Hip & Joint Pain

Hip and joint pain is discomfort in or around a joint — most often the hip — that can stem from conditions like osteoarthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, or injury affecting the cartilage, soft tissues, or bone that let the joint move smoothly. At Life Balance Pain Care in Atlanta, care begins with a thorough evaluation, followed by a personalized, non-surgical and regenerative-first plan that may include image-guided injections, PRP, trigger point therapy, and supportive care to help reduce pain and restore movement.

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Does this sound like you?

Signs & symptoms we help with

If any of these sound familiar, a focused evaluation can help find the source and a path forward.

Deep groin or hip pain

Outer hip & thigh pain

Pain radiating to buttock or knee

Morning joint stiffness

Stiffness after sitting

Grinding or clicking

Locking or catching

Reduced range of motion

Tap any symptom to find the right care — or search the whole site.

Overview

What is hip and joint pain?

Your hips and other large joints are built for smooth, lifelong motion — a cushion of cartilage, fluid-filled sacs called bursae, and the muscles and tendons around them all work together so you can walk, bend, and stay active. When any part of that system wears down, becomes inflamed, or is injured, the result can be pain. Hip pain may be felt deep in the groin, along the outside of the hip and thigh, or it can radiate into the buttock, lower back, or knee, and it often comes with stiffness that's worse in the morning or after rest.

Many cases of hip and joint pain do not require surgery. Common causes — such as osteoarthritis, trochanteric bursitis, tendinitis, and overuse strains — often respond to conservative, image-guided care. The goal at Life Balance Pain Care is to identify the true source of your pain and address it directly so you can move more comfortably in daily life.

Non-surgical first

We start with conservative, regenerative-first options and reserve surgical referrals for when they're truly needed.

Personalized plan

Your treatment is built around your diagnosis, activity level, and goals through shared decision-making — not a one-size-fits-all protocol.

Physician-led care

Care is directed by Dr. Brad S. Bootstaylor, M.D., across our Midtown, Camp Creek, and Greenbriar Atlanta locations.

Our Approach

How we treat hip and joint pain at Life Balance Pain Care

Comprehensive evaluation

We begin by listening to your history and examining the joint to understand where the pain comes from and what's driving it. Using diagnostic tools such as ultrasound when appropriate, we work to identify the true source — joint, bursa, tendon, or muscle — rather than just treating the symptom.

Personalized, shared-decision plan

Together we build a plan matched to your diagnosis, activity level, and goals. We explain each option clearly so you can make informed choices, prioritizing conservative and regenerative approaches before considering anything more invasive.

Targeted, non-surgical treatment

Care may include image-guided and ultrasound-guided injections to deliver medication to the inflamed area, PRP (platelet-rich plasma) as a regenerative option, trigger point therapy for tight surrounding muscles, and supportive measures like activity modification and guided movement. Treatments are selected and combined based on your individual needs.

Recovery and follow-up

We track your progress, adjust the plan as your symptoms change, and support you with strategies to help protect the joint and maintain mobility over time. If a condition ever calls for surgical input, we help coordinate the right next step.

Get help with hip & joint pain.

Schedule an evaluation or call our team — most patients are seen quickly across our three Atlanta locations.

Board-certified · Mon–Fri 9am–5pm

Request an Appointment 404-618-6825

What causes hip and joint pain?

Hip and joint pain has many possible sources, and pinpointing the right one guides effective treatment. Osteoarthritis is among the most common — the protective cartilage that cushions the ball-and-socket hip joint gradually thins, which can lead to painful friction, stiffness, and a reduced range of motion. Bursitis, especially trochanteric bursitis, involves inflammation of the small fluid-filled sac on the outside of the hip and often occurs alongside tendinitis in the nearby muscles. Other causes include muscle and tendon strains from overuse, inflammatory forms of arthritis, labral tears, and structural issues such as impingement. Pain felt in the groin often points to the joint itself, while pain over the outer hip and thigh more often comes from the surrounding soft tissues.

Symptoms and when to seek care

Joint pain can show up as a deep ache, sharp catching, grinding, stiffness, or a sense of the joint locking or giving way. It frequently worsens with activity, after long periods of sitting, or first thing in the morning, and it may make walking, climbing stairs, or bending difficult. It's worth being evaluated when pain lasts more than a few days, keeps returning, limits your daily activities, or doesn't improve with rest and over-the-counter measures. Seek urgent care for pain that follows a fall or accident, or if you can't bear weight or move the joint — these can signal a fracture or other injury that needs prompt attention.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need surgery for hip or joint pain?

Often, no. Many causes of hip and joint pain — including osteoarthritis, bursitis, and tendinitis — can respond well to non-surgical care such as image-guided injections, activity modification, and regenerative options. We focus on conservative treatments first and only discuss a surgical referral if your condition truly requires it.

What is PRP and how is it used for joint pain?

PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, is prepared from a small sample of your own blood to concentrate the platelets and growth factors that may help calm inflammation. It's injected into or around the affected joint as a regenerative-first option. PRP is one tool we may consider as part of your plan, and we'll discuss whether it's appropriate for your specific situation; individual results vary.

Why use ultrasound or image guidance for injections?

Image guidance lets us see the joint and surrounding structures in real time, so medication can be directed to the inflamed area while helping us avoid nearby nerves and blood vessels. Ultrasound guidance also involves no radiation exposure. We'll explain how guidance fits your specific treatment.

How do I know if my pain is from the joint or the surrounding tissue?

Location is an important clue. Pain felt deep in the groin often points to the hip joint itself, while pain over the outside of the hip and thigh more commonly comes from soft tissues like the bursa or tendons. A clinical exam, along with imaging when needed, helps us confirm the source before treatment.

Do you accept attorney liens for injury-related joint pain?

Yes. For personal-injury cases — including motor vehicle accidents — we accept attorney liens, so eligible patients can receive care while their case is pending. Call our office to discuss whether this applies to your situation.

When should I see a doctor for hip or joint pain?

Consider an evaluation if pain lasts more than a few days, keeps returning, limits your daily activities, or doesn't improve with rest. Seek urgent care for pain after a fall or accident, or if you can't bear weight or move the joint, as these may indicate a fracture or serious injury.