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What causes hip pain?

Hip pain generally refers to any pain in or around the hip joint.

The most common cause of hip pain is injury. However, the list of causes of hip pain is extensive and includes many rare ailments. For example, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease affects 1 in 1,000 children between the ages of 5 and 10 years and might result in the destruction of the growth plate in the neck of the thighbone.

A few of the more common causes of pain not related to injury include:

Forms of arthritis – This includes osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and gout.
Bursitis of the hip – Pain sets in slowly over time and is caused by overuse of the joint. Pain is felt on the outside of the hip over the thigh bone, just under the skin.
Aseptic necrosis – This is caused by a clogged artery at the head of the femur, secondary to excessive alcohol intake and steroid therapy, among many other causes.
Joint infection – This includes septic arthritis.
Viral illnesses – Influenza, for example, can cause muscle and joint pain.
Muscle cramps – These cramps may have no clear cause, and may even be due to dehydration or failing to stretch before exercise.
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