What causes hip pain after sitting for a long time?

There are many reasons for hip pain after prolonged sitting, which may be related to the lumbar spine, diseases around the hip joint, myofasciitis in the muscles on both sides of the hip, or could even be due to ischial tuberosity cysts. It might also result from pathological changes within the hip joint itself.

1. Lumbar Spinal Conditions: The pain may be associated with lumbar spine problems, such as lumbar disc herniation or spinal stenosis. Prolonged sitting can lead to radicular pain and sciatica affecting the posterior hip area, causing discomfort or pain perceived in the hip region.

2. Peri-hip Joint Diseases: Conditions around the hip joint, such as ischial bursitis, may cause discomfort at the back of the hip after extended periods of sitting.

3. Fasciitis: Pain may arise from myofasciitis in the muscles on both sides of the hip. Long-term sitting can lead to fasciitis, resulting in aseptic inflammation locally; inflammatory cells then stimulate nerves and cause pain.

4. Ischial Tuberosity Cyst: Prolonged sitting may induce an ischial tuberosity cyst accompanied by pain. The ischial tuberosity develops aseptic inflammation, and inflammatory mediators promote significant exudation. When this exudate becomes localized, it forms a cyst at the ischial tuberosity.

5. Hip Joint Pathology: Various hip joint disorders—such as early-stage avascular necrosis of the femoral head, mild synovitis of the hip joint—can also lead to groin pain after prolonged sitting.