Hip pain

KHaverstick

It really could be any number of things, and unfortunately it's difficult even for physicians to get to the bottom of something like hip pain. It can take multiple doctor visits, including specialists, sometimes.

My sister and I both had hip pain for a long time. She actually went through testing to rule out rheumatoid arthritis (it was ruled out). Turned out to be a gluten sensitivity. We both stopped eating gluten, and problem was fixed. I'm not suggesting that this is the case for you or anyone else, but that's what it was for us. I used to take ibuprofen every day for hip pain, and even then it kept me up at night, and was affecting my quality of life. I will say that yoga and a foam roller and lots of stretches helped a tiny bit, but I was still miserable. Now it just doesn't hurt.

I also have a family member (in-law) who had AVN. He's had both hips replaced (in his 30's). I hope it's nothing like that for you, and hope you get some answers and relief soon.

meggyannpt

Go see a physical therapist! PT's are the true musculoskeletal experts that have extensive training in ruling in/out various conditions without imaging. Unless you are having a dramatic decrease in your hip range of motion, it is not likely that you have AVN, so don't freak out. A physical therapist can do massage, joint mobilization, and set you up with an exercise program specific to your problem (not just the stretches your doctor gave you).

Many states are actually direct access, so you can go see a physical therapist without a doctor referral. If you find a PT clinic in your area you can call and find out. Otherwise return to your primary care and ask for a referral since their initial suggestions didn't help. Advocate for yourself, especially before your pain gets worse.

dougpconnell219

Sounds like it might be bursitis. I had that, and perscription anti inflammatory helped.

Walrozz

To give an idea of the location of the pain and when it hurts - lay down on your back and keeping your leg straight, lift it off the ground about a foot or so, then turn it in and out at the hip. That's absolutely excruciating for me, especially turning it inwards.
It's definitely worse after sitting for a while. But I did some stretches earlier and sat down for about 20 minutes afterwards - could barely get up after that. So it's at it's worse if I've sat down after exercise.

punchgut

Walrozz wrote: »

To give an idea of the location of the pain and when it hurts - lay down on your back and keeping your leg straight, lift it off the ground about a foot or so, then turn it in and out at the hip. That's absolutely excruciating for me, especially turning it inwards.
It's definitely worse after sitting for a while. But I did some stretches earlier and sat down for about 20 minutes afterwards - could barely get up after that. So it's at it's worse if I've sat down after exercise.

Get yourself to a physician who knows how to check for femoral acetabular impingement (FAI). You have a classic presentation. Someone who is experienced can do this based off of an x-ray. It usually requires seeing an orthopedic surgeon trained in this. Just a general physician will not have the experience, nor the expertise, to diagnose and help you with this. But you need to see someone who specializes in hips, not just any ortho. You'll also probably need an MRI to check and see if there is any damage to the labrum too.

It's not life threatening. So, don't go crazy with worry. It just hurts. Stretching will not really help. Someone pulling traction on your leg while your laying prone can help relieve the pain at the worst moments, but it's temporary.

Walrozz

punchgut wrote: »

Get yourself to a physician who knows how to check for femoral acetabular impingement (FAI). You have a classic presentation. Someone who is experienced can do this based off of an x-ray. It usually requires seeing an orthopedic surgeon trained in this. Just a general physician will not have the experience, nor the expertise, to diagnose and help you with this. But you need to see someone who specializes in hips, not just any ortho. You'll also probably need an MRI to check and see if there is any damage to the labrum too.

It's not life threatening. So, don't go crazy with worry. It just hurts. Stretching will not really help. Someone pulling traction on your leg while your laying prone can help relieve the pain at the worst moments, but it's temporary.

Thank you! The worst thing about it is getting tearful with frustration because I can't do a lot of the exercises I'd like to, and even the ones I can do I have to do carefully. Glad to hear that it's probably not something serious though!

punchgut

Walrozz wrote: »

Thank you! The worst thing about it is getting tearful with frustration because I can't do a lot of the exercises I'd like to, and even the ones I can do I have to do carefully. Glad to hear that it's probably not something serious though!

It's due to your skeletal make up. Either your femoral head neck junction is "fatter', your hip socket is deeper, or you have a combination of both. It's a genetics thing. These will cause the femoral head neck junction to rub up against the labrum (the cartilage bumper of the hip) and cause pain due to the large amount of nerves around the hip. You can also wear at the cartilage causing fraying or a tear. These will also add to the pain. Sadly, sitting is the thing that will generally hasten the injury. Sitting puts the femoral head deeper into the socket. More months of sitting equals more pain. Yay for student life!!

The is a surgery to correct the bone issue and stop the problem and if the cartilage is damage they can fix or debride the area.

The pain you feel with rotation is the bone rubbing up against the area. Should hurt less when you just lay flat with rotation.

Walrozz

Would the pain like that be similar to a pulled muscle pain, though? When I push my thumb into the side of my hip, just behind my hip bone, it's really tender like how a pulled muscle feels when you massage it.

punchgut

Walrozz wrote: »

Would the pain like that be similar to a pulled muscle pain, though? When I push my thumb into the side of my hip, just behind my hip bone, it's really tender like how a pulled muscle feels when you massage it.

This would make me think tendinitis, but that's usually due to overuse and your original post said you're sedentary. That said, FAI and hip tendinitis have very overlapping symptoms. A hip specialist will be able to differentiate the two very easily and if tendinopathy will be able to pursue appropriate therapy.

Walrozz

Okay, thank you so much!

Walrozz

I don’t know if anyone will see this as it’s 4 years later, but thought I’d comment with an update in case anyone is going through the same thing. I’ve been referred to a rheumatologist because the pain is progressing, comes and goes in “flares” and has started in both shoulders too. The doctor has put forward a couple of suggestions: 1) autoimmune disease (I would guess myosotis or some form of arthritis) since there is now a diagnosed case of autoimmune disease in the family (my sister has crohns), or 2) hEDS since I meet various diagnostic criteria. So yeah. Yay.

Momjogger

My daughter has an impinged hip. You can see a small bone protrusion into the hip socket on the X-ray. They wanted to do surgery last summer, but we put it off until she finishes growing. It hurts when she runs, plays tennis, or stands for long periods of time. She has a tens machine and that helps with the pain.