Hip Pain

[lauriebizz]

Hi, I’m a first time poster and thought maybe someone here could help. I started running a few months ago on the treadmill – I average 3 miles / 4 days a week.

This week I have hip pain in the front of my left leg only. I visibly cringe when I get up from a seated position and it takes about 10 steps until I can walk relatively normally without a limp.

I’m currently taking an anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxer and pain medication for a pinched nerve – so I’m some what alarmed at this new pain. My pinched nerve is in my neck, so I don’t think it’s related and my neck is feeling great : ) I am scheduled to see my orthopedic surgeon on August 15th, but didn’t know if I should go in sooner. Any idea’s? My initial thought is it’s some type of bursitis.

Thanks!
Laurie

[firenze11]

I can't offer any help in determining what's going on with your hip but I can sympathize with annoying hip problems lately. I know there was an injury of the month thread awhile back and I'd like to nominate this August as hip month.

I hope someone knowledgeable comes by soon with some help for you. And I hope your hip and the pinched nerve get better soon. . .ow!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I would not run on it, eat extra protein, and when you are up to it do some moderate walking instead of running. Get lots of sleep, and put a pillow between your knees when lying on your side to keep your hip joints straight.

[Zen]

... eat extra protein...

Yogurt has terrific anti-inflammatory properties.


put a pillow between your knees when lying on your side to keep your hip joints straight.

+1 to that

[horsemom]

Do you do chiropractic? I biked to the chiropractor's today - 10 miles exactly from my door to his. He seemed to find my biking there, amusing....but anyway, I have been having trouble with a hip recently. I can hardly stand up right away when getting out of a car when I have been seated for more than an hour. Biking to the Dr's I was having trouble with what I thought was my saddle, and my leg on the sore hip side was tingly and 'asleep' feeling.

I got the regular adjustment, and biking home felt much better, and the pain is greatly diminished and no asleep feeling.....I am becoming a believer!

At any rate, if you believe in chiropractic (I realize there are people who do not) it might be worth a try.

Laura

[lauriebizz]

I started taking 1 1/2 doses of my pain medication and of course it alleviates all the pain – but not the source and I don’t want to injure myself further. I’m supposed to take my first spin class this weekend and am seriously considering canceling until I feel better. I’ve read that spinning uses a different set of muscles, so I’m not sure if it would help or harm.

I haven't done the chiro yet, but I am scheduled for a massage on Saturday. I did a few hurdle stretches last night and soaked in the hot tub after my slow run. It's somewhat better.

I like the idea of yogurt and sleeping with the pillow - I will defiantly try that tonight.


Thanks!
Laurie

[Mighty Mo]

I hate to be a downer, but the pain you are experiencing on standing sounds exactly like my first symptoms of arthritis in my hip. I used to be a marathon runner and many years of overuse and some years of overweight, finally have me needing a hip replacement at the fairly young age of 42.

Do you have much mobility in the joint? Can you sit cross legged comfortably? Do you have a good range of motion sideways?

Get it checked out. I had to stop running, but I can bike comfortably. The difficult part for me is getting on the bike. I lower it to the ground and step over it to mount it.

[lauriebizz]

Thanks for the input. Fortunatly I don't have any mobility issues... I have been stretching like crazy and it's feeling much better. I've almost eliminated the need for pain medication. It's still much more sore in the morning and I'm biking rather than running for a few days hoping it will ease up.

[Fujichants]

I don't have as much pain as you seem to have, but I have the same problem in my right hip. It started about 2 years ago, when I would get up, and I would get a horrible cramp there that causes me to either have to sit down again, or walk like an old lady until I can stretch it out. It doesn't happen all the time, but randomly. Massaging it helps (it feels very tight). But yeah, it does get annoying.

