Bursitis can cause pain at the side of the hip when rising from a chair and taking the first few steps, climbing stairs, driving, or lying down with direct pressure on the side of the hip. See a picture of bursitis of the hip . Inflammation or a tear of a tendon (tendinopathy) also may cause pain around the hip.
To prevent and ease hip pain during work, play, or daily activities:

• Reach and stay at a healthy weight.
• Wear well-cushioned shoes, and avoid high heels.
• Walk up and down stairs one at a time, leading with your strong leg when you go up stairs or curbs, and with your weaker or sore leg when you go down.
• Warm up before activities.
• Avoid activities that make one side of the pelvis higher than the other, such as running in only one direction on a track or hiking or doing yard work sideways on a slope. Keep your hips level.
• Sleep on your uninjured side with a pillow between your knees, or on your back with pillows beneath your knees.
• Stretch after an activity, when your muscles are warm.