Medical types - quick advice on hip pain?

[crabb]

DH (54 yo) has had increasing pain in his L hip for the last 2 days. This is completely new, no previous pain. Yesterday he said it just felt uncomfortable and he had a poor night's sleep because of it. Today he spent flying to another city and sitting for several hours at a meeting (normally his job is more active than this). By the time he can home he was limping and very uncomfortable. He can localise the pain to an exquisitely tender spot just over the point on his hip bone. It appears maybe a tiny bit swollen compared to his other hip, but doesn't feel hot. He has no fever. He describes is as a ligament type pain, but has done nothing unusual to cause it.

He's fit as a fiddle, and stoic, so unusual for him to be complaining. The only related issue is he had an inguinal hernia repair on that side a month ago, which has healed beautfifully and caused no issues that he knows of.

Anti-inflammatories are helping, but it's so painful it's woken him up (we 're in Oz so middle of night here). He can't lie on that side, and lying on the other side 'drags ' on the affected side.

It's got me worried, but how worried should I be? To complicate matters, we are due at a friend's (local) wedding in10 hours where he is doing a reading. Assuming he's no better by morning, should I get him to a doctor? Or is that pointless as he may need an X-Ray to provide any information anyway?

Any advice would be great. Really, I can't emphasise enough how unusual it is for him to complain of pain at all, hence my worry.

If its that painful, then seeing a dr first thing would seem like a good idea. Hope he's feeling better soon

I also think he needs to be seen to exclude causes such as an infection of the joint (septic arthritis) .

Could also be bursitis from what you describe

Yep. Dr first thing.

Sounds like bursitis to me too. I've had it a few times and is really uncomfortable.
Anti-inflammitories and a hot waterbottle should give some temporary relief + rest. I'd get him to a dr if it's ongoing, they can check it's nothing else or that it's not infected and may even given a steroid injection to give further relief.
I've had loads of hip problems and they are miserable. I would also suggest wedging him into the most comfortable position to sleep with pillows as you often roll in your sleep and wake yourself up.
You can take AIs(ibroprofen) with paracetamol if additional pain relief is needed.

Thanks! Excellent help as usual from MN. He's woken up more comfortable so we will brave the wedding (and the awful twee 'poem' he has to read) dosed up with AI + panadol. The suggestion of bursitis fits very well, as he had done a lot of heavy garden work earlier this week, then sitting down all day yesterday.

There is plenty of time between the wedding and reception to find a doctor if he's worse, and we'll definitely follow up on Monday.

I (and he it turns out!) had only been considering nasties, hence my worrying in the middle of the night. What would we do without MN!