February 13, 2026

Herniated Disc or Hip Arthritis?

How to Identify the Real Source of Your Pain

Do you feel stiffness in your lower back when you wake up? or sharp pain in your groin when you take your first step after sitting for a while? Maybe both...

Many patients visiting our clinic have spent years treating "herniated discs," getting countless MRIs. However, a surprising fact remains: For a significant portion of patients complaining of "back pain," the real problem lies not in the back, but in the hip joint.

1. The Great Confusion: Groin vs. Buttock

The confusion between hip and back pain is the biggest cause of misdiagnosis. Here is the simple rule:

📍 True Hip Pain (Arthritis, AVN):
It is usually felt in the GROIN (front). Pain may radiate down the front of the thigh to the knee. If you cup your hand in a "C" shape over your hip bone and your thumb is in your groin, that is likely hip pain. (See: What is Avascular Necrosis?)

📍 Back Pain (Sciatica):
It is usually felt in the lower back and BUTTOCK (rear). If pain shoots down the back of your leg like an electric shock, it is likely a herniated disc or sciatica.

2. Three Simple Home Tests

Before seeing a doctor, observe your body's signals:

1. The Sock & Shoe Test Is putting on socks or tying shoes a nightmare? If bending forward causes a pinch in your groin or you can't pull your knee to your chest, this is a classic sign of hip arthritis.

2. "Start-Up" Pain If you feel stiffness and sharp groin pain when you first stand up after sitting, but it "loosens up" after 5-10 steps, this is typical mechanical hip pain.

3. The Stair Test Do you feel a "locking" sensation in your groin when climbing stairs? Loss of hip range of motion makes these daily activities painful.

3. "Can I Have Both?" (Hip-Spine Syndrome)

Yes. This is called "Hip-Spine Syndrome." In older age, both back and hip arthritis can coexist. When the hip joint stiffens, the spine works harder to compensate.

Golden Rule: At DMN Orthospine, our approach is: Treat the area causing the most pain and functional loss first. Often, after a successful hip replacement surgery, patients' posture improves, and their back pain resolves spontaneously.

📲 Find the Source of Your Pain (WhatsApp)

Frequently Asked Questions

If pain is in the groin and you have limited movement (like difficulty putting on socks), see an Orthopedic Specialist.

Yes, but often a simple X-ray is enough. Interestingly, hip problems are often missed on Lumbar (Back) MRIs.

If your back pain is caused by poor posture due to hip stiffness, yes, it often improves significantly after surgery.