Chronic Bursitis

[Crissy L]

I am a 28 yeat old woman and I have had chronic hip bursitis for 21 months. It started when I was six months pregnant. I cannot lay on either hip without a lot of pain. I went to a chiropractor for about a month a llittle over a year ago and learned that my pelvis is always out of alignment. It is continually high and forward on the right side which is where my bursitis is the worst. After a monthe of adjustments I did not feel any better. Since then I manage the pain by taking anti-inflamatory medication. I went to a pain specialist to get lidacane patches and the doctor said that I have SI joint problems on my right side that could be the cause of the bursitis and back pain. I have been doing physical therapy with a manual therapist and taking naproxin for two weeks straight. My hip pain is better during the day since then, but my lower back pain is worse. I do not know whey my pelvis will not stay aligned, but I feel that if I cannot find a way, that I will always have dailey pain. My elder sister also has had hip bursitis since she had a child six years ago and I am wondering if the problem is genetic.

[Cindy40]

Sounds alot like my question.  I have a lumbar sacarlization.  My L-5 is fused to my sacram.  I do not have much back pain, but my hip pain is severe.  I am going to a orthapedic when I can get an appointment, but my regular Dr. seems to think it is connected to my back condition.  I suspect I have bursitis because I have fluid on my hip joint.  I hope you can find some relief.  I know how badly my hip hurts and  was hoping that the orthapedic could help.

[westyfrau]

Wow, your case sounds a lot like mine.  I am a 31 year-old woman with chronic hip bursitis (12 months now).  I, too, found some relief with a manual therapist as well as these shoes called "MBT."  You can Google it.  Basically, they move your center of gravity forward, and it feels as though you are walking on sand, so that you must use different muscles, and it decreases stress at joints.  Also, I have a leg-length discrepancy, so my longer leg is the one that has the bursitis because it stretches the IT band and puts friction on the greater trochanter, or the bony part of the hip (although I got bursitis on the other side, too, from over-compensating!).  So that would be something to check out.  I have been wearing my MBTs constantly for three months now, with a heel lift under the sole of the shorter leg.  I did work up to a point at which I could get a good exercise in on my recumbent exercise bike (it has a very soft seat, and I reclined the seat as far as it would go) but this was 10 months into my saga.  I was also losing some weight, which did help me tremendously.  However, over Christmas, I went to some parties where I wanted to wear normal shoes, was down on the floor wrapping gifts, and compromised my "guarded movements" qutie a bit, so I had a major flare-up today and will be back into the manual therapist's tomorrow.  Oh, and I did notice my pelvis was out of alignment again in mid-December...should have gone to the therapist then I guess!  I have very lax ligaments (hypomobile) and my SI joint is all over the place.  I also have two little girls to drive about and play with and care for, so it is frustrating, huh???  I know your posting was old and hope that you have found some relief since then, but I would be very interested in getting in touch with you if possible.  How would one go about this???  Thanks!  Sara

[Mark272]

I know that I got mine bodysurfing and mountain biking. I also know that I am 20 lbs overweight. Laying down...getting up from a chair. What sweet pain when you can get up  eh?

Neither of you have mentioned cold packs. I tried cold packs and it seemed to work...I used gel paks at my desk chair and in bed. It seems after a whilem you can't feel how cold they are.

I went through 41/2 months from this past November of non-stop clinical pain ranging from a maximum of 7-9. Ten means you are about to pass out and the nurse is ready to shoot you up with something. I am not kidding....you know what I'm talking about
(yeah...a pizza might help....anything, right?)

The pain is now down to that tingling on both sides whereas before I had to crawl to the toilet on my stomach at 3 in the morning (thank goodness I made it, and pulled myself up).

I too will only use NSAIDS and Excedrin. Some people think that this is some kind of joke...but it is serious.

Mark

[mommyof4_93]

we have simular issues with chronic bursitis.  I have it in my left hip.  I'm 38 yrs old and mine started back in 1996 after I gave birth to my 2nd child.  He weighed 9lbs 7oz but it was the 36cm head and 37cm chest that made it difficult to deliver him.  My left hip ended up being dislocated during childbirth and I have had problems ever since.  And with the addition of 2 more large babies after my son, it has become worse and worse every year.  I have gotten to the point where I limp almost everyday,  I walk in constant pain and the pain does not go away or ease with laying down.  I can't be comfortable standing, sitting or laying.  My hips have become so numb from this condition that I can now put needles in them and not feel anything.  I have been living with this chronic condition for over 13yrs now and I'm so tired of it.  It stops me from enjoying a life with my family and playing with my children.  I have had shots in it which helped only for a week.  I am on anti inflamitories and strong pain killers but it still doesn't ease my pain.  I have searched the internet only to find that my only resort to comfort maybe surgery.  I wonder if there is anyone else here that has had the surgery for bursitis and if it has made a difference in movement and pain.  Thanks Carolyn

[missdelta]

hmmm. I thought i was the only one. I ahve hip pain constantly. I can barely walk from my car into my house after working an 8 hour shift. I don't even really work that hard. It is not like my muscles are sore it is the pain that shoots down from hip and the stifness in my lower body. after I sit for few minutes or stop moving it the pain/weakness really sets in  It is almost like I feel brittle, I don't bend? Does this make sense? I have been living with this on and off for years. I don't even really kow when it started. I am otherwise healthy and energetic and most people would not even really notice that I am suffering. I ahve xrays & bollodwork and have heard nothng back from DR. I can't understand how I could be in so much pain and nothing comes up medically???