Groin pain is easy to attribute to a pulled muscle, a strain from exercise or simply getting older. But persistent discomfort in this area can sometimes originate in the hip joint itself, even when the outside of your hip feels fine.
Hip osteoarthritis is one possible cause. It can produce pain deep in the groin, particularly when walking, bending or getting up after sitting. You might also notice stiffness when putting on your socks, getting into a car or climbing stairs.
The connection is not always obvious. Unlike knee arthritis, which many people associate with pain around the joint, hip arthritis can be felt in several areas, including the groin, thigh, buttock and sometimes the knee.
Groin pain does not automatically mean you have hip arthritis. Several conditions can cause similar symptoms, so understanding the pattern of your pain is a useful starting point, not a diagnosis.
Can hip arthritis cause groin pain?
Yes. Groin pain is a common symptom of hip osteoarthritis.
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. The rounded head of the thigh bone sits within a socket in the pelvis, allowing your leg to move in different directions. In osteoarthritis, changes to the cartilage and other joint structures can contribute to pain, stiffness and reduced movement.
The pain may be felt deep in the groin rather than directly over the outside of the hip. This is because pain from a joint can be perceived in the surrounding areas, a phenomenon known as referred pain.
According to the NHS guide to osteoarthritis symptoms, people with hip osteoarthritis commonly experience pain in the groin or outside of the hip. Moving the hip may make the discomfort worse, although pain can also occur at rest or disturb sleep.
This means you do not necessarily need to feel pain on the side of your hip for the joint to be involved.
Where does hip arthritis hurt?
There is no single location where everyone experiences hip arthritis pain. The position and pattern can vary, but several areas are commonly affected.
Deep in the groin
Pain deep in the groin, around the crease where your thigh meets your pelvis, is a recognised symptom of hip osteoarthritis.
You may notice it when walking, standing for longer periods, bending at the hip or turning your leg. Some people describe a dull ache, while others experience sharper discomfort during particular movements.
Around the front of the thigh
Hip-related pain can spread down the front of the thigh. You might initially think the problem is muscular or related to the leg rather than the hip joint.
In the buttock or outside of the hip
Some people experience pain around the buttock or outer hip. These symptoms can overlap with problems involving the muscles, tendons, lower back or other structures.
Towards the knee
Pain originating in the hip can sometimes be felt in the thigh or knee. This can make the source less obvious, particularly if your knee itself does not appear swollen or tender.
The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital’s guide to hip osteoarthritis explains that pain may be felt deep in the groin, buttock or side of the hip and can sometimes travel down the thigh towards the knee.
Five signs your groin pain could be coming from your hip
Groin pain on its own cannot confirm arthritis. However, the following symptoms may suggest that the hip joint needs to be assessed.
- Pain when walking or standing
You may find that walking longer distances, standing for a while or climbing stairs brings on discomfort. The pain may ease when you rest, particularly in the earlier stages.
- Stiffness after sitting
Your hip may feel stiff when you first stand up after sitting for a long time or when you start moving in the morning. This can make the first few steps uncomfortable.
- Difficulty putting on socks and shoes
Hip movement is needed to bend your leg towards your body and rotate it. If the joint becomes stiff, everyday tasks such as putting on socks, tying shoelaces or getting dressed may become harder.
- Discomfort getting into a car
Getting into or out of a car often involves bending and rotating the hip. If these movements trigger groin pain, it is worth discussing the symptoms with a healthcare professional.
- A gradual change in mobility
You may start walking more slowly, shortening your stride or avoiding activities that used to be comfortable. Some people develop a limp or find that their usual daily routine takes more effort.
These symptoms can occur with other hip conditions too. Their presence does not establish that you have osteoarthritis, and the absence of some symptoms does not rule it out.
Groin pain and hip arthritis: what else could it be?
Hip osteoarthritis is not the only possible explanation for groin pain. Other causes include:
- Muscle or tendon strain: particularly after exercise, lifting or a sudden increase in activity.
