Hip Injections for Hip and Groin Pain Relief
If hip or groin pain is limiting how you move, work, or sleep, a hip injection can offer targeted relief. At Aptiva Health, an intra-articular hip injection delivers medication directly into the hip joint to calm inflammation and quiet pain that often comes from arthritis, injury, or everyday wear and tear on the joint.
Every hip injection at Aptiva Health is performed under fluoroscopic (live X-ray) guidance. Because the hip joint sits deep in the body, image guidance lets our team place the needle precisely, so the medication reaches exactly where it is needed. No referral is required to be seen, and same-day and walk-in evaluations are available through our Immediate Injury Care.
Medically reviewed by Steven Ganzel, DO, MS on July 20, 2026.
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What is a Hip Injection?
A hip injection is a minimally invasive procedure that places a mixture of local anesthetic and corticosteroid into the hip joint. The local anesthetic numbs the area, and the corticosteroid reduces the inflammation that drives your pain. Together they can ease discomfort and improve how freely your hip moves. Start to finish, the injection itself takes less than 10 minutes.
Conditions Treated by Hip Injections
Hip injections are commonly used to relieve pain from:
Hip osteoarthritis and post-traumatic arthritis
Labral tears of the hip
Femoroacetabular impingement (hip impingement, or FAI)
Synovitis and joint inflammation
Hip and groin pain from injury or repetitive wear and tear
Because pain from the lower back and spine can mimic hip pain, an injection that includes anesthetic also serves a diagnostic purpose. If your pain eases after the injection, it helps confirm that the hip joint - not another structure - is the true source of your symptoms. That insight guides the next, most effective step in your care.
How a Hip Injection is Performed
Your physician first cleans and numbs the skin over the hip joint. Using fluoroscopy and a small amount of contrast dye to confirm needle position, the physician guides a thin needle into the joint and injects the anesthetic-and-steroid mixture. Image guidance is what separates a precise, effective injection from a blind one, and it is standard for every hip injection we perform.
Diagnosing the source of hip pain often starts with imaging. Aptiva Health offers in-house X-ray and MRI, including transparent cash-pay MRI pricing, so you can get answers quickly without a referral or a long wait.
What to Expect after your Injection
You may feel a brief sting from the needle or numbing medication and some pressure as the medication goes in. It is normal for your usual pain to increase for a day or two before the steroid takes effect. After your injection, stay as active as you can tolerate and do the activities that normally bring on your hip or groin pain. You will be given a pain log to record how you respond over the following days. Bring the completed log to your follow-up visit so your care team can measure the result and plan your next step.
Risks and Side Effects
Serious complications from a hip injection are rare. The most common effect is soreness at the injection site for a few days. Less common risks include infection, bleeding, and nerve irritation. Our team minimizes these risks by reviewing your medications and pausing blood thinners when appropriate, using sterile technique, and guiding every needle with fluoroscopy.
Why Choose Aptiva Health for Hip Injections
No referral required. Schedule an evaluation directly and be seen on your timeline.
Same-day and walk-in Immediate Injury Care. Get your hip assessed quickly when pain flares.
Image-guided precision. Every injection is performed under fluoroscopy for accurate placement.
All under one roof. Orthopedics, interventional pain, sports medicine, imaging, and physical therapy work together, so if an injection is not the full answer, your next step is already in-house.
Transparent cash-pay imaging. In-house X-ray and MRI with clear, upfront pricing.
Hip injections at Aptiva Health are led by our interventional pain team under Steven Ganzel, DO, who is double board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Interventional Pain Medicine. Care is coordinated across our Interventional Pain, Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Imaging, and Physical Therapy departments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hip injection?
A hip injection is a minimally invasive procedure that delivers a mixture of local anesthetic and corticosteroid directly into the hip joint to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. At Aptiva Health, hip injections are performed under fluoroscopic (live X-ray) guidance so the medication reaches the joint precisely. The procedure takes less than 10 minutes.
Does a hip injection hurt?
Most patients feel only mild discomfort. Your physician first numbs the skin over the hip joint, so you may feel a brief sting from the needle or the numbing medication, followed by some pressure as the medication is injected. Any soreness at the injection site usually lasts only a few days.
How long does a hip injection last?
Relief from a hip injection typically lasts from several weeks to several months, though results vary from patient to patient. Because corticosteroids are limited over time, most patients receive no more than three to four hip injections in a single year.
How soon will I feel relief after a hip injection?
The local anesthetic can ease pain within hours, but this effect is temporary. The corticosteroid usually begins working within two to seven days. Some patients notice a brief increase in pain for a day or two before the steroid takes effect.
What conditions do hip injections treat?
Hip injections are used to relieve pain from hip osteoarthritis, labral tears, femoroacetabular impingement (hip impingement), synovitis, and other sources of hip and groin pain caused by inflammation, injury, or normal wear and tear. When an injection contains anesthetic, the amount of relief you feel also helps confirm whether the hip joint is the true source of your pain.
Do I need a referral for a hip injection at Aptiva Health?
No. Aptiva Health does not require a physician referral. You can schedule an evaluation directly, and we offer same-day and walk-in Immediate Injury Care to assess your hip and determine whether an injection is right for you.
What are the risks or side effects of a hip injection?
Serious complications are rare. The most common effect is temporary soreness at the injection site for a few days. Less common risks include infection, bleeding, and nerve irritation. These risks are minimized by pausing blood thinners when appropriate, using sterile technique, and guiding the needle with fluoroscopy.
What should I do after a hip injection?
Stay as active as tolerated and do the activities that usually trigger your hip or groin pain so you can gauge how well the injection works. You will receive a pain log to track your response, which helps your care team plan your next steps. Bring the completed log to your follow-up appointment.