Nonsurgical treatments for hip pain

Noninvasive options and relief for a range of hip conditions

Penn orthopaedic specialists work closely with you to determine the best possible treatment options for you. Whenever possible, we emphasize conservative, noninvasive methods to achieve hip pain relief without surgery. Our specialists work with you to manage hip pain treatment without hip surgery for as long as possible, in keeping with your condition, personal needs, and lifestyle. Alternative treatments for hip pain include:

Injections and infusions

Some medications can be injected directly into the hip. These include corticosteroids to reduce inflammation. With infusion therapy, medications are delivered intravenously or directly into the muscles to reduce inflammation. Penn also offers platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, which use the platelets from your own blood to boost tissue regeneration, heal wounds, and repair cartilage.

Lifestyle modifications

We may ask you to make some lifestyle modifications to your daily routine, such as losing weight, performing low-impact exercise to reduce stress on your hip, and using a cane or walker to help decrease the pain while walking. Penn Medicine can support you in your weight loss journey through our Bariatric Surgery and Health Weight Management program.

Dietary supplements

Nutraceuticals are herbal or dietary supplements that may help strengthen or reduce the pain in your hip joint. These supplements include glucosamine and chondroitin, which may help with overall health of the bones and soft tissues.

Pain medications

Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), are commonly used to ease hip pain. Analgesics such as muscle rubs can be used for temporary pain relief. We may also recommend other prescription medications such as antirheumatic drugs and biological response modifiers.

Physical and occupational therapy

Physical medicine and rehabilitation, outpatient therapy, and exercise programs at Penn Medicine can stretch and strengthen the muscles and soft tissues of your hip joint to improve flexibility and hip support. Changing the way you perform daily activities may also help reduce hip pain by limiting excessive strain on your hip. This can be aided by therapeutics and other apparel specially designed for hip pain.