Hip Pain Relief

Hip pain questions, answered

These are the hip questions we hear most at our North Palm Beach clinic. Two orthopedic surgeons from our Pain 2 Power show answered several of them on air. Your own answers come from your evaluation.

Is it my hip or my back?

Dr. Dave Kashuba, Ph.D., OTR, listens for pain that travels toward the groin rather than down the leg. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Zach McVicker, MD, said on Episode 10 that with hips, “a lot of times it’s causing the back pain, it’s causing the groin pain and other symptoms that you’re having.” Groin pain tops his list, ahead of low back pain and pain toward the buttock. Hip impingement is one common reason, explained in Hip Impingement: When Your Back Pain Is Coming From Your Hip. If it is your spine, see back pain treatment.

What is a labral tear, and will I need surgery?

The labrum is a ring of cartilage around the ball of the hip. Dr. McVicker compares it to a gasket between two pipes, sealing the joint so your weight spreads across the whole socket with every step. Labral irritation is one of the hip problems we treat. Whether a tear needs repair is your surgeon’s call. When it does, he described arthroscopy as “little cameras, little poke holes,” and his advice was short: “Look into it early.” After surgery we follow your surgeon’s protocol. Our Episode 10 recap has the whole conversation.

What about pain on the outside of the hip?

Pain on the outside of the hip was on Dr. McVicker’s list too, and bursitis and tendinopathy around the hip are among the conditions we treat. When hip pain starts, Dave said, “a lot of times it is a muscle called the gluteus medius,” the muscle that keeps your pelvis level while you stand on one leg. Standing leg abductions, in the table below, work it directly. Dave’s everyday advice: stop sitting with your legs crossed, break up repetitive bending, and modify the task that sets it off.

Can physical therapy help hip arthritis?

Hip osteoarthritis heads the list of conditions our hip program treats, with work on mobility, glute and deep stabilizer strength, and walking mechanics. If a replacement is coming, ask your surgeon about prehab. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Leighton, MD, called it on Episode 12 “tuning this patient up for surgery prior to surgery,” and said “it’s not a one-size-fits-all situation.” He prescribes it mostly for people who have been away from activity. If the joint needs more than therapy, we will say so plainly.

What does rehab after a hip replacement look like?

Your surgeon sets the protocol and we follow it exactly. Dr. Leighton keeps most patients in the hospital overnight, where “they get physical therapy the day of surgery and they get physical therapy the day after surgery.” After that, “it’s time for you to gradually and slowly over the next few weeks get your motion back.” Most of the old dislocation precautions are gone, though early on he still limits bringing the knee to the chest. In a Google review, Christine H. wrote that after her hip replacement our therapists “built my strength, stamina, and walking confidence back quickly.” More on post-surgical rehabilitation.

What does the evaluation look at?

Plan on about an hour, one-on-one with your therapist, and wear shorts. We ask where it hurts and when, watch you walk and stand on one leg, and measure how far the hip bends and rotates and which positions bring the pain on. Dave said on Episode 10, “It takes me all of 10 minutes for me to sit down with you and go over a little bit about your symptoms,” and from there he knows which specialist you need. Treatment usually begins the same day. The first visit page has the details.

Which exercises can I start at home?

The ones your therapist gives you after your evaluation, usually from Dave’s Episode 10 set in the table below. The first is a sit to stand with a band just above the knees. A sore hip shifts your weight onto the good leg without your noticing, and the band makes both sides share the work. For floor exercises, his rule: “When you get on the floor, first make sure you’re able to get back up.” Full instructions are on our home exercises page. If a movement causes sharp pain, stop and call us.

When should a doctor see my hip first?

Hip pain after a fall, especially if you cannot put weight on the leg, needs a physician before therapy. Co-host Mike McGann explained why on Episode 10: “once that hip break happens, there tends to be a really strong domino effect from there.” A hot, swollen hip, or hip pain with a fever, also needs a physician first. After a replacement, call your surgeon about redness, drainage or fever at the incision. Once a physician has ruled those out, therapy can start with confidence.

Do I need a referral, and will insurance cover it?

In most cases Florida's direct access law lets you begin a physical therapy evaluation without a physician referral. Hip replacement patients usually arrive with a referral and protocol from their surgeon already, and Medicare requires a physician to certify your plan of care. Before your first visit our front desk verifies your Medicare or commercial benefits and tells you what your plan needs. Our 2026 Medicare guide explains deductibles and coinsurance.