[kermit]

It sucks getting old. I have the same problem with my left hip and the doctor told me its the start of bursitis/arthritis. I sit in a police car the majority of the day and when I get out it hurts. I have had pain starting a ride and it works out. The secret is stretching and strengthening the hip muscle. My doc told me to sit on a chair with your leg sticking out. Push down on the leg(better if someone else does it) as you push up. You will feel it in the hip area. Also runners stretches, leg back behind you as you squat down. Just experiment until you feel a pull on that area. Mine did get better.

[rachael24]

I would just not push it...If it feels odd when you walk or run, do not try and walk it off or keep going. Better to rest it for a week!

[lauriebizz]

So I bit the bullet and went to a chiro yesterday. I had another session this morning and I'm now a believer. When I went in I was visibly limping, after the tension back stretching therapy (no idea what that is called) and a small manipulation I am able to walk without a limp! It does still hurt, but no nearly as much. I'm going to stick with it for a week or so and see how it feels. I'm also biking this week and putting off running for at least a few more days.
Thanks for all the input!
Laurie

[lauriebizz]

It turns out that I have a fractured vertebra (L5) via my MRI resulst. My ortho didn't think my left thigh pain was related, so I'm riding for the next week or so.... should be fun and I'm looking forward to making it challenging :) Now the question - do I ride recumbent? I'm thinking this may be the smartest option - but I am certainly tempted by the spin class.

[KnottedYet]

Whoa, Nelly!

You have a fractured vertebra (a broken spine), and you're talking about riding and spinning? And making it challenging?

L5 is the laaaaast vertebra before the solid chunk that is the pelvis. It takes a huge amount of stress.

What did your orthopod have to say about your activity limitations? How long before he estimates the vertebra is healed? Are you wearing a brace or turtleshell? How many hours a day are you supposed to be lying flat? When is your next appointment? Is your spinal cord threatened by bone fragments?

[crimsongirl]

Laurie,

Factured vertebra ouch..!!!... Still thinking of riding... hmmmm hope you don't hurt yourself more???

As for hip pain I had the same issue when I started in both my hips to point that I could hardly walk because of the pain. I actually thought I had a nerve trapped but a super triathlete at work gave me some good advise when he saw I could hardly walk and asked why. He suggested.....

Swimming believe it or not. He said that would help ease the pain and use other muscles around it which helps to relax your body. I decided to give it a go and must admit it works wonders. Day before I go for a run or play field hockey I go for a swim and the following day again and the pain has never returned, although it did take a week or two. As soon as I feel the pain coming back I go swimming. I did this for about 2 months and I only go every once in a while now just to have a relax as my body appears to have adapted to it.

I hope you feel better soon and make sure you will be ok before doing more exercise as you don't want to do more damage...

[tulip]

Laurie--wow! I'm so glad you went to the orthopod and got a definitive answer. So many people (myself included!) try to heal themselves, which can be fine but big issues should not be ignored. Good for you.

Now re-read Knotted's post--and take care of yourself! Best to you!

And don't go to the chiro with a broken vertebrae! (The chiro won't work on you with that condition anyways, but just to be sure...)

[lauriebizz]

Thanks so much for all the advice; I certainly don't want to injure myself any further. As for my activity level, she suggested taking it a bit easy and doing lower impact ie: riding and swimming for a few weeks. Once it has the opportunity to heal, to take things slowly and if I have any pain to back off. I’m not that dedicated to injure myself further! I've learned the hard way to listen to my body. :)

Laurie

[KnottedYet]

Was it a comminuted compression fracture?

The pain from the L5 neighborhood can refer to the hip/butt/thigh, especially if the sensory nerves in the annulus of the disc there got walloped.

I'd be interested to see if your hip pain resolves as the fracture repairs.

[kjay]

Mighty Mo, I'm happy to read that someone else also lays the bike down on the ground to step over. Ever since my hip replacement in 2001, I've had to do this because my hips are not flexible.

[lauriebizz]

I finally received my first epidural injection yesterday. I am no longer on any medication! There is some pain remaining, but I'm scheduled for a second injection in two weeks. In the interim, I've been recumbent biking and it's been good. Thanks for all the suggestions!
Laurie