Why do my hips hurt at night?

If you or a loved one is experiencing any of the following symptoms or conditions, call the office of Dr. Clint Morris at (830) 895-4466 for further evaluation.

The first thought that comes to many who suffer with hip pain is that it’s due to getting older, but that is not always the case. While hip pain is more common in women, typically between the ages of 40–60 years, men are not exempt. The pain can begin suddenly or develop gradually over time. If your hip pain is regularly keeping you from sleep or waking you up at night, it’s time to call your Orthopedic specialist for an evaluation.

Let’s look at some of the most common causes to why your hips hurt at night.

Osteoarthritis: Degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bone that is most common from middle age onward. It causes pain and stiffness, especially in the hip, knee, and thumb joints.

Osteoarthritis of the hip joint is another common cause of hip pain at night. Osteoarthritis is a result of age-related “wear and tear” of the tissue known as cartilage that surrounds the ends of bones.

As the cartilage at the hip wears away, the bones at the hip rub against each other, which leads to inflammation, swelling, and pain.

Osteoarthritis can present as stiffness and soreness of the hip, which can make everyday tasks difficult and painful over time. Hip pain can move around to the buttocks or down the leg, affecting mobility, and can be painful at night.

Tendinopathy: Disease of the tendons.

Tendons in the hip attach the gluteal muscles to the hip and pelvis. Together, they work to stabilize the pelvis and support hip mobility during day-to-day tasks, such as walking and going up & down the stairs.

Frequently sitting with legs crossed or standing with all your weight on one hip can also cause tendinopathy and hip pain.

Tendons in the hip may become inflamed or break down due to compression or overloading without having time to recover. This can cause hip pain at night.

Bursitis: Inflammation or irritation of the bursae.

Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs that act as cushions, helping to reduce friction at the hip joint. Bursitis occurs when the bursae become inflamed. Inflammation of the bursae causes pain from the hip that spreads down the side of the thigh. This sharp, intense pain may worsen at night.

Accident or injury: Hip pain at night can be brought on by an injury that dislocates the hip joint or an accident, such as falling over.

Pain from the knee, pelvis or back: A person may feel pain from other areas of the body in the hip. For example, pain in the back caused by pressure on a nerve there can also occur in the hip.

Dr. Clint Morris understands the frustration of living with hip pain and the fear that accompanies it. Often, most put off calling to schedule an appointment with an Orthopedic surgeon because they think the only other option is surgery, since they have already gone through traditional treatments with their primary physician… Physical therapy, injections and/or prescription drugs. Dr. Morris encourages his patients to communicate their needs as detailed as they can, trusting that together, you and Dr. Morris will work as a team to come up with the best treatment option for your condition. As one of the top board certified Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine surgeons in the Texas Hill Country, you can rest assure that Dr. Morris is fully committed to addressing your hip pain and getting you back to doing the things you love.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Clint Morris or for more information about his services, please visit us here or contact us at our Kerrville location (830) 895-4466.