What does hip impingement and a labral tear feel like?

If you landed on this article, you likely fall into one of two categories: (1) you've been diagnosed with a hip impingement and/or a hip labral tear or (2) you're worried you might have hip impingement and a hip labral tear.

Whichever category you fall in, you want to know what these diagnoses should feel like.

Is the pain you are feeling in your hip typical for someone with impingement? Does the location of the pain confirm that it's coming from a torn labrum?

Unfortunately, these diagnoses don't help you understand what's behind your hip pain as much as you might think.

In fact, getting one or both of these diagnoses can add even more confusion to your path out of chronic hip pain.

What does a hip impingement feel like?

There are 3 types of recognized hip impingement aka FAI - cam, pincer and mixed. In all three categories, the rationale is that there is too much bone growth on either side of the hip joint.

According to major reputable sources, the pain can feel like just about anything:

• Dull and aching pain.
• Stiffness.
• Sharp and stabbing pain.

How about the location? Should it be in the groin? The side of the hip? The back of the hip?

Most reputable sources claim the pain can be felt in multiple areas, even though the primary site of alleged bone contact is directed at the groin.