Emergency signs first. Call 911 now if:
- After a fall, there is pain in the groin or upper thigh and the person cannot stand or put weight on the leg (possible broken hip)
988 is the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: confidential, any hour, by call, text or chat, including when you are worried about someone else. This page cannot see or answer an emergency.
Bring this to the hip visit
A short visit goes further with specifics: where it hurts, how far you can walk, a week of numbers, and what you already tried.
Get seen today, at your doctor, urgent care or an ER, if
- The hip is suddenly very painful, especially with a fever (a joint infection needs fast care)
- After a small fall or twist, it hurts to put weight on the leg, even if you can walk
How this works, and what it cannot do
- It stays on this device. What you tick or type is kept in this browser only. Nothing is sent to us or anyone. Clear it with one button at the bottom.
- It is a list to talk from, not a diagnosis. No one reviews it. Your clinician decides what it means.
- About five minutes. Tick what fits, fill a few lines, pick three or four questions, then print it or save it as a text file.
Next stops
Practice the talk firstRehearse the surgery conversation, or talking to Mom about her hip. Scripted, on this device.Take the hip pain screenerSort your pain pattern on our homepage before the visit.Mechanical or inflammatory? arthritisrisk.comTen questions that sort the pattern of joint pain and point to the right specialist.If surgery comes up: surgeryprocess.comPlain-language guides for before, during and after orthopedic surgery.
Sources
- AAOS OrthoInfo: Hip Osteoarthritis (checked 2026-09-29)
- AAOS OrthoInfo: Total Hip Replacement (checked 2026-09-29)
- AAOS OrthoInfo: Hip Fractures (checked 2026-09-29)
- MedlinePlus: Septic arthritis (checked 2026-09-29)
- National Institute on Aging: How To Prepare for a Doctor’s Appointment (checked 2026-09-29)
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (checked 2026-09-29)