Chronic hip pain, really struggling

[moodymagaret]

Hi everyone,

First time posting, dealing with absolutely debilitating pain in my right hip. I’m 36 female.

Had an x-ray & MRI last year, the results were “Minimal dysplasia of the femoral heads may be causing early impingement.” There was also signs of fluid build up where it was inflamed.
I was referred for physio which hasn’t helped at all. Every month that has passed since the diagnosis the pain has increased more and more.
I have an appointment with a consultant from the muscular skeletal group in a couple of weeks. I’m hoping he will refer me for a steroid injection. This is all through the NHS as I can’t afford to go private.
I’m trying not to let my thoughts spiral out of control. I used to be a fairly active person and now I cannot leave the house at the weekends as I can’t walk more than a minute without being in agonising pain. Driving is painful. My mental health has completely tanked. I cannot live the rest of my life like this.
I guess what I’m looking for is any stories where someone has gone through something similar. Did the steroid shot work for you? How long did it last? Were you offered surgery? How long was the waiting time??

I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia recently and about to undergo a hip replacement.
Did they give you the measurements with regards your dysplasia?
I had PRP injections a few years ago which helped for about 18months.

I wasn’t offered steroids this time around as my hip is too damaged and my dysplasia is quite severe.

Might be obvious but as you didn't mention it, are you a side sleeper? If so, it's worth trying to sleep with a pillow between your knees. It has helped my hip pain enormously.

To add, i use one i bought from amazon but i have just ordered a more robust ( and expensive) one from Somnora. This time last year i was walking with a stick due to the pain, and taking paracetamol and ibuprofen at max dose but I rarely need them now. Good luck. Hip pain is really miserable.

I’ve got moderate/mild bilateral hip dysplasia (I’m 39 was diagnosed 2 years ago) had labral tears as well. I’ve had the tears repaired and the ball and sockets shaved. I’m still in a lot of pain but there’s a general reluctance to do a hip replacement due to my age and the fact that the dysplasia isn’t severe and neither it the arthritis.

hip pain is debilitating

I had something like this a few years ago. slight dysplasia and chronic inflammation and pain so bad I couldn't sleep.

physio is a good start but strength training was even better. lounges, crabwalks, glute bridges, etc with weights and resistance bands.
my local gym has small group lessons (5 people max) with a pt. very effective.

basically I traded joint pain for doms

good luck, hopefully you find something thst works. steroid injections might make strength training more bearable. for me naproxen was a wonderdrug.

I had hip impingement and had physio. Then the steroid injection. That gave temp relief, which was part of the diagnosis process and they then offered surgery. I had keyhole arthroscopy surgery to reshape the top of the femur and the hip socket over 10 years ago (when I was 40) and it really helped prevent the symptoms from recurring.

I'm not sure if it's the same route for dysplasia causing the impingement.

They did not give me measurements no, they just keep calling it “minimal dysplasia” , for something so “minimal” it has such a profound effect on my daily life. I’m glad you were able to get a hip replacement x

I used to be a side sleeper, unfortunately I’m in too much pain to sleep on my side anymore x

Again I had debilitating hip pain- hip dysplasia and femoral anteveraion, losing weight and strength training has helped me so much. I couldn't even sit for 2hrs in my early twenties when it was at its worst... However as long as I am fairly active and keep up with strength training my pain is not their, if I stop trainingy pain comes back with a vengeance.... Steroid injection didn't do anything for me though.....
I also have a long bolster pillow which I put my leg on if I side sleep...

Was your surgery done on the NHS? Do you feel like you really had to push them to have the surgery done? Did the surgery relieve any of the pain? Sorry for all the questions, currently going down a rabbit hole x

I’ve had 3 arthroscopies, 2 NHS and 1 private. The NHS ones I didn’t need much pushing but it hasn’t helped, I would have said I was worse off. My surgeon wasn’t great unfortunately. The last one I had done was slightly more successful which was private.

I would say I still have quite a fair bit of pain I struggle to sleep.

There's a guy called The Hip Physio (Mehmet Gem) - look him up online and on Instagram. He has some really good content about managing various hip conditions. You can also pay to see him in person (he's in Exeter and London I believe, or online). I haven't as he is not cheap but I do think he is one of the few people who have done their research and is worth taking a look at.

Thanks I’ll take a look into that