Hip pain is the general term for pain felt in or around the hip joint. It isn’t always felt in the hip itself but may instead be felt in the groin or thigh. Hip pain is the general term for pain felt in or around the hip joint. It isn’t always felt in the hip itself but may instead be felt in the groin or thigh. Read more.  Certain injuries or conditions can cause hip pain. The most common cause of acute hip pain is inflamed tendons, or tendonitis.