Shelley made me think of the videos for piriformis stretches -

here's a whole list of them
http://video.google.com/videosearch?...formis+&view=3

If they think it could be that the videos are helpful for at home.

DM let me know what the PT says. It may not be the whole problem but it certainly could be contributing more than you know.

I'll tell you a funny story about those muscles.

So about a year or so ago I was working alot and sitting at my desk and not getting much exercise.

I would go home at night and curl up on the couch - again not good posture and with my legs tucked underneath me to the left.

Well after a while I developed a pain in my side nightly and then constantly. It was a litle freaky and I thought ok not appendicitis since none of the symptoms fit. And it would get worse during my cycle. I thought cyst or giel problems,=s.

So I went the gyn and he was like ok lets take a look and to well put his hands inside down there and started rumaging around. He hits the spot where it hurts and I practically jump off the table.

I am like yes doc thats it what is it...ovarian cyst, fibroid what? He is like its a muscle spasm you dunce

I'm like what? He is like you have a very internal muscle called the levator ani muscle (Hey DM ask your PT about this one too) And your psoas and piriformis are in spasm too.

He is like yep this is so common. He sends me to a PT that is a specialist at UCLA...in the pelvic dysfunction dept....who knew they had a dept for this.

So I went and sure enough this specilialist who is apparently well known for this treatment examines me and is yep you have some pelvic dysfunction going on. You're telling me

By the way I am in a private room.

So she starts some treatments and teaches me how to stretch the muscles. The she tells me to undress (everything ) and put on a gown. She then proceeds to put on gloves and I am like ok its because its close to you know what down there and she is being sanitary because some of these stretches must be intracate.

Next thing I know she inserts her hand up there and slowly starts to stretch me from the inside. . She finds that spot with the spasm and palpates it and breaks the spasm a bit and stetches me inside.

I walked out mortified but outta pain. I went back for several more sessions and her theories and stretches and what she does really worked.

Pelvic muscle dysfunction including the hips is a real thing. And lucky us women get it the most

There is a great book you can get called A Headache in the Pelvis. Written by some guys at Stanford. The right posture down there really makes a difference.

Ok thats my story and I will deny anyone was up in my you know what.

Yowser Shell! That is really something. I'll bet you were thinking ''what the heck"? I forgot my notes from your post when I went to PT yest, so didn't ask about it... DUH!!!!!
But, the PT asked me if I've ever had abdominal surgery. I said Gallbladder and elective nephrectomy for DS's transplant. He is wondering about adhesions, but actually still feels it is the hip causing the trouble. He and his asst really worked the lower abdominal muscles and stretched the hip. OUCH! I think I have mentioned already that I am a wimp!!

I am so ready to get this MRI done to see if I can get some relief. My anxiety is through the roof. Thanks for the stretching info; I really DO appreciate input and it helps.

It really does help to know that other people understand.

So I had the same thing. Hip pain that was diagnosed with bursitis. I wanted the busea removed because all the shots and physical therapy didn't work. I finally found a doc willing to do it, and my hip felt much better. That's the good news. Bad news is that the scar tissue has kept my hip sore and weak. I have had high level pain for about 2 years and got to the point where I filed disability and got a scooter.

Again I finally found someone to help with the pain. Pain meds are not my thing, but I have been on them for a long time. I had the Boston Scientific SCS implanted for a trial two days ago. It is working for me and I am sooo excited about having a future that is not sooo painful. I am still in the trial period, but already my pain level is way down. This will not help the symptoms I get from walking. ie: knee and hip and foot swelling, but it lowers the pain level enough to use my scooter.

If your pain is just in your hip and you are having issues in that one spot, then I would pursue having a bursectomy. My hip moves much more freely and with much less pain in that spot. I had other issues that led to me getting the stimulator. Understand that if you want that bursea removed, you will run into oppossition. They don't like to take it out. Do you research and God Bless. I hope I didn't confuse you too much.
The fact is that most of our problems are complex, and the answers are sometimes multi-layer.

Thanks ib! Interesting and painful stuff you've gone through. I guess and hope I will get some definitive answers after the pelvic MRI. This has been going on since Nov and I'm really weary of it. I appreciate your opening up and sharing your story w/me.

I wonder if I'm just supposed to say "Hey, I'm going to be 55 this yr and maybe I have to live w/it." But, first I need to find out the cause of the pain.

Oh and I see your'e a new member, so a big WELCOME to NT...

Thanks for your input Jo! I will check out both of the links from you & Shell.

PS: Just checked out the Piriformis stretches and one of them is similar to what the PT has me do... interesting, so thanks ladies.

Now, who wants to do my MRI for me??

Hi M ~ You asked how long it took to get my hip to settle down, etc.. cause I had a herniated disc. Well, I thought after surgery it would. It's been 24 years, and I STILL have that awful pain!!!! You see, a couple of years later, I herniated another disc, and my surgeon waited too long to do anything about it, and I ended up with permanent sciatic nerve damage. So I have PERMANENT sciatica and it's been HELL. I'm now disabled, and on medications, plus have several more herniations and am inoperable. LOL.

Ya gotta laugh. Otherwise, you'll go nuts! LOL God bless and I hope you get some answers soon. Peace, Lee

Thanks so much Lee!!! I admire your attitude w/all you've had to endure.
take care and I guess we'll just ''hang in there'' together.....

Hey all! Thought I'd come back and report about the pelvic MRI. The results were pretty normal (YAH) I do have some arthritis, but the Dr is sending me to the bone specialist at the Univ, as they are suspecting my Boniva IV's as being the possible culprit of my hip pain.
I'm a little shellshocked that a drug I'm taking to try and strengthen my brittle bones, is possible causing tremendous hip pain.

I have an appt on the 26th and have actually seen the spec before, as she did a Vit D study on me and also evaluated my Osteoporosis. Intereresting.... So, will post her findings or thoughts after my appt.

Hi DM ~ Aha! I'm not surprised! New studies have shown that the drugs for osteopososis actually TAKES AWAY bone!! How do you like that??? And these stupid doctors keep prescribing it!!! I quit taking it when I heard that on tv cause I already HAVE a rotten case of osteopososis. Sheeesh. I don't need to get a worse case of it.

Doctors should be REQUIRED to go back to school once a year in order to keep their licenses! If I was in charge of 'stuff' I'd make them. LOL.

Best of luck, and I sure hope your hip isn't in too bad of shape. God bless and let us know how that visit comes out. I really want to know ~ I care. Peace, Lee