Many things, from a simple ligament issue to a more complicated autoimmune disorder, can cause hip pain. Pain felt in the joint can come from nearby locations or the joint or bones that make up the joint. The hip joint is located between the pelvis and the femur. It is one of the larger and more mobile joints of the body.
Arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints. The inflammation can cause pain directly in the bone or joint nearby. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons states that the three most common arthritis conditions to affect the hip are rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and systemic lupus erythematosus. The pain from these conditions is more common in the morning and decreases with activity. It is commonly described as a dull ache around the groin or pelvic area.
Bursitis
Bursa are fluid-filled sacs that help pad the area between bone, ligament and tendons. The National Institutes of Health states that reasons for bursitis include trauma, chronic overuse, arthritis or infection. Any of these conditions causes irritation to the bursa, leading to swelling and pain. There are bursa around each joint and any one of them can become irritated and cause pain in or near the hip joint.
Avascular Necrosis
The Merck Manual defines avascular necrosis as death of a bone caused by lack of blood supply. The condition often follows trauma to the area, but it can happen without cause as well. The most commonly affected areas are the head of the hip, the knee and the shoulder. Diseases, certain prescription drugs and alcohol abuse are all risk factors for non-traumatic causes of necrosis. Occasionally, the blood supply may return on its own, but the amount of bone damage will determine if this cause of hip pain requires surgery.
Fracture
According to the National Institutes of Health, fractures are a serious and sudden cause of hip pain. Fracture can be caused by trauma to the hip and pelvic area, or severe osteoporosis can weaken the bone to the point that it can no longer support the weight of the body. In the latter case, the bone will fracture and cause the person to fall. Either way the bone fractures, it will cause pain directly in the bone near the area of fracture.
Cancer
The most likely type of cancer to occur in the hip is metastasis. The American Cancer Society defines metastasis as cancer spreading from the original site into other tissues in the body. Commonly, the organs near the hips will have cancer cells in them, and the cancer cells will make their way into the blood stream and settle in the hip. Organs near the hip that are likely to have cancer are the colon, bladder, prostate and female reproductive organs. Sometimes someone with breast cancer can end up with metastasis to the hip, but it is more likely to settle in nearby locations. Other than metastasis the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center states there are specific types of cancer that can start in the bone. Cancer can occur in any bone and at any age, but it is more commonly found in the long bones of the arms and legs and in children and young adults.
