Hip Pain Treatment
in Tulsa, Oklahoma

The hip joint sits deeper and more anterior in the pelvis than many people realize, and it is richly innervated by the obturator nerve, which refers pain into the groin and inner thigh. So true hip joint problems (osteoarthritis, labral tears, femoroacetabular impingement, and avascular necrosis) most often present as groin or deep anterior hip pain rather than pain over the outside of the hip. Pain on the outside of the hip, by contrast, usually points to trochanteric bursitis or gluteal tendinopathy, not the joint itself.

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) is the modern umbrella term for what used to be called simple trochanteric bursitis. It typically involves a combination of gluteus medius and minimus tendinopathy, tendon tears, and inflammation of the trochanteric bursa overlying the bony prominence on the side of the hip. Classic features are pain with lying on that side at night, pain climbing stairs or getting out of a car, and local tenderness to firm pressure over the greater trochanter. Most cases improve with a combination of targeted injections, PRP when tendinopathy is the main driver, and focused gluteal rehabilitation.

These three sources produce overlapping but distinguishable patterns. True hip joint pain is usually felt in the groin and worsens with internal rotation of the hip (the FABER and log-roll tests). Lumbar spine pain tends to worsen with bending, sitting, or straight-leg raise and often radiates down the back of the leg. SI joint pain is typically felt just below and to the side of the belt line and is reproduced by Gaenslen's and FABER compression maneuvers. When the exam is ambiguous, a precisely placed diagnostic injection into one structure at a time can definitively localize the source.

No, many labral tears are managed successfully without surgery. The labrum is a cartilage ring that deepens the hip socket, and tears are common on MRI even in people without pain. When a labral tear is symptomatic, conservative options such as image-guided intra-articular hip injections, PRP, and a focused rehabilitation program targeting deep hip stabilizers often provide meaningful relief. Arthroscopic repair is generally reserved for younger, active patients with mechanical symptoms (catching, locking) who have not responded to a well-structured non-surgical plan.

Femoroacetabular impingement occurs when the bony anatomy of the hip causes abnormal contact between the femoral head-neck junction and the socket rim during movement, especially deep flexion and internal rotation. It comes in two forms: cam (extra bone on the femoral side) and pincer (over-coverage on the socket side), and the two often coexist. FAI can contribute to labral tears and early cartilage wear. Dr. Bhakta's approach focuses on reducing inflammation with precision injections, addressing the tendinous and muscular adaptations that develop, and coordinating surgical consultation only if conservative care plateaus.

Yes, especially in earlier stages and moderate disease. A thoughtful non-surgical plan often combines image-guided intra-articular injections, viscosupplementation or PRP in appropriate candidates, weight management, and a quadriceps/gluteal-focused rehabilitation program. This can meaningfully reduce pain and delay the need for replacement, sometimes for years. That said, severe bone-on-bone arthritis with persistent night pain and functional loss despite good conservative care is a situation where total hip arthroplasty is appropriate, and Dr. Bhakta will be candid about when that conversation should happen.