Understanding your pain
What hip and knee pain feels like
Hip and knee pain is aching, stiffness or soreness in or around these joints. Some people feel steady pain. Others feel it only with certain movements, such as climbing stairs, standing up from a chair or walking. Symptoms can change over time.
Pain felt in the hip can also come from nearby areas such as the lower back or the sacroiliac joint, so finding the true source matters. Our article on sacroiliac pain explains one example.
What may be causing it
Common causes of hip and knee pain
The most common causes are trauma from accidents and sports injuries, and arthritis. Pain can come from the soft tissues and bone in and around the joint, including:
- tendons
- ligaments
- cartilage
- bursae, the small fluid-filled sacs that cushion the joint
Over time, wear and tear in a joint can also lead to long-term pain.
For more on joint pain in general, see our joint pain and arthritis page
When to book a visit
When to see a pain specialist for hip or knee pain
Pain in these joints can make everyday tasks at home and work harder, so it helps to be evaluated rather than wait.
Contact a pain specialist if you notice any of these:
- tenderness or swelling in or around the knee or hip;
- stiffness;
- trouble fully straightening the leg;
- popping, crunching or clicking when you move or bend the joint;
- pain that lasts for weeks, keeps coming back or limits your day.
When to get care right away
A fever with a painful, swollen joint can be a sign of infection and needs prompt medical care. Get care right away if you cannot put weight on the leg after an injury.
Your evaluation
How we evaluate hip and knee pain
Your visit starts with a conversation and an examination.
We listen
Your provider asks about your pain, your activity and any past injuries.
We examine
Your provider examines the joint, checks how it moves and looks at nearby areas such as the lower back. Imaging such as an X-ray or MRI may be used when it will help show what is happening.
We explain
You will hear what may be causing the pain and which options might fit. If a procedure is recommended, the team explains the steps, the possible risks and what recovery looks like before you decide.
Your care options
Treatment options for hip and knee pain
Treatment depends on how severe the pain is and what is causing it. Your provider often looks first at nonsurgical choices.
- Medication management A careful plan for using pain medicine.
- Cortisone steroid injections Used to reduce inflammation in or around a joint.
- Hyaluronic acid (gel) knee injections A gel-like fluid injected into the knee, used for some people with knee osteoarthritis.
- PRP therapy A regenerative option that some patients consider. Research on regenerative treatments is still developing, and they are usually not covered by insurance.
- Sacroiliac joint injections When the sacroiliac joint is part of your hip or buttock pain.
Your plan is personal, and not every option suits every person.
Common questions
Questions about hip and knee pain
Your provider can answer questions about your own care at your visit.
What can cause this pain to last for months?
Hip and knee pain can last when the cause is ongoing. Arthritis, a past injury to a tendon, ligament or cartilage, or irritation of a bursa can all keep a joint sore. Sometimes hip pain is coming from the lower back or sacroiliac joint. An exam helps find the true source.
What treatment options do you offer?
Options may include medication management, cortisone steroid injections, hyaluronic acid (gel) knee injections and PRP therapy, based on the cause and severity of your pain. Your provider reviews the choices with you after your evaluation, including what each treatment can and cannot do.
When is an injection considered?
An injection may be considered when hip or knee pain and inflammation continue despite rest, home care or medicine. A cortisone steroid injection is used to reduce inflammation in or around a joint. Not everyone needs one, and your provider decides with you after an exam.
What are gel injections for the knee?
Gel injections contain hyaluronic acid, a substance naturally found in the fluid that lubricates and cushions your joints. They’re sometimes considered for knee osteoarthritis when other treatments haven’t helped enough. The number and timing of injections depend on the product used. Some people report pain relief, while others notice little or no improvement. We’ll discuss the potential benefits and risks and whether gel injections make sense for you.
What kind of doctor should I see for knee pain?
If knee pain is getting in the way of your day or just isn’t settling down, you can see a pain management doctor without going through primary care first. Some HMO plans are the exception. We’ll work out what’s behind the pain and go over options, including cortisone or gel injections.
Clinical references
This page shares general information. It is not medical advice and does not replace a visit with a qualified clinician.