THE RED DOOR CLINIC · MELLIEĦA
Hip pain
Groin, side of the hip, or deep in the buttock. Three different problems that people all call hip pain.
Hip pain is not one condition. Pain on the side of the hip, pain in the groin, and pain deep in the buttock often have different causes and different plans. At The Red Door Clinic in Mellieħa, the assessment starts by finding which of those you actually have, and whether the back is referring into the hip area.
Reviewed by Andrew George, Lead Physiotherapist · 5 October 2026
Common patterns
Side-of-hip pain that is worse lying on that side is often a tendon problem around the bony point of the hip. Groin pain with walking and stairs is more often the joint or the muscles at the front of the hip. Buttock pain can come from the hip, the back, or both.
A change in walking, hills, or a new running load is a frequent backdrop. Arthritis is one possibility, not the default.
What people notice
Stiffness on the first steps of the day, pain getting out of a car, or a limp that arrives after a longer walk. Some people feel the hip catch. Others feel it only at night.
A hip that will not take weight after a fall, or pain with chest symptoms, needs urgent medical care.
When to seek urgent care instead
Most muscle and joint pain is not an emergency. Go to accident and emergency, or call emergency services, if you have a suspected broken bone, a joint that looks deformed, pain after a significant fall, chest pain, trouble breathing, a head injury with confusion or vomiting, numbness in the saddle area, or loss of bladder or bowel control. A limb that is cold, pale or blue, or sudden severe swelling, also needs urgent medical care rather than a clinic appointment.
Pain in the shoulder or arm that arrives with chest pressure, breathlessness, sweating, nausea or feeling faint can be a heart symptom. Call emergency services. Do not wait for physiotherapy.
If you are unsure, use emergency services first. For everything else, contact the clinic and describe what happened. We do not diagnose by message.
How the clinic can help
A consultation and assessment with Andrew George, our lead physiotherapist, is €55, and follow-up physiotherapy is €45. The assessment looks at the movement that hurts and the story around it. You leave with a plain-language explanation and a plan that fits the week you actually have.
Where massage helps alongside physiotherapy, the clinic houses qualified massage therapists in the same building. Massage does not replace an assessment when pain, injury or a change in movement is the concern.
Book through the contact form, by phone on 2152 4199, or by WhatsApp on 7924 1880. Describe your symptoms and the team will help you choose the right first appointment.
LET’S FIND YOUR NEXT STEP
Not sure where to start? Start with us.
Tell us what hurts, what has changed, or what you want to get back to.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Related conditions and next steps
A LITTLE CLARITY
Frequently asked questions
Is hip pain always arthritis?
No. Tendon problems at the side of the hip are common and are not the same as joint wear. The assessment separates them because the plans differ.
Can the back cause hip pain?
Yes. The lower back can refer into the buttock and the side of the hip. That is why hip assessments include the back.
LET’S FIND YOUR NEXT STEP
Your next chapter starts with a conversation.
Tell us what hurts, what has changed, or what you want to get back to.