Bursitis?

[shelly360]

Hi.
I am 45 years old. My doc recently told me I have bursitis in my hips.
I also have a compressed disc between L4/L5.
I have been getting extreme sharp pain in my groin area - so bad that I have to sit down or stop immediately.
I also get this real ache in what feels like the front and under side of my pelvic bone.
Are the pains I am experiencing regular symptoms of bursitis?
Any recommendations for exercise or ? Websites with exercises? I am only able to tolerate extra strength tylenol as a pain reliever. Anti-inflammatories don't agree with me, and I prefer never to throw up if I can avoid it!
My doc is stuck on "surgery" for my back. I for one, do not consider that an option. Although I HAVE been actually putting thought into it as I do think I am getting somewhat depressed/frustrated over the constant pain. And, last but not least, it is severely interfering with certain intimate activities.
Thanks.

[Abhijeet Ghosh]

Dear Shelly,
Bursitis and L4-L5 disc compression are 2 different problems.
Bursitis will generally cause -
1) Hip pain,
2) Associated with movement,
3) Tender on touch,
4) Referred knee pain,
5) Sensitivity over the skin of the hip.

Where as the Spine disc problem would cause-
1) Back pain,
2) Hip pain,
3) Numbness over the lower limbs,
4) Weakness of the lower limbs.

However the strange part is that the pain pattern which you have described, co-relates with either of the two.
So i would suggest you -
1) Take anti-inflammatory drugs
2) Physiotherapy of the lower back
and wait for the results.

Bursitis is a temporary condition and will resolve really fast.
Disc problem will take time.
So lets wait and see the results.

Feel free to discuss, if you have doubts,
Regards.

[HorsesNHarleys]

I have bursitis in both my hips, but more predominantly in the left hip.  There are exercises that can help relieve the pain.  The exercise I do involves laying down preferably on your bed and crossing one leg in a bent position over your other leg which remains in a straight position.  Then simply reverse it to treat the other hip if necessary.  If these exercises don't help or ones that are recommended by your doctor, talk to your doctor about either getting a shot into the hip, which can help, or mine prescribed a medication cream that I apply to my hips.  The medication is called "Voltaren Gel" (diclofenac sodium topical gel).  This gel helps a great deal.

With regard to your lumbar spine, if it does not improve with PT, another more conservative option, than surgery, is to have an Epidural Steroid Injection done into those areas.  I have ruptured discs in my cervical and thoracic spine and have had the ESI done for the past few years and it has helped tremendously.  

My ex-husband had a herniated disc at L5 and had surgery done by an excellent Neurosurgeon and it was very successful.  However, I do not believe that surgery should be your first option unless your are having issues with bladder/bowel control (loss of control) which could be an indication of a more serious situation that requires surgery.  It never hurts to get a second opinion from another Neurosurgeon, one that doesn't want to immediately jump to the most invasive procedure first.  

I am not a doctor, nor do I work in the health/medical field, these are my opinions based on personal experience.  Hope that some of my suggestions/recommendations are helpful.  Best wishes for a quick recovery.

[shelly360]

Hi. Thank you very much for answering; your time and input is greatly appreciated.
I do not tolerate anti-inflammatory drugs well at all. Although, some one did suggest taking an anti-nausea med at the same time might help-I will inquire into this. It would be nice to at least be able to sleep!
I will be visiting my doc at the end of March again, and will mention physiotherapy as a possible route to go.
Thanks again, and have a nice day!