After years of pain, I have decided to have back surgery for a herniated disc. My back pain has been pretty constant, but I also have pain in my right hip that goes down my thigh. The pain in the hip and thigh comes on if I walk more than five minutes. My friend suggested that I have my hip X-rayed. What do you think?

I think your friend raised an important point. With your history of pain upon weight-bearing activities, such as standing and walking, I would highly recommend an X-ray of your hip. An X-ray would confirm or deny the presence of arthritis in your hip joint. Arthritis in the hip can produce pain in your hip, which radiates down the thigh. A herniated lumbar disc can produce pain in a similar pattern. A good physical examination of your hip is important. The amount of discomfort elicited with certain hip joint maneuvers should be correlated with a hip X-ray. Sorting out the sources of your pain is imperative before you proceed with surgery. In your case, a lumbar disc herniation and hip arthritis can coexist to give you overlapping pain. It is possible your symptoms will not resolve in your hip and thigh with back surgery if significant arthritis is present.