When my knee was terrible about 8 yrs ago, after all the MRI and Xray business, the "suspected" tumor the Ortho thought I had was not there. So he gave me a Steroid+ Marcaine (like lidocaine) injection into the top of the knee on the femur side.

It did stop all my pain for a while.

The steroid shots work in joints acutely and last a month or 2.
If the problem resolves, that is nice. But if whatever is causing the problem continues, well, then they wear off. My knee shot fixed my severe pain back then. That did not come back. It was some kind synovitis inflamed from the knee strain when it dislocated.

That link I gave you shows where the bursae are in the hip.
It is also possible, if you have had a fall on the hip or have taken prednisone orally in the past, that you have some necrosis of the bone going on. I had a patient who fell on her hip playing tennis, and it started a cascade of hip bone loss and she had to have a hip replacement at 45! People can get this slow necrosis also from steroids. It is a rare but potential risk.
People with asthma, or other allergic things, get those Medrol dospaks, and may later get hip deterioration. Not common but it does happen. If you have low bone density, it can also be a risk in younger patients. (this is called osteopenia).

But most things are bursitis, or strain from running. If it were me? I'd give up the running for a while until you heal up.

I don't think steroid shots work at all for MP. That is a nerve malfunction, or compression, not inflammation.

Thank you so much for all the information you have given me. I have stopped running and the pain in the hip is going away. It seems whenever I try to increase my exercise the hip starts to hurt. I did take a steroid pack and it didn't do anything. I have never injured the hip that I can remember. I am 34 and would hate to think I have arthritis already but that is a possibility. I did check out both links and will post in the MP forum as well. Again thank you so much for all your help!

You are welcome.

Also you may have some tendonitis there. The hip is pretty complex with lots of ligaments holding it together.

Some antibiotics called fluoroquinolones (Cipro and Levaquin, Avelox) can cause tendon injuries or ruptures even long after use.
Up to a year! People get bronchitis etc, take Cipro or Levaquin and rupture Achilles tendons doing nothing extreme months later. Any tendon can rupture with these drugs!

If you had MP, you would have pain even after stopping the running. MP does NOT stop hurting when activity level changes.
There are studies with Lidoderm and pain relief in the knee. Those studies found results comparable to Celebrex RX NSAID.
So the Lidoderm may work for you. I am not sure it can penetrate to the deep bursae in the hip though.

If you have any problems with the Lidoderms, you can PM me anytime, as well.

Hi Scully,

Have you considered TFL / ITB hypertonicity +/- tendinopathy of TFL ?
What is you gait like? Do you have technique challanges with your running? How do your shoes wear?

I feel you would find it worthwhile to get a consultation from a sports Chiropractor before surgery. Prefferably one that also is a runner.
Surgery is your last resort. It may be a combination of poor technique with under-lying limbo-pelvic dysfunction.

Keep asking questions until you are satisfied and gain understanding.

Cheers, Barry.