- Problems involving the hip joint: including other forms of arthritis or conditions affecting the structures within the joint.
- Lower back problems: pain from the spine or surrounding nerves can sometimes be felt around the hip or groin.
- Hernia: a bulge or discomfort in the groin may be associated with a hernia, particularly when coughing, lifting or straining.
- Other medical conditions: depending on your symptoms, groin pain may also relate to abdominal, urinary or reproductive health problems.
The pattern of symptoms, your medical history and a physical examination can help a healthcare professional decide which causes need to be considered.
Seek urgent medical advice if you develop sudden or severe groin or hip pain without an obvious explanation, or if the area becomes hot or swollen and you feel unwell or have a fever. Severe pain following a fall or injury, or an inability to walk or put weight on your leg after an injury, requires emergency assessment. The NHS hip pain guidance explains when to seek urgent help.
Is it my hip or my back?
Hip and back problems can sometimes produce similar symptoms, which makes it difficult to identify the source based on pain location alone.
Groin pain accompanied by hip stiffness and difficulty rotating or bending the leg may point towards a hip-related problem. Pain that starts in the lower back or buttock and travels down the leg, particularly with tingling, numbness or weakness, may suggest involvement of the spine or nerves.
However, these patterns are not definitive. Some people have more than one condition at the same time, and symptoms can overlap.
A healthcare professional can assess your hip movement, back symptoms, strength and other relevant signs to help determine the likely source.
For a closer look at the differences, read our guide, Is It My Hip or My Back? How to Tell Where the Pain Is Coming From.
How is hip arthritis diagnosed?
Assessment usually begins with questions about your symptoms, when they started, what makes them better or worse and how they affect daily life. Your healthcare professional may examine your hip and assess its movement.
In some cases, symptoms and examination findings are enough to support a diagnosis of osteoarthritis. Imaging is not routinely needed for every person, although an X-ray may be considered if the diagnosis is uncertain, symptoms are atypical or another condition needs to be investigated.
An X-ray can show changes such as narrowing of the joint space, but the findings do not always correspond directly to the level of pain a person experiences.
The important step is to establish what is causing your symptoms rather than assuming that all groin pain is arthritis.
What happens if groin pain is caused by hip osteoarthritis?
Treatment depends on the severity of your symptoms, your mobility, general health and how much the condition affects your everyday activities.
Non-surgical options may include:
- Exercise and physiotherapy: an appropriate programme can help maintain strength, movement and physical function.
- Managing activities: adjusting how long you walk or stand and taking breaks when needed may help you manage symptoms.
- Weight management, where appropriate: if you are living with overweight or obesity, weight management may form part of your treatment plan.
- Pain relief: a healthcare professional can discuss suitable medication, taking your medical history and potential side effects into account.
If symptoms continue to have a substantial effect on daily life despite non-surgical treatment, a specialist may discuss whether hip replacement is an option. Surgery is not inevitable for everyone with hip osteoarthritis, and the decision should be based on an individual assessment.
Our guide to Osteoarthritis of the Hip: Symptoms, Stages and Treatment Options explains the condition and the treatments that may be considered.
When should you book an assessment?
Consider seeking medical advice if your groin pain keeps returning, is getting worse, affects your sleep or makes everyday activities difficult. You should also seek advice if you have persistent stiffness or notice a change in how you walk.
You do not need to wait until the pain becomes severe before asking for help. An assessment can help clarify whether the problem is coming from your hip, back, muscles or another cause.
If hip osteoarthritis is suspected, your clinician can explain the treatment options that may be appropriate for you. The next step might involve conservative treatment, further investigation or a discussion about specialist care, depending on the findings.
Take the next step with Transform Medical
Persistent groin pain can have several causes, and identifying the source is important before deciding what treatment may help. If your symptoms are affecting your mobility or quality of life, a specialist assessment may help you understand the options available.
Book a free consultation with us to discuss your symptoms and whether further assessment or treatment may be appropriate.