Q: My 13-year-old son felt his hip pop out and back in with severe pain while jogging. What could this be?

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Question: My 13-year-old son has chronic lower back pain. While jogging today, he lifted his leg and felt a sudden, excruciating 10/10 pain in his hip, which he described as feeling like it moved out of its socket and then back in. The pain stopped as soon as his foot touched the ground. He has also had clicking sounds in his lower back recently. Could this have been a partial dislocation? What could be causing this?

Answer: Hi there,

I'm sorry to hear about your son's discomfort. The sudden, intense hip pain he experienced could be due to several possible causes, such as a muscle strain, a tendon snapping over the hip joint, or a mechanical issue within the hip. While it’s unlikely to be a full or partial dislocation without trauma, the sensation he described might suggest a temporary misalignment or irritation in the joint.

The clicking sounds in his lower back and his chronic back pain are also worth evaluating, as they could be related to stress on his spine and joints, especially given his age, height, and weight.

I recommend scheduling an appointment with his doctor or a pediatric orthopedic specialist to assess both his hip and lower back. They might perform a physical exam and consider imaging studies like X-rays or MRIs to better understand the cause of his symptoms.

In the meantime, it’s a good idea for him to rest and avoid high-impact activities like jogging that might worsen the issue. Gentle, low-impact exercises such as swimming or cycling may be safer alternatives for staying active.

Wishing your son a quick recovery.

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