Close up of man holding his right hip in pain

Hip pain can really stop you in your tracks. Whether it strikes while you’re climbing the stairs, taking a short walk, or trying to get a good night’s sleep, persistent hip pain can affect nearly every aspect of your daily life. At Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine, our physiatrists take a nonsurgical, whole-person approach to diagnosing and treating hip pain, so you can get back to living your life to the fullest.

Common Causes of Hip Pain

Hip pain rarely has a single, obvious cause. Many different conditions can produce pain in and around the hip joints, and accurate diagnosis is an essential first step toward an effective treatment plan. Our physicians commonly treat the following causes of hip pain:

  • Hip Bursitis: Inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the hip joints, which can cause tenderness and aching pain along the outer hip and thigh
  • Osteoarthritis of the Hip: Deterioration of the hip joint’s cartilage that stems from wear-and-tear and can lead to stiffness, reduced range of motion, and chronic pain
  • Hip Labral Tears: Damage to the cartilaginous ring surrounding the hip socket, which often produces hip instability, deep groin pain, or a “catching” sensation
  • Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction: Irritation or misalignment of the joint that connects the spine to the pelvis, which frequently causes pain in the hips or lower back
  • Sciatica: Pressure on the sciatic nerve in the lower back that sends pain radiating through the hips, buttocks, or down the leg
  • Muscle Strains and Tendinopathy: Overuse or acute injuries to the muscles and tendons surrounding the hip, which are common in both athletes and active adults
  • Piriformis Syndrome: Tightening or spasming of the piriformis muscle located deep in the buttock, which can irritate the sciatic nerve and produce hip and leg pain

When Should You Seek Care?

Not every twinge in and around the hips calls for a doctor’s visit, but some symptoms are clear signs that you’re due for a professional evaluation. For example, you shouldn’t wait to seek care if you experience: 

  • Persistent aching in the hip or groin
  • Sharp pain with movement or weight-bearing activities
  • Stiffness that limits your stride
  • Pain that radiates into your buttocks or down your leg

The longer hip pain goes unaddressed, the more it can affect your posture, your gait, and the surrounding joints over time. Contact Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine to arrange an evaluation before the problem gets worse.

How We Diagnose Hip Pain

At Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine, we believe that treating symptoms without identifying their source rarely produces lasting results. That’s why our physicians will conduct a thorough physical examination and review your full medical history before we turn to advanced diagnostic tools like X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, or musculoskeletal ultrasound. 

If nerve involvement is a possibility, we may perform electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies in our office. In some cases, we may also conduct ultrasound-guided diagnostic injections to pinpoint the precise origin of your pain with a high degree of accuracy. We take this careful, methodical approach to ensure that every treatment plan we suggest addresses the true underlying cause of your hip pain.

Hip Pain Treatment Options at Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine

Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine offers a broad range of nonsurgical treatment options for hip pain, and we frequently combine therapies to accelerate the recovery process. After our thorough diagnostic assessment, our physicians will recommend a personalized plan from our full range of treatment options, which includes:

  • Ultrasound-Guided Corticosteroid Injections: Targeted delivery of anti-inflammatory medication directly to the source of pain for fast, precise relief
  • Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: Concentration of your own blood’s healing platelets, reinjected into the affected area to stimulate tissue repair and reduce pain
  • Trigger Point Injections: Dry needling combined with lidocaine to release stubborn muscle spasms that often contribute to hip pain
  • PEMF Therapy: Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) technology that reduces pain and inflammation while promoting the body’s natural healing process
  • Acupuncture: Insertion of hair-thin needles along carefully mapped points to stimulate the release of endorphins and promote pain relief and healing
  • Physical Therapy: Targeted exercise and rehabilitation programs to restore strength, flexibility, and range of motion in and around the hip
  • Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): A minimally invasive procedure that interrupts pain signals by deadening the responsible nerve or nerves

Why Choose a Physiatrist for Hip Pain?

If you’ve already visited an orthopedic surgeon, a chiropractor, or a pain management clinic without experiencing lasting relief, a physiatrist may offer the fresh perspective you need. 

Physiatrists are physicians who specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Unlike surgeons, physiatrists consider surgery only as a last resort and focus instead on restoring function through innovative, minimally invasive therapies. They aim to treat the whole person rather than a single joint, and they collaborate with physical therapists and other specialists to develop tailored, comprehensive treatment plans.

The team at Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine has more than 25 years of experience working with patients in and around Long Island. Our peers have recognized us among the top tier of physicians in the New York metropolitan area, with appearances in Castle Connolly’s Top Doctors, Newsday’s Top Doctors on Long Island, and New York Super Doctors.

Contact Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine Today

You don’t have to keep managing hip pain on your own. The physiatrists at Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine can combine traditional and complementary treatments to address the root cause of your pain and help you move freely again. 

Relief may be closer than you think. Call our offices at 1-888-SPINE-1-1 or use our online form now to arrange a consultation. We serve patients across Long Island from our offices in East Meadow, Great Neck, Lawrence, and Huntington. Same-day appointments are available.