Does this sound like hip osteoarthritis?

[SoPassRemarkable]

I have had a pain in and off in the back of my hip/pelvis/lower back for years. Worse if I exercise. Ok if I'm a couch potato. General ache which builds up with exercise. If I've done no exercise then no ache and only sign something is wrong is if I extend my leg from flexed there's an uncomfortable and sometimes audible clunk sensation.

Two years ago I was doing 30 day shred every day and after a month I couldn't walk.

A year ago I started at the gym....mainly weights and it's been fine.

Six months ago I started doing couch to 5k and it was ok. Then I started running 3x a week instead of twice a week and pain/ache was bad.

So 2 months ago I started seeing a chiropractor and a physio. Both have independlty said my sacroiliac joint is hypermobile. They've given me exercises to build strength in my hip muscle up, not noticed any difference though. And physio last week gave me a belt to wear when exercising to keep SI joint in place.....only problem is I think it's out of place all the time but she said it will,still help.

Anyway 10 days ago I ran 6k. Had a bit of an ache in my groin same side as bad SI joint but ignored it. By the time I got home pain was really bad and the next day not only did I have pain in my groin but down my quad, in my knee and a bit in my hamstring.

So I stopped all exercise. Saw physio who said she didn't think I'd pulled any muscles as wasn't tender enough when pressing and the fact it's all over my leg....I wouldn't have pulled three muscles at once. She thinks my SI joint is now aggregating my whole knee.

So no exercise for ten days at all. Was limping at work badly. Was feeling better yesterday. Today ran 5k and I'm in agony. Can't walk, van hardly weight bare. Am screaming going up the stairs. Lying in bed now and if I move my leg to flex it slightly/draw it up I have searing pain in my groin and knee and a bit in my quad.

I'm at the end of my tether. Just googled groin and knee pain an it's mentioned hip osteoarthritis and beginning to wonder if this is what's wrong with my hip.

Have you been for X-rays? That seemed to be the key to identifying what's going on with my back / hip / knee. They've shown that I've a herniated disc (causing the lower back pain and a pinched nerve on my bum / upper leg) and slight scoliosis of the spine (causing uneven wear and tear on my right hip / knee / foot) and inflamed SI joint.

Also, is running maybe the wrong choice of exercise? I've steered very clear of it as it aggravates all the above. Walking / swimming / cycling are much easier on the joints: I can handle all of these, but not running. Does your physio recommend running? Maybe all the pain that it causes is a sign that it's not an appropriate exercise for you?

Could it be hip impingement? That can cause SI and groin pain...

Never had an X-ray. Think I may have to pay a visit to the GP. Am at chiropractors shortly and will ask about hip impingement.

I think you're right that running isn't the best exercise for me but I love it. Don't like cycling or swimming anywhere near as much and it depresses me to think I may have to stop but I can see that been the cure.

See your GP, I'm sure I had a blood test years ago to see if my hip issues were related to arthritis. I did find out in pregnancy that I have a backwards tilting pelvis which seems to nicely screw things up, an oesteopath once tried to correct it and I ended up hardly able to walk. Which was fun...! It got better once I stopped seeing her.

Chiropractor says torn hip flexor and adductor....no running for a month! Not good but not as bad as I was worrying about.

Is the chiropractor helping? I have hypermobility throughout my body but my SI joints are particularly bad. Chiro doesn't work because he aligns them and they shift straight back. I do lots of glutes and hamstring work in the gym to strengthen the supporting muscles and stabilise.

@nc4now. I do feel like I'm wasting money on the chiropractor.....like you say it gets put back and ten mins later is out again.

What specific exercises are you doing to try and strengthen stuff as I think that's the main way forward and I'm trying like mad. So doing side leg raises, using the glute machine in the gym, something the physio called a clamshell exercise. Then body pump with lots of squats and lunges.

Have you found anything helps?

Oh and glute bridges as well, then taking one foot off the floor, extending and repeat like mad.

Physio has just given me a special belt to wear while exercising which is meant to help support the muscles.

Going to core conditioning class as well, so planks, more glute bridges, crunchs, oblique work, etc.

Sounds like you are doing a lot already SoPassRemarkable. I do split squats with dumbbells, leg press, hip ab/adductor machine, hip thrusts with a barbell etc.
I work with a personal trainer who's really good at coming up with programs for me.

Hope you get it sorted. It's bloody irritating.

It's improved massively. At one time my SI subluxated a couple of times a day. Now it does it maybe once or twice a month.

Can you tell when it's out of place or not because I can't? My SI joint aches all the time. I go to the physio or chiropractor and they say it's out of place, do a bit of tugging and say it's back in.....I walk out and it feels no different.

The only thing I do get is that often when I straighten/extend my leg from a bent position I get this painful/audible clunk and sometimes I don't.....so I'm guessing if I don't get the clunk then maybe it's in at that moment. Should ask the physio next time I see her I guess. She's not very forthcoming with info!

And how do you get it to go back when it comes out? Just more exercise to tighten the muscle up?

Yes, I can feel when it's out. It's out at the moment and it's nagging. I find myself constantly moving and twisting to try and get it back in place, but it isn't straightforward.
Usually it'll just pop back when I do something like change gear in the car, or some everyday activity, and I hear a clunk and the pain and discomfort disappears. It's a really odd thing.
Definitely talk to your Physio.