Will Prince be forced to choose between his faith and his health? Persistent hip problems are affecting the Purple One's mobility, according to reports, and his religious beliefs are preventing surgery.

As a Jehovah's Witness, Prince has allegedly refused blood transfusions – making a double hip replacement operation impossible.

"He's in a lot of pain," a source told the Hollywood Report's Showbiz 411 blog this week. "[Prince] is popping pain killers and hoping it will all go away."

Prince's hip problems were first reported in 2005, and in 2007 and 2008 rumours emerged of "secret surgery". But there is no sign that the singer has gone under the knife. Bloggers have pointed to two recent appearances – at a Tony awards party and a bash for the 75th anniversary of the Apollo Theatre – where Prince came with a diamond-studded cane. The 51-year-old needed the stick "to keep him upright", Showbiz 411 reported.

It should be noted, however, that Prince has been toting canes since at least the early 1990s.