Understanding and Treating Severe Hip Pain: Causes & Solutions

There are various degrees of hip pain. And if you experience mild to moderate pain in this area, over-the-counter medications such as aspirin may provide relief. But in the case of extreme hip, you'll need to employ other remedies and use stronger meds.

Prescription Medication

• Over-the-counter medications provide a low dose of anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve hip pain. When hip results from a fracture or other condition such as arthritis, steroid injections or oral steroids like prednisone can offer long-term relief.

Weight

• If battling extreme hip pain for an extended period, losing weight can relieve pressure on your hip muscles and joints and soothe inflammation.

Relaxation

• Moving about or exercise can worsen hip pain and complicate an existing injury. Don't ignore hip pain. Instead, know your limitations and avoid stressing painful joints and muscles.

Prevention/Solution

• Inflamed hip muscles or hip pain due to conditions such as sciatica can impact your ability to sit for long periods. Sit on a pillow to take pressure off your hips and avoid situations that call for long-term sitting such as road trips.

Expert Insight

• Because lying down on your back can aggravate extreme hip pain, Medline Plus recommends sleeping on your side with a pillow between both legs to reduce discomfort.