MS Pain in Hips: Causes and Relief Tips

Medically reviewed by Angelica Balingit, M.D.

Written by Nicole Hernandez, PT, DPT

Posted on August 20, 2026

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Key Takeaways

People living with multiple sclerosis often experience hip pain that can make everyday activities like walking or climbing stairs feel incredibly difficult.

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MyMSTeam members are no strangers to aches and pains due to multiple sclerosis (MS). But for some members with hip pain, day-to-day activities have become nearly impossible.

“I’ve been living with MS for 20 years, and until recently, I’ve been able to move, walk, and raise our kids. My hips started hurting about six months ago, which has really slowed me down. Even walking over a curb has become a struggle,” shared one member.

Tracking down what’s causing hip pain can be the biggest hurdle. “The doctor says imaging looks good, but I don’t feel good,” wrote another member.

Keep reading to learn about the relationship between MS and hip pain. Use this article to inform discussions with your doctor about what could be causing your symptoms and how to treat them.

How MS Causes Hip Pain

People with MS can develop two types of pain: neurogenic (nerve related) pain and musculoskeletal (muscle and bone related) pain. Both of these types can affect the hips.

Nerve-Related Hip Pain

Your nerves have a protective sleeve called the myelin sheath. This sheath helps nerves communicate efficiently, like the insulation around an electrical wire.

In MS, the immune system mistakenly attacks the nerve sheaths in the brain and spinal cord. Resulting injuries, called lesions, can lead to poor nerve communication.

People with MS often experience two types of nerve miscommunications. These can feel painful or uncomfortable around the hip:

Dysesthetic pain — A type of ongoing pain that can happen throughout the body, but mostly the legs and feet. It can cause prickling, burning, or tightening sensations and may feel worse after exercising or when tired at night.
Spasms or spasticity — A type of muscle tightness caused by nerve misfirings that affects up to 60 percent of people with MS. Pain can be cramplike and movement-specific, usually involving the hip adductor muscles on the inside of your legs (which can feel like the front of the hip or groin).

Musculoskeletal Hip Pain

Musculoskeletal hip pain isn’t as intense, but it can be stubborn. Musculoskeletal pain originates from the muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, joints, and cartilage.

Your body changes its movement patterns to make up for these muscular issues, which can stress other muscles and joints. This may cause wear-and-tear issues, like osteoarthritis, tendonitis, and other common injuries.

Walking issues can throw you off balance and increase your risk of falls. “I have nerve pain, but I fell due to balance issues. Now I also have a cartilage tear and a torn glute,” shared one member.

MS can also affect the lower back in up to 16 percent of people with the condition. Back pain may seem unrelated, but it can be closely linked to hip pain, depending on the source.

One member reported that her hip discomfort turned out to be from a herniated disc. This occurs when the gel-like cushions in your spine tear. Sometimes, this condition affects nerves running down the leg.

“My disc was bulging and pressing on the nerves in my lower back, which caused pain down the back of my hip,” the member said. “It took several weeks to get it under control.”

The Connection Between MS Medication and Hip Pain

All medications have possible side effects. But research highlights two in particular linked to musculoskeletal pain: interferon beta and corticosteroids.

Interferon Beta

Interferon beta is a long-standing, widely prescribed MS treatment with links to musculoskeletal pain.

It’s a once-weekly injectable that goes into your muscle, rotating between meaty parts of the body (like the hip or glute area). You may experience bruising, pain, or swelling around the injection site. Some people develop flu-like body aches, muscle tightness, and joint pains that could affect your hips.

Interferon beta and other common MS drugs — like anti-seizure and antispasticity drugs to address nerve-related pain or spasms — share dizziness as a common side effect. Dizziness can increase the risk of falls and hip injuries.

Corticosteroids

Research also warns that long-term corticosteroids could cause musculoskeletal issues. These medications are used short-term for MS pain management and flares.

But long-term use is linked to bone thinning (osteoporosis) and related pain. Osteoporosis can increase your risk of hip fracture, especially in women.

While rare, corticosteroid use among people with MS is also linked to avascular necrosis in the hip joint. This condition is a serious complication that stops the blood supply to the thigh bone. Catching painful symptoms early helps preserve bone, but they’re easily confused as MS symptoms instead.

At first, avascular necrosis may not cause symptoms. Over weeks or months, you may start to notice:

Pain when standing or walking on the leg
Hip pain and stiffness, especially at the groin
Limping
Difficulty climbing stairs

Relief Tips: Physical Therapy, Medications, and When To See a Doctor

Don’t wait to see a doctor. Get an evaluation of your hip pain if it’s affecting your daily activities, especially if it’s getting worse over time.

A healthcare provider can help you understand what’s causing discomfort and develop the right treatment plan. Below are some pain relief strategies you can discuss with your doctor.

Physical Therapy

Ask your neurologist about physical therapy. A physical therapist can assess your pain patterns and find the right exercises or stretches to relieve hip discomfort while strengthening the muscles around it.

If your hip injury requires surgery, like a hip replacement for osteoarthritis or avascular necrosis, a physical therapist can help you rebuild your flexibility and strength.

“I’ve done a combination of physical therapy and other services. They told me about pool exercises, which have helped me dramatically. Now, I do water aerobics, and it reduces my pain,” wrote one MyMSTeam member.

Medications

If you have spasticity affecting your hip comfort or how you walk, talk to your doctor about antispasticity medication. Or, if you’re already taking one, see if you need to adjust your dose. Just remember that some drugs may cause drowsiness and increase your risk for falls.

Also, ask which medications can help in the short term. Topical treatments or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen, could be an option. If the benefits outweigh the risks for you, a steroid injection could help.

One MyMSTeam member tried steroid injections. “I’ve been dealing with hip pain for a year. I got one directly into the joint space, and it’s really helped my pain and mobility,” they wrote.

Assistive Devices and Braces

Your physical therapist or doctor could recommend a mobility device to help you move confidently with less discomfort. Canes, walkers, and wheelchairs can improve your walking pattern, preserving your muscles and joints. They can also help you stay independent.

“Stairs and curbs are tough for me. I’ve finally started using a cane out of the house on uneven ground and curbs,” shared one member.

Other members have discussed using braces to improve their walking. For instance, some people with MS may hike their hips because they can’t lift their foot when walking, which can create pain over time. A brace can help normalize the walking pattern, but check with your care team first to understand how to use it.

Heat and Cold Therapy

Simple temperature therapy can help ease pain. Try a hot pack or a frozen bag of peas placed over a protective towel barrier where your hip hurts. Don’t leave it on for longer than 15 to 20 minutes to avoid skin irritation.

Ice may work for some people, while heat can work for others. Some members report that cold or hot exposure can cause MS symptoms, so be aware of your triggers.

“There are times when I literally have to pack myself in ice. It’s helped me greatly. Heat is not my friend,” a member wrote.