Ow ! So fed up with aching legs and hips. What is it ?

[Tillyboo]

Does anyone else suffer from stiff/ aching joints ? Every so often I have episodes of my right hip and leg getting chronic deep aching with burning pain really deep inside.

I have a back problem but strangely it's been OK'ish lately. I'm not sure if these aches and pains in my hip are :

• referred pain from my lower back
  
• something I eat that affects this joint
  
• something else
  
  The last episode I had the osteo said it was my Psoas muscles being inflamed. Dunno what caused it, whether it was the right diagnosis and whether I ought to return to the osteo.
  
  I did have a really bad riding fall about 7 years ago in which I landed on my right hip at whatever speed a horse bolts from onto cobbles and pebbles in woodland !
  My right thigh looked like it had had one of those ornamental cabbages grafted onto it. The muscle was really badly bruised but nothing broken.
  
  I have had MRI scans in the past but nothing has shown up.
  
  Both my legs ache a lot at times but my right side is way worse
  It's really miserable at times so just wondered if anyone else suffered like this.
  
  Does anyone use a sports therapist and would this be a better option than an osteo ?

[luckymummy74]

Could be lots of things tillyboo, could be referred from your back, could be the hip joint itself if you had trauma a while ago, how old are you??? Could be instability, are you a 'bendy wendy'??!! i.e. very flexible?

Not sure about the osteo diagnosis...a muscle doesn't really inflame for no apparent reason,although it can be tight and cause pain cos it's tight?

Do you have fallen arches, i.e. flat fee?? That can refer pain up into the legs and hip.

My advice would be to see a chartered physio (no prizes for guessing what my job is?!!)

[Tillyboo]

Hi Luckymumy. Wow ! You have asked all the right questions.

Yes I am very bendy, although my lower back is incredibly stiff. I do have joint hypermobilty and after the birth of my daughter 3.4yrs ago, had terrible problems with stiff and painful feet and other joint pains.
My GP said it was because of the relaxin in my body.

I had to have prescriptive insoles and only recently been able to wear normal shoes without the use of these insoles - although I have to wear wide shoes otherwise my feet 'ping' underneath my toes. I think I do have slightly flat feet if I remember correctly what the podiatrist said.

Apparantly I have nerve compression in my sacroiliac joint (from another riding fall about 18 years ago) which gave me problems occasionally before I got pregnant. But, again, since having my daughter, the flare-ups and frequency have been much worse and more frequent.
I have had numerous trips to my Osteo who manages to ease the stiffness and pain short term.

I did get referred by my GP to a Physio but I'm afraid it didn't help me. I wondered about a sports phisio because my brother was helped enormously by one.

Whats a chartered Physio ?

I'm a young looking (so everyone tells me) 43 , 44 in Sept.

I was always so sporty and active and I feel like Mrs Overall from Acorn antiques most days.

Thanks for responding

[Tillyboo]

Forgot to mention, I get a pinging in the back of my right hand too (occas, the left). It's like it sort of gets stuck in a particular movement and really hurts when in 'unpings'.

It doesn't happen very often but it's a real nuisance because it makes me jump and shout out something like 'Ow, Shit! that really hurt !!!!!!'

Not good when you are waiting for the kids to come out of nursery or sat there with MIL who frowns upon bad language, double

[luckymummy74]

HI tillyboo,

Sorry to hear physio didn't work for you. Unfortunately, like all professions, you get good and bad physios. I am intersted in your thread cos I personally have specialised in....wait for it...lower limb, i.e. hips, knees, ankles and feet, I also do a lot of work with hypermobility AND foot biomechanics (i.e. flat feet, insoles, that sort of thing).

Obviously I can't diagnose you over the internet, it would be silly for anyone to expect me to know what exactly is wrong without actually looking at you, but from what you have said, it could be a number of things I mentioned before...The hypermobility almost certainly related, it affects hips quite a bit. You have had prescription orthotics which you then stopped wearing.....could be related?

A chartered physio is basically one who has had the proper qualifications, which is a 3 year degree. UNfortunately our title isn't protected so any old tom, dick or harry can go on a 6 week summer course in sports massage then call themselves a physio, but they can't be called a chartered physio. We have to belong to the CSP, chartered society of physio, which costs a lot of money.

Where do you live, I may know a physio I could recommend in your area????

[Tillyboo]

Hi Luckymummy - I'm in a village in Berkshire, not far from junction 11 of the M4.

Is that anywhere near you ?

I'm close to the Hampshire border so areas would be

• Reading
  
• Basingstoke
  
• Hook
  
• Hartley Wintey
  
• Newbury is only 19 miles so that would be OK (thats where my podiatrist was)
  
  I get so fed up with feeling like a crock. I do have periods whereby I actually feel OK but the bad periods last longer and seem to drown out the times when I do feel OK.
  
  I'm feeling very sorry for myself this morning as I'm in quite a bit of discomfort - and I've got the housework to do today .
  I've started making 'stuffed creatures' (see my profile) which takes my mind off it and I really try to stay cheeerful, it's in my nature too, but sometimes .... Oooh ! I want to just scream Agh, take this bloody pain away....
  
  Thanks so much for taking an interest, if you could point me in the direction of a good physio that would be just fantastic

[luckymummy74]

Sorry Tillyboo, not really near me, but I will post on my professional website to see if anyone in your area works privately and had a special interest in hypermobolity, biomechanics etc. Watch this space...

[Tillyboo]

OK, thanks, much appreciated !

[luckymummy74]

sorry tillyboo but no offers yet. I have posted on our interactive website.

[goodcatholicgirl]

Tilly boo, I am sorry but I have had no responses. You could try and contact the CSP (chartered society of physiotherapy, csp.org I think on web). They might be able to help you.

[goodcatholicgirl]

it's luckymummy BTW under a pseudonym!!