I'm not making it up, I promise! Hip pain

[2kidsintow]

I've been to the gps and was referred for blood tests and xrays as my hip has episodes where if I've been sitting funny or I stand and then twist, it feels as if my hip is dislocating.

When at its worst I am stuck, standing, in immense pain, unable to lift my leg or bear weight on it. Usually, if I sit and then get up again it reverts to normal.

Xrays showed nothing. Blood tests all negative. No other treatment or investigations offered. It gets better, then deteriorates again. I can no longer kneel on the floor or sit in the tailor (cross legged) position that I used to find really comfortable. If I even cross my legs (naughty, I know) I can feel it pulling on the leg. I am feeling REALLY old. (I'm 38)

When I get up from sitting for a while, I can feel that it takes a while for the ligament/muscle to extend and I end up hobbling/hopping and walking stooped over for a few steps until it stretches out. I have a feeling that the other problem is probably linked to ligaments etc.

I feel like I am wasting the GPs time to go back and complain again that things aren't improving, as the tests were all negative last time.

There's a specific problem with the muscle overlying the outer aspect of the hip but the name totally escapes me where it gets 'caught' or snagged on the bony prominence on the outside top of the thighbone iyswim.

Not a tremendous amount of help, I know, but maybe a physio will be along soon with some proper advice!

So you have my sympathy -it's agonising!- and reassurance that it is a 'real' but not sinister problem!

I think its called snapping hip syndrome, it wont show on X rays or blood tests.

Get a muskuloskeletal specialist to look at it - a physio, chiropractor or osteopath should be able to diagnose and treat this

I have no idea what it is, but you are not alone! I have the same-sounding hip problem. It bloody hurts when it 'goes' and I feel like someone twice my age when I'm hobbling around for a minute or two until it eases.

Hurrah. It makes me feel strangely better that someone else knows what I am talking about.

Thanks Mumsnet peeps.

I think I may brave the GP again at some point.

And me, I thought it was just me and my weird, disfunctional body

I get that too. It's not been a problem since I started doing a lot of exercise - not yoga!
I don't know which it is: pilates, running, kickboxing. One of those seems to have made it a lot better

I get that too. It's not been a problem since I started doing a lot of exercise - not yoga!
I don't know which it is: pilates, running, kickboxing. One of those seems to have made it a lot better

I've had this on and off for years. I was actually admitted to hospital for a week last year as it was so bad. Got bit better while there so was discharged.

Saw a fab physio who said I'd got a pelvic upslip where one side of my pelvis was out of line. He pulled it back into place. I think it was to do with the sacroiliac joint.

It's probably the pilates that's helped. My physio was very insistent that I start pilates.

Go back to your GP and ask to see a specialist. I had x rays and the results went to the GP saying all clear, went to specialist and he found the problem immediately.

By the way I put in a complaint to the surgery, not like me at all, but didn't want the same thing to happen to someone else.

X-rays aren't that great for showing up all hip problems. I second the advice to see a physiotherapist, who can look at your overall posture and gait and movement and may be able to advise you on the source of the problem.

I don't mean leave it at only seeing a physio, by the way, just that it's well worth doing alongside asking for other investigations.

I've had this; I'm hypermobile, just as viva described. It was my sacroileac that was jammed. I'd had an MRI but obviously nothing showed - ime the NHS are rubbish for this kind if thing. See a good (sports?) physio and they'll be able to help, but you need to have the underlying problem assessed and I highly recommend Pilates - it's what helped me to heal.

Good luck, it's excruciating, isn't it?

Hmm the sacroiliac joint is probably the root of my problem as well- especially as I had sacroiliac joint disfunction diagnosed in both pregnancies.

I'd definitely see a physio or Chiro ad you may need aligning.

I get this too! I once got stuck on a bike as I couldn't move my leg! I've been getting shoulder pains too though and funny rashes and all my blood tests have come back negative.

I'm waiting to see a rheumatologist as my gp doesn't know what else to suggest.

Oh and while I was in hospital none of the Drs including the consultant had a clue what was wrong with me. I had an mri which was clear. When I saw the physio within a minute of me being there he knew what was wrong with me.

Ditto viva! I have private healthcare so had it investigated, but the surgeon I saw wasn't interested in referring me once it wasn't surgical. Actually I didn't mean to malign the NHS specifically, just to say that GPs etc don't know much about this kind of thing. The six weeks rest they prescribed was the worst idea and they don't seem to know much about alignment or bad posture etc. I had overdeveloped quads, weak glutes, and rotation and twist through my hips, which has caused knee, ankle, and shoulder problems too.

My physio is a legend and also pushed Pilates, despite the fact that I played hockey, ran, cycled and did yoga and the time. Pilates is perfect for this kind of strengthening, but you need to get fixed first. Oh and it has to be good Pilates too, not just the local gym class .