Hip issues - anyone have experience?

[BonnieBlueButler]

I’ve had a painful hip on and off for the last couple of months. It’s not my hip joint but just above on the pelvic crest. It’s worse when I’ve been sitting for a while or after my commute in the car. It hurts to stand up and feels stiff and painful for a while. It is sometimes sore to the touch and sometimes hurts to lie on.

I run and think it may be connected. I don’t do long distances. 5-7k 2-3 times a week at most.

I saw a physio on Monday and he thinks there is an imbalance and some problems with internal hip rotators. I’ve been religiously doing the exercises he gave me but it actually feels worse! It doesn’t hurt during the exercises but as the week has progressed my hip just generally feels worse and more painful.

Is this normal for physio at first? Anyone have anything similar?

i have hip impingement and it sounds similar to the pain you feel. you could ask your GP for an xray, and if they find you have pincer or cam impingement they may do MRI to check for torn cartilage.

i have this from weightlifting but i know people who run who have developed this aswell.

esk thanks for replying. Can I ask where you feel the pain exactly? Mine is above the joint across the side and front of my hip. Most of what I’ve found online seems to relate to the joint.

I think I’ll need to go back to GP. It’s horrible and really restricting the exercise I do.

Trochanteric bursitis?

Bonnie I can't offer any advice I'm afraid as I haven't got round to seeing a GP yet (I really should), but what you've described is exactly what I've been experiencing on and off for months, including how it feels worse after sitting, driving etc.

I used to be very active but haven't exercised regularly since early in my pregnancy 5 years ago, so I can only put my issue down to a bad driving position and/or having awful posture at my desk.

I'd be interested to know if the physio starts to help soon.

Ragusa I’ve looked into burstitus but I think the pain would be lower down to what I’m experiencing.

Noisy sorry you’re suffering too. The physio was interested in my long commute and driving position. The exercises he gave me were internal rotating hip stretches. It’s so frustrating because the position of the pain makes it difficult to really pinpoint anything and most of the positions the physio asked me to do didn’t actually hurt. It was hard to recreate the pain.

bonnie i feel the pain at front, where the top of my thigh meets my hip/groin area, if you bring your thigh up towards you, its right in that groove/fold

My bursitis is on my hip point,, so abvoe the actual ball and socket joint.

Ragusa that’s interesting as I think that’s pretty much where I’m feeling the pain. Is the treatment just rest?

I have been suffering this for a couple or years. Seen osteopath and finally got referral from GP, I have arthritis. Seen physio and put on ex programme that included Managing back / hip pain. Not sure it is much better but understand it a bit better if you know what I mean.

Ah Geoteach, I think that’s one of the things I’m afraid of. Thanks for posting. Do you mind me asking if there are other symptoms other than hip pain? Have you been told to avoid high impact exercise like running?

I had this, and ended up putting up with this for 3 years before I saw a consultant and had to have shop replacement.

Bit of gloom and doom from me I'm afraid. It started with a pain in my right hip - GP said "get physio" so I did and then it radiated into my back and she said to ask GP for a referral for an MRI. Saw my nice GP and she referred me - cam back I had bursitis - then the left hip started to hurt and that kills me as your hips hold you up don't they. I had an injection at the surgery - did no good - so GP referred me for an ultra sound injection so they can get the needle exactly where the trouble is did nothing. They sent for me for another MRI and aid it was wear and tear and not much they could do and there the trail has gone cold. I am 74 but that's not old these days really but this pain ha s been life changing and I can see myself ending up on a scooter. The Duke of Edinburgh went into hospital after hip pain for 1 month! I've been suffering for over 2 years!!

Haha!! Clearly I didn't have a shop replacement, I had a HIP replacement.

Have a look into labrum tear and FAI (impingement) symptoms. The pain is usually felt in the groin rather than outer hip.

I would also ask for more investigations soon if physio is making it worse. I wasted months on physio and now over 2 years later still haven’t had my problem resolved (although the end is in sight). Wish I’d pushed for more investigations sooner.

@BonnieBlueButler RICE is the conservative treatment but if that doesn't do the job you can have steroid/local anaesthetic injections. I've had my maximum 2 now but they definitely work. Mine gave relief for a good 6 months. In extremis you can have the bursa removed but that is last chance saloon.

I found mine was hugely exacerbated by a)hormones. Much worse pre-menstrually and b) any onesided loading activity. Carrying infants, carrying my heavy bike up stairs, etc.

What I mean is, the injections gave me relief while I worked out wtf was causing it in the first place.

Also (ahem) overweight in my case.

Hip pain main symptom , occasional lower back pain and no matter
How much I stretch really tight
Leg muscles. They say you
Can do anything as
Long
As You 'manage' it but to be honest I find I get shooting pains if I just misjudge my step so tend to avoid high impact. Walk a lot and cycle and swim when I get round to it. It is hard to judge though as I rarely get pain during an activity but just stiffen up afterwards, to be honest standing doing nothing is the worst, moderate activity definitely helps.

I think it sounds more like your piriformis actually. You need to be doing the right stretches and also doing the right physio including foam rolling.

I honestly think your current physio has misdiagnosed and you should get a second opinion. I have piriformis syndrome, it's hugely common with runners and lifters And I have all of your symptoms in the same place. I was convinced it was my joint until I saw a physio who specialised in sports.
The proper physio that you do at home as well gives instant temporary relief and will gradually sort it long term if done daily.

abi do you have pain on your pointy bit of your hip? I’ve googled and think it’s called the iliac crest.