Is It Hip Pain, Tendon Pain, or Referred Pain?
Hip pain is not always straightforward. Some patients feel pain in the groin or front of the hip. Others feel discomfort along the outside of the hip, deep in the gluteal area, or down toward the thigh.
Pain in the front of the hip or groin may suggest involvement of the hip joint, labrum, cartilage, or impingement patterns. Pain along the outside of the hip may involve the gluteal tendons, bursa, or surrounding soft tissue. Pain with walking, stairs, or lying on one side can point in a different direction than pain with sitting, pivoting, or deep hip flexion.
Hip symptoms can also overlap with spine-related pain. Maple Medical does not treat spine conditions, but a consultation can help determine whether your concern appears to fit our non-spine musculoskeletal care model or whether another type of evaluation may be more appropriate.
Hip Symptoms That May Need a Closer Look
You may want to schedule a consultation if hip pain is affecting:
- Walking or standing
- Going up or down stairs
- Sitting for long periods
- Getting in or out of chairs or vehicles
- Sleeping on one side
- Exercise, hiking, golf, running, cycling, pickleball, yoga, or strength training
- Travel or daily errands
- Range of motion or stride length
- Confidence with movement
- Pain that has not improved as expected with rest, medication, injections, or physical therapy
Some patients come to Maple Medical with a previous diagnosis. Others are still unsure whether the pain is coming from the hip joint, a tendon, bursitis, arthritis, or another source. Both are appropriate reasons to begin with a consultation.
Common Hip Concerns We Evaluate
During your consultation, Dr. Blatz may discuss whether your symptoms could be related to:
- Hip osteoarthritis
- Labrum-related concerns
- Hip impingement patterns
- Gluteal tendinopathy
- Bursitis or soft tissue irritation
- Hip flexor or tendon irritation
- Overuse from sports, exercise, or repetitive activity
- Pain after a previous injury
- Changes in gait, mobility, or strength
- Pain that affects walking, stairs, sitting, or sleep
A careful evaluation can help clarify whether your symptoms may fit Maple Medical’s regenerative medicine care model or whether another type of care may be a better fit.
Hip Osteoarthritis and Joint-Related Pain
Hip osteoarthritis can cause stiffness, aching, reduced range of motion, groin discomfort, and pain with walking, stairs, standing, or activity. Some patients notice a gradual loss of mobility. Others feel more limited during specific activities like hiking, golf, exercise, or travel.
Regenerative medicine is not a cure for osteoarthritis. For appropriate patients, certain non-surgical options may be considered as part of a plan to support comfort, function, and mobility.
At Maple Medical, Dr. Blatz will help you understand what is realistic for your condition. Treatment recommendations depend on your symptoms, severity, goals, prior care, and clinical evaluation.
Outer Hip Pain, Bursitis, and Gluteal Tendon Problems
Pain along the outside of the hip can be especially frustrating because it may affect walking, stairs, exercise, and sleep. Some patients have difficulty lying on the affected side. Others feel pain with longer walks, hills, or repetitive activity.
Outer hip pain may involve the gluteal tendons, bursa, soft tissue irritation, or movement patterns that increase stress around the hip. These issues can sometimes be mistaken for joint pain or may occur alongside other hip conditions.
When tendon or soft tissue involvement is suspected, Dr. Blatz may discuss options such as shockwave therapy, PRP therapy, EMTT, image-guided care, physical therapy coordination, activity guidance, or other supportive recommendations.
Hip Labrum, Impingement, and Activity-Related Pain
Some patients experience hip pain with pivoting, squatting, running, deep hip flexion, or athletic movement. Labrum-related concerns or hip impingement patterns may be part of the conversation when pain is located deep in the hip or groin and is triggered by certain movements.
The right plan depends on the overall condition of the hip, the severity of symptoms, activity goals, and whether non-surgical care is appropriate. If another type of evaluation is needed, Dr. Blatz will guide you honestly.
How Maple Medical Evaluates Hip Pain
At Maple Medical, hip pain care begins with a detailed conversation and condition-focused evaluation.
Dr. Blatz will review your symptoms, previous care, imaging history, medical history, activity level, and goals. He may also evaluate hip range of motion, strength, tenderness, gait, mobility, and how your symptoms respond to certain movements or positions.
When appropriate, ultrasound may be used to support evaluation, treatment planning, or image-guided care. If you already have imaging, reports, records, or notes from previous treatment, those materials can help support a more complete conversation.
The goal is to help you understand what may be contributing to your hip pain and which treatment options may be appropriate for your situation.
Treatment Options for Hip Pain
Your treatment plan depends on your consultation and evaluation. Maple Medical may recommend one therapy or a coordinated plan depending on your condition, goals, and clinical needs.
PRP Therapy
PRP therapy uses platelet-rich plasma from your own blood. It may be considered for certain hip concerns involving joints, tendons, ligaments, or soft tissue when a targeted regenerative option is appropriate.
Cell Therapy: MFAT & BMAC
Many patients searching for stem cell therapy are looking for biologic treatment options that use material from their own body. At Maple Medical, cell therapy may include MFAT, or microfragmented adipose tissue, and BMAC, or bone marrow aspirate concentrate, depending on the patient’s condition and evaluation.
Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy uses acoustic energy to stimulate tissue response in targeted areas. It may be considered when tendon or soft tissue irritation is part of the hip pain pattern.
EMTT
EMTT, or electromagnetic transduction therapy, is a non-invasive energy-based treatment that may be used as part of a broader musculoskeletal recovery plan.
Ultrasound-Guided Injections
When appropriate, ultrasound guidance may be used to help visualize the treatment area and guide certain injections with greater precision.
Physical Therapy Coordination
Hip recovery may involve strength, mobility, gait mechanics, stability, and movement retraining. Maple Medical may coordinate with physical therapists or work alongside your current provider when appropriate.
At-Home Support
Depending on your treatment plan, Dr. Blatz may recommend at-home red light therapy, activity guidance, follow-up care, or maintenance recommendations to support your overall recovery plan.
What to Expect During Your Consultation
Your consultation is designed to help you better understand your hip pain and the options that may fit your needs.
Dr. Blatz will discuss your symptoms, prior care, activity goals, medical history, and any imaging or records you provide. If regenerative medicine or another non-surgical option may be appropriate, he will explain why that treatment may fit your condition and what the process may involve.
If your symptoms appear to be spine-related or another type of care is a better fit, he will guide you honestly.
Many regenerative medicine treatments are not covered by insurance. Our team will review expected costs before treatment begins.
Hip Pain Care in Lake Oswego and the Portland Area
Maple Medical is located in Lake Oswego and serves patients from Portland and nearby communities who are looking for a more personalized, non-surgical approach to hip pain.
Patients often come to Maple Medical because they want to keep moving, stay active, return to exercise, travel more comfortably, or better understand their options before considering more invasive care.
Take the Next Step
If hip pain is limiting your movement, exercise, sleep, travel, or quality of life, Maple Medical can help you explore your options with a personalized consultation.
Our Lake Oswego team will help you better understand what may be causing your hip pain and whether regenerative medicine or another non-surgical option may be appropriate for your needs.
