with hip osteoarthritis
  • Current treatments are no longer providing enough relief
  • You want to know if hip replacement is an option

You do not need to wait until the pain becomes severe. Assessment can confirm the source of the symptoms and guide you to which non-surgical or surgical treatment options could help.

Non-surgical treatment for hip pain

A hip arthritis diagnosis does not automatically mean you need an operation. Non-surgical care can reduce symptoms and help maintain strength and movement. Your treatment plan may include changes to activities that trigger pain, physiotherapy, guided exercise, weight management support, medication and assistive equipment.

In selected cases, corticosteroid injections may provide short-term pain relief but repeated injections require careful consideration.

Ortho ARC also provides radiofrequency ablation for hip osteoarthritis. This non-surgical procedure may be discussed after assessment of the pain, arthritis and previous treatments.

Surgical treatment or hip replacement

When advanced arthritis continues to affect walking, sleep, independence or quality of life despite non-surgical care, hip replacement may be discussed.

During total hip replacement, the damaged ball and socket surfaces are replaced with medical-grade components to reduce arthritis pain and regain more movement.

The decision is not based on an X-ray alone, as advanced arthritis may be visible on imaging but have manageable symptoms or could be causing pain and restriction that makes work, self-care or mobility difficult.

At Ortho ARC in Brisbane, we consider:

  • The level and location of your pain
  • The effect it is having on your daily activities
  • Examination and imaging findings
  • Treatments that have already been tried
  • Your general health
  • Surgical risks and recovery requirements
  • Personal and activity goals  

Where hip surgery is suitable, Ortho ARC may advise options that include total hip replacement, robotic hip replacement and revision hip replacement.

FAQs About Hip Pain

When should you get emergency help for hip pain? 
If pain starts suddenly after a fall, you cannot place weight through the leg or the hip becomes hot and swollen, please call 000 or head to your nearest emergency department. Fever with severe joint pain can signal an infection.

What is robotic hip replacement?
Robotic-assisted hip replacement is a tool used to create a digital 3D model, helping plan implant size, alignment and position to your anatomy. During surgery, the system is guided by the surgeon and provides real-time measurements for implant placement, leg length and joint movement to improve accuracy and smoother hip function.

Is all hip pain caused by arthritis?
No. Pain around the hip can come from the joint, gluteal tendons, muscles, bursae or the lower back. Greater trochanteric pain syndrome, hip impingement, labral injuries and spinal conditions can produce symptoms that feel similar to arthritis.

The location of pain can provide useful clues, but it does not confirm the cause. This explains why exercises or pain relief aimed at the wrong condition can leave people feeling frustrated.

Is hip arthritis curable?
No. Conservative treatments can help manage the symptoms, and when they fail, hip replacement surgery can reliably reduce the symptoms of hip osteoarthritis. Your hip replacement may last the rest of your life, depending on your age, though someone younger may need another surgery after several decades, as the prosthesis wears out over time.

Will I get hip arthritis in both hips?
Osteoarthritis usually affects just one hip at a time, although inflammatory arthritis often affects both hips and other joints too. If you have osteoarthritis in one hip, it doesn’t mean you will get it in the other.



Hip pain and arthritis care in Brisbane

Speak with your GP and ask about referral to Ortho ARC in Brisbane if hip pain affects your sleep, work, independence or ability to stay active. If you are experiencing ongoing pain, stiffness or reduced movement, don’t try and push through it.  

Consulting and operating locations include:

  • Greenslopes Private Hospital
  • Brisbane Private Hospital in Brisbane City
  • North West Private Hospital in Everton Park
  • Westside Private Hospital in Taringa

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Brisbane GP or referrer? Refer Your Patient Here

References

Brigham and Women’s Hospital. (2024). Hip Arthritis. https://www.brighamandwomens.org/orthopaedic-surgery/osteoarthritis-of-the-hip

Cleveland Clinic. (2024). Hip Arthritis: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Options. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/hip-arthritis

Musculoskeletal Health Australia (MHA). (2022). Osteoarthritis of the hip. https://muscha.org/oa-hip-blog/

University Orthopaedic Associates feat. Dr. David A. Harwood. (n.d.). Recognizing the Clues: Most Common Signs of Hip Arthritis. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/J4-qDt6TN3o

The information in this article is general in nature and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, nor establishes a doctor-patient relationship. All surgery carries risk and individual results may vary. Please consult with Ortho ARC Brisbane for personalised advice and treatment planning.