What is the difference between a hip doctor and a hip surgeon?

A "hip doctor" is a broad term that may refer to any healthcare provider who evaluates and treats hip pain, including primary care physicians, sports medicine physicians, physiatrists, pain management specialists, or orthopedic physicians.

A hip orthopedic surgeon is a physician with specialized training to perform surgical procedures when they become necessary.

The key difference is that:

• A hip doctor often focuses on diagnosing the cause of pain and managing it with nonsurgical treatments.
• A hip surgeon can provide the same evaluation and conservative care but also offers surgical solutions if less invasive treatments are no longer effective.