An Unhappy Hip

[firenze11]

I have been training for the 2 day breast cancer walk for a few weeks now and have noticed some new hip pain. I'm going to my doc in a few weeks for a physical and will probably ask her about it then because I know hip pain can be hard to diagnose. I did want to see if there was any advice in the meantime from you super-knowledgeable athletes.

The pain is on the outside of my hip, very localized, at the widest part of my right hip only. The pain is kind of sharp, not really aching, hurts the most when I take a step with my right leg, and is strong enough to really irritate me after about 4-5 miles. It generally stops not too long after I stop walking. I have brand new shoes which feel amazing on (and no more shin splints! yay!), so I don't think it is the shoes. I don't seem to have the problem when I am cycling and haven't even noticed it when I run, but I've only run once since this problem started. I have been doing some hip stretches and I think it might be helping a bit - mainly pigeon and bound angle pose.

I'm guessing it has something to do with my IT Band but I'm also a bit concerned about my actual skeletal structure. When I check my hip height in the mirror there is a huge difference, my right hip is a good 1-1.5 inches lower than my left hip. I don't know if this is just normal and everyone has a degree of it, though.

I'm going to go look into a foam roller today maybe. Thanks!

[tulip]

Ask your doctor. I had hip problems and found for me that chiropractor and Pilates really helped. But your doctor should be the place to start.

However, if he/she simply suggests painkillers, go to another doctor. You want to find the source of the pain so you can correct what's causing it.

[TahoeDirtGirl]

An uneven hip is usually muscle imbalances but which ones, you would need to see a physical therapist for that.

Foam rolling the IT band is probably a good start. I should be rolling mine too but uhhhhhhhhh ...I also roll my glutes, hamstrings and calves. I love rolling my back too.

Look online for some hip stretches as well. I know I have tight hip flexors from sitting and sometimes I get it with riding too, it's so hard to explain those stretches, but one is like doing a lunge but you tilt your pelvis like 'bad dog' so it's the opposite of sticking your butt out. This will stretch some muscles which might be tight, but not the one that is giving you pain. Sometimes that helps because the imbalanced ones aren't the ones that are usually painful, it's the other muscles that are doing their job that get painful. Usually not sharp pain tho...

Don't dismiss shoes either. I was just enlightened on how much my arch supports aren't working by a PT- he just pushed on the support and it collapsed. How is that for 'common sense'?

[alpinerabbit]

mmm have yourself be checked for pronation, dropped arches and the kind of things in addition to the length discrepancy you are describing. My hip acted up because of the kneeing-in you get from overpronating...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

If this is a significant problem I would opt for the doctor's and getting an xray.

Stretching is probably good for it, as is moderate walking. If the pain is on the outside of the hip joint, then it could be an inflamed bursa like I had. OW.
My chiropractor told me that most actually hip joint bone problems hurt on the inner side of the hip joint, not the outside.
Still, sounds like a doctor visit is in order.

[firenze11]

Hmm, yeah it definitely sounds like I will be asking my doctor about this soon. I've also noticed that it acts up a lot when I swim, only when doing breaststroke, but to the point that I can't do the stroke at all after a couple of laps. And yesterday I was napping the fetal position and my hip aching actually woke me up from the nap - which is actually what prompted me to post.

The pain does feel like it is on the outside and when I googled it, I saw inflamed bursa could be a problem, too.

The muscle imbalance thing also sounds interesting.

I don't think the pain is from pronation. I just got brand new running shoes and was fitted/evaluated. Apparently I'm neutral and have a moderate to high arch. (As a side note, I have to thank TE again b/c you all convinced me I needed to get fitted and it was really worth it. Apparently I've been buying the wrong shoes for years.) And if it was from something going on with pronation or my arches I would think swimming wouldn't cause it. But it could end up being something with support or something the running room woman didn't see.

Tulip - I agree about avoiding the pain killers/meds the doctor might try to prescribe. I haven't taken anything OTC yet, either. At this point I feel like it should be fixable and I want be able to become more athletic, not mask anything right now.

Thanks for all the info. You've confirmed my suspicion that a doctor's visit is in order. Dang it! I'm heading to the mobility store today so hopefully they will have a roller.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

And yesterday I was napping the fetal position and my hip aching actually woke me up from the nap - which is actually what prompted me to post.

In the meantime, put a pillow between your knees when sleeping on your side, to keep the joint straighter and you'll avoid the aching pain- if it's the bursa, that will help.
Make sure you are getting plenty of protein so your tissues and muscles can heal faster.