[DM]

Hi! Have had lower back probs for years that come and go, but last Nov I started having nagging R hip pain. Dr said it was Trochanteric Bursitis and put me on 6 days of oral Pred, which didn't help at all. Next step was corisone hip inj into the bursa~ again no pain relief. I did fall pretty hard on this hip Sept 08, but xrays were ok then.

Had a hip xray which showed some degeneration/arthritis, but not enough to warrant this pain, I guess. Also had 2 separate trigger pt lidocaine inj's into hip, which hurt like crazy at the time, but gave me some relief for a week. Have been doing PT for a couple of months, with little relief.

Now, I'm back to where I started... pain increases more w/activity and feels better lying down. Just daily tasks OR sitting in one position too long can increase the pain. Nurse just called and Dr has ordered a Pelvic MRI for next Tues. Now, this scares me... I asked her why and she said Dr doesn't want to ''miss'' anything such as a tumor, etc. (oh, but don't worry)

OK, now I have some really negative thoughts going on.
Pain is in R hip, upper part of thigh region and pelvic bone area. But, every day can be different, as to the pain level. My stomach has been bothering me, as my mind has been wandering about the ''what if's".

Anyone have similar sx's or suggestions? Oh, my Dr is a non surgical Spine Care/Physical Medicine specialty... I really appreciate any input...

I am stressed out about this; Can you tell??

[soxmom]

awww princess Im going thru the same thing Left side. Its
like in my hip socket(front part) lower back and side of my hip. Its
horrible. I am going for an mri in about 45 min and just had a hip
xray.

I will let you know what they say. Its ruling my life right now so I
got to find out what it is.

Hugs to you Princess...I will be in touch soon!

[Kitty]

No advice but I sure do hope you two feel better soon. I hate it when folks I care about are in pain.

[DM]

Thanks Soxie~ Are you having a pelvic MRI? I guess the pelvic one would show the hip bones,eh? How long have you had the hip pain?

[ewizabeth]

I'm sorry for your pain DM and Sox...

I had to have an abdominal MRI once when I was having high blood pressure problems. They did a CT scan of the area and couldn't see one of my kidneys so they needed to do the MRI.

They only do it to get a better picture of what's going on and I'm sorry she mentioned tumors ... then tells you not to worry.

Just think of it as maybe they'll find a way to fix this for you and put the other stuff out of your mind.

[DM]

Thanks Wiz and Kelly!

I've never been very good at having pain or PATIENCE either. I just wish this would go away. I also cannot take Ibuprofen for inflammation, as it causes big time tummy issues.
Hope your MRI goes OK, Tracy! Thinking of ya.

[soxmom]

Do you have trouble sleeping? I cant sleep on my left side, it crazy hurts.
Even sleeping on my back I will end up waking around 3 with hip pain.

I hope you are able to sleep...cuz not sleeping stinks!

Good luck with your mri!

[Leesa]

You just wrote MY story! I went thru the EXACT same thing in the beginning. It was awful!!! Ya know what ended up being the diagnosis?? A herniated disc, and the pain in the hip is caused by the sciatic nerve being impinged. What you have is sciatica, I would BET!!! That nerve runs thru the hip area and thru the thigh (around the side), down the leg and into the foot. It may not have progressed into the whole leg yet but it will if that's what you have.

I would bet you have a blown disc. You need an MRI with and WITHOUT contrast material. That would be what I would want. I hope that's what you get.

God bless and best of luck. Let us know how you make out. Peace, Lee

[watsonsh]

Hi DM,

I have an idea for ya. It quite possibly could be whats called a piriformis entrapment syndrome which could irritate the siatic nerve.

Your priformis muscle and your psoas muscles are probably in severe spasms and have shortened.

It might take some time but you might try to work in some stretches for these two muscles. Both of these muscles are often responsible for pelvic floor and hip dysfunction. They wrap around from the back to the front and will pull like like you are describing if they are shortened and tight.

Here is a link on them. You might try talking to your PT or working in some gentle stretches for them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iliopsoas

Hope this helps. Feel better

[DM]

Oh my gosh! You guys have sure given me some hope that I can get some help w/this.

Trac~ The PT has me sleeping w/2 pillows (I use a body pillow doubled over) either between my legs sleeping on good hip or under my upper thighs to feet while on my back. He said it takes the pressure off the hip, but, I do find myself waking several times a night to readjust the pillows to my position. I cannot sleep on the bad hip at all.. OUCH!
Good luck w/your MRI and please know that I'm thinking of you, too!

Shell~ I have PT in a little while, so will ask him about that. Will you be my PT or DR??? That's good info to check into...and thank you for posting it.

Leesa~ Sorry for your pain, but it does ''help'' in a strange way to know that someone else ''gets'' what I'm going through. I have had L4~L5 herniation in the past, but have always been able to get it calmed back down. Back then, the pain would go down my thigh to my foot. I don't have leg pain now, just aching at the top of the thigh.

My lower back has been aching alot, but guess I just chalked it up to my history of low back pain and now different sleeping positions. How long did it take for your hip/back to stop hurting and what did you do for it?

I am no allowing myself to get aggravated and down in the dumps about this, and my stomach is rebelling, which I think may be from the Ultram and stress from this. GRRRRRR

I really appreciate any and all input or thoughts. You guys are awesome.