hip pain

[lizard09]

i have bad hip pain in my right side, it sometimes goes down my leg and into my foot and when this happens it is hard to walk on. it has started to go over to my left side now.  can u help?

[Tuckamore]

Hi Lizard,

I am sorry to hear that the results of your appointment were what you (or I) have hoped to hear. You never clarified where the pain is located in your leg? Does it run down the back of it... or the side? There is a difference symptoms or areas can mean different conditions.

Sciatica (which is what I think you meant) is not a diagnosis, it's a symptom. I don't pretend to know more then your PCP... I certainly do not. Depending on what is causing your sciatica will greatly determine if this will "go away" simply because you are "young."

My question to your PCP would have been what is causing the sciatica? Is it your SIJ, a disc or just what seems to be irritating this nerve? In my opinion he's guessing... probably right with his guess but again what is the source?

If you are not satisfied with your PCP you have some choices. You can wait this out if the pain is bearable and see if it will resolve on it's own or you can seek a second opinion. Only you know how extreme your pain is,m you know your body best. ... And you must be your own advocate.

I had "leg pain" for years and was dismissed also. Unfortunately by the time someone finally was astute enough to DX it's source it was too late. I do not respond to any treatment. The joint is far too damaged and deteriorated. I have SIJD. However I also have bursitis of the hip which can be treated... and that treatment is effective and can last for several years. So it's your choice where you go from here. Again I am so sorry your pain was not taken very seriously.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing. I'll look forward to your updates.

Peace,
~Tuck

[namnam46]

May I ask if they ran any type of tests?  Did they did an x-ray or an MRI on your hip? If they di some tests, what were the results of them? If your Doctor didn't do anything then it might be time to find another Doctor to get a 2nd opinion!  Sometimes you have to get 2nd or even 3rd opinions before someone is willing to (as Tuck puts it) "think outside of the box"!

I'm not saying that it isn't sciatica, as your Doctor suggested, it's just that they need to rule out other things also before basically "brushing you off" and not addressing your pain.  It's very true about what happens when we are young and have CP!!  I was fortunate enough that I had excellent Doctor's that knew there was something wrong.  When I had my ruptured disc it took me 3 Orthopedic Surgeons that did nothing but take an x-ray (which showed nothing ( and told me it was in my head (including my Surgeon that had done my original THR!!  I went back to my internist, who knew it wasn't in my head and he sent me to a top Neuro-Surgeon who did an MRI and discovered that my disc had ruptured "straight out the back" into my spine!!  that's why nothing showed up on the x-ray!!  I was immediately put into the Hospital and they did the surgery the next day.  I'm telling you this, to show you that it can take a lot of Doctor's before you can come up with the Diagnosis that you deserve to have.

I'm sure when Tuck sees this post she will tell you how long and how many Doctor's it took her before she could find someone to listen to her.  It took her years before she could get a Diagnosis!!

Please don't give up, keep searching for an answer to your problems.  

We'll keep watching for your updates. Sending you "Good Thoughts".......Sherry  :)

[lizard09]

hi i went to the doctors about my hip pain adn they are useles!! they said it could be ciaticer but because i am young that it will go, but i am still getting it!! thank u 4 all ur help x

[Tuckamore]

Sorry.... I meant to say "Posterior" portion of your thigh when describing the pain produced from SIJ problems. The pain is similar to that of sciatica.

Again sorry, sometimes I am tying faster then my brain can effectively work! :o)

~Tuck

[Tuckamore]

Hi Lizard,

It's good to see you here ... but sorry it's because of your pain. But then I guess that's why most ppl come to this forum. :o)

Sherry has provided you with some good information. There are a multitude of conditions that can cause Hip Pain. I am wondering if you could have Trochanteric (Hip) Bursitis. The bursea in our hip is the largest in our body. When it flares up it is very painful and causes the symptoms that you describe.

There is no way to know exactly what may be going on... so as suggested you should visit your PCP. If you have Trochanteric Bursitis it can be a fairly "easy fix." Mine flares up very few years, in fact it's been four years since I've required treatment. I've tried the usual home treatments, ice, rest, NSAIDs and have had no good results. However a simple steroidal injection into the bursea sac and I am good to go.  

The pain in your left may be what is called compensation pain. Meaning because your right hip is painful you've changed your gait and shifted your weight..... "Compensating" for your right hip pain. This puts extra pressure and demands on the left and it also begins to hurt.

Your SIJ (sacroiliac joint) would probably produce more SX then just the hip pain. If your SIJ is causing pain it's primarily centered in the gluteal region. As it progresses it causes additional pain centers often including the hip, groin, lateral and anterior portion of your thigh. It doesn't normally extend int your foot... but again this depends on the severity of the condition. I assume your pain is fairly new?  

It may be associated with the structure of your lower spine also. We are all "guessing" and that's why it's important to consult your PCP as he/she can provide you with a correct DX. Please let us know what you discover. I'll be interested to hear the outcome. Best of luck in your search for answers.

Take Care,
~Tuck

[namnam46]

Hi lizard09,


I see that you are a long-time member of MH and this is the first time on this Forum. I want to welcome you to the PM (Pain Management) Forum and let you know that we are glad you found this Forum. We are all CP (Chronic Pain) Patients that help each other with our own expertise and experiences that we have developed through our own CP Issues.

I'm sorry to hear of this pain that you are experiencing.  This could be several different things that react this way.  It could be SI Joint related, Osteoarthritis, Facet Joint related, DDD (Degenerative Disc Disease), etc.  You need to see your Doctor and have some tests run that can narrow it down. This way you can begin to get the relief that you deserve to stop this pain that you are experiencing.

I had this happen to me and it was caused from Osteoarthritis in my hip.  It would cause the pain to radiate down my leg all the way to my toes as you are experiencing. I had to have a THR (Total Hip Replacement) done when I was 35 years old to get the pain taken care of. I've had 2 others since then, over a 30 year period of time. (the first one lasted for 26 years.) But it's my understanding that SI Joint disease can also do this. That's why you need to get it narrowed down.

I have DDD and Osteoarthritis as well as Facet Joint Disease and as I said above they can all cause you pain such as this. Whenever your back is concerned, it will almost always effect your legs too.  :(

Please get this checked out by your Doctor and get some x-rays and possibly an MRI done to see what the "root" problem is that's causing you such pain.  Until you know, there's not a lot that can be done to give you relief.

I hope that you will keep us updated on what your Doctor says as we tend to be very concerned about the people here on MH.  :)  I especially am concerned with people that are suffering back issues such as yourself!!

I'm going to be looking for your updates, anxiously!! Best of luck to you........Sherry  :)