DD's hip.

[LeChien]

Dd (13) has had recurring hip pain for at least three years.
It started when she woke up and couldn't walk as the pain was so bad, we took her to A&E (concern that it may have been an infection), but the X-Ray was clear.
Since then it is happening every 1-3 months, more during term time.
She is very sporty and keen on any sports she can do, but this is holding her back.

We've been to the drs so many times, she's been referred for X-rays (can't find anything) and physio (can't find anything) and basically told to take painkillers and carry on as normal.

Yesterday she was playing netball, said it felt like something came out of place then "thunked" back into place. She came home in loads of pain.
Her hip often clicks when she walks, even during the times when she isn't in any pain.
We went to minor injuries last night (wrongly as it happened, as this is an ongoing issue) hoping they could refer her for an X-ray whilst she is actually in pain (rather than waiting for 2-3 weeks by which time it is fine again), but they've said we see gp and ask to be referred to a paediatric musculoskeletal specialist.

I'm worried we're going to be fobbed off again.
Does this sound familiar to anyone? Any ideas what (if anything) it could be?

Just back from GP, who says X-rays show no abnormalities or damage, so everything is fine.
It doesn't fit in with anything that he can think of.
He suggested we try an osteopath.

Whereabouts in the hip? Could it be a tight ileotibial band? Sometimes if the band is tight, it kind of clunks as it moves over the bones when you use the leg.

The pain starts at the side, where you would imagine her hip joint is, and around to her back, sometimes it hurts at the front.

I would ask the GP to refer you to the pead specialist, certainly doesn't sound normal!

My dd (now 20) has had this since about aged 12/13. One hip seems to click / snap out of place, especially if she makes a sudden movement . No diagnosis despite lots of investigations . I sympathise and wish I could suggest something. One surgeon suggested an exploratory operation , but this was in GCSE year so dd has soldiered on, hoping to grow out of it . She has learnt to move in a way that lessens the chance of a painful episode . But it is time for yet another consultation I think, as she has probably stopped growing now . Do hope you get some sensible help and find a solution .

Thank you.
We feel a bit fobbed off again.
The gp said it wasn't something structural (I'm taking that to mean bones/joints) as it would hurt all the time.
If the osteopath can't help he's said he'll refer her to the orthopaedic surgeon.

Gonegrey, is it still bothering her now then?

Sounds like bursitis. Does she squeal if you poke her in the side of the thing?

The other thing it could be is sacroiliac joint dysfunction. That causes pain round the hip and thigh and into the groin.

Get her to lay flat on her back and lift her leg. Then you squeeze her pelvis like a support belt and get her to lift it again. If it's easier to lift when you hold it get an Si belt and ask for physio

When she is in pain it hurts if you press the side.
I'll try the leg lifting thing tomorrow. Thank you.

Hopefully we can get an osteopath appointment soon and see if she can get to the bottom of it!

OP: my dd's hip does not hurt all the time, and she is an active young woman although does not do certain things (yoga especially, far too painful ), but dances a lot, and runs most weekends. Her pain comes from an unexpected or sudden movement, which seems to trigger a "snap sound" - you can hear it across the room! - and then she has to get her hip back in position or something (sounds really strange, I know, but she has found a method of dealing with it). But recently she has told me that the pain/discomfort is definitely getting worse,e so we are about to try yet another Consultation. Our problem has been the differing views of loads of experts - and my dd is not at all keen on the idea of major surgery and a long recuperation when there is no real prospect that her condition would improve. Bursitis has been ruled out, X rays and an MRI showed nothing, physio made things much worse, and we are at a loss.

If you come across a decent Consultant who might have an idea of what is happening, I would be so grateful to learn more. I do hope things improve for your dd.

Have you tried a sports Physio? I would agree it's likely ileotibial band ( I'd bet on that )or sacroiliac joint issues. Is she very bendy?

The one thing it isn't is the " hip coming out of joint". Hips only dislocate with severe trauma and fractures to bones.

That does sound similar, but we can't hear a snap, I think for her it's more of an internal thing that she can feel.

Hmm. My right hip clunks if I tighten my thigh muscles when I'm led down. It doesn't cause pain though. It's the pain that is a bit odd, rather than the clunk, I think.

You need to get a referral to a paediatric hip specialist (orthopaedic surgeon) and she needs an MRi (or MRI arthrogram). It may be hip impingement or a tear in the hip cartilage - the latter of course can't be diagnosed on x-ray.

Try googling FAI (impingement) and hip labral tear and see if symptoms fit.

It sounds like a laberal tear which can be diagnosed through MRI. I have this and your dd symptoms are exactly the same as mine!

My daughter had problems with her IT band, snapping hip syndrome, , x-ray showed hips to be fine, she did 3 months physio, basically her core muscles weren't strong enough and she was using the wrong muscles, she dances a lot and it is common in dancers, she is a lot better now.

Could she be hyper mobile? I s and my joints regularly clink and thud into and out of joint. Caused a lot of pain as i was growing but only ever diagnosed age 21

Thank you for all this information.
She saw an osteopath who thinks that it is linked to her feet, we have ordered some insoles and will wait and see what happens.
She has had some issues with her knee, which apparently ties in with it too.

Hope the insoles help then :)

Thank you.
I'm a little sceptical, but in no position to suggest anything else :o
Dd seems relieved that someone has pinpointed something rather than fobbing her off.