Lower back and hip pain

[LauraInCO]

Hi there. I was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience or advice. I started having pain in my hips during my early teen years (almost 30 now). It would become unbearable (terribly stiff, achy, couldn't put weight on them) whenever I slept on a hard surface, sat too long or walked too much. I brushed it off as bum hips and made a mental note to have my hips replaced when I was older. ;)   At 27 I carried my daughter to full term and gave birth. I started experiencing the hip pain and it was now accompanied by lower back pain (where the spine connects to pelvis) which I attributed to carrying a giant watermelon strapped to my belly for 9 months. Now, 2 years later, the pain is increasing in severity and frequency. To add to that, when I get sick with a cold/flu and develop a fever the pain strikes the hardest. I can't move or get comfortable and taking 800mg of Ibuprofen every 4 hrs barely takes the edge off so I end up rolling around in tears. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

[Stacia718]

I have a pilates ball that I use sometimes and lay on my stomach to try to help stretch out my lower back and that will help sometimes....I try yoga too...and I also try to sleep with my legs elevated by pillows to reduce the pressure on my lower back.  i understand what you mean about the pain in the hip joint...that is kinda how mine feels sometimes as well..for me at least it could be the nerve pain..(I have nerve damage from the discs/issues in my lower back in my legs)....I'm not sure..if you can get to the doc..muscle relaxers, pain meds or anti-inflamitories would help too I am sure...maybe even naproxen..(alieve)...I use ice more than heat as well (the heat seems to make things hurt more for me...but you'd have to try both I guess...)I think that's about it...if I think of anything else, I'll definitely pass it on!!!

[LauraInCO]

Forgot to add that my hip pain is actually in the joint where leg connects to the hip. The back pain is where your pain seems to be though.....they happen simultaneously.

[LauraInCO]

Thanks! I appreciate the reply. I haven't had any x-rays or MRI's....I didn't start getting concerned until just recently when the pain was bad enough to not just leave me bed-ridden but also put me in tears. Of course, now I have no insurance. Maybe you have some tips to help manage your back pain? Even if what we experience is due to different conditions you might know exercises or techniques that help you?

[Stacia718]

HI!  I can probably associate with your pain totally and yeah that is so familiar to me!!  I used to say it was hip pain, but I think a better way to describe it is "illiac crest" pain...not that that helps either.  I believe that mine is caused by the fact that at 2 levels to include S1 on the right side of my spine, my bones fused themselves together either a birth defect or the fact that I was a "tom-boy" and fell on my butt way way too much, i'm not sure, but the Docs have said probably a birth defect.  The pain wraps around my waist at the top of my "hip" (illiac crest).  I can't lay on that side, well can't really get comfortable anywhere...  Have you had x-rays or an MRI to see if you have any disc problems or "malformations" of your spine?  Because due to my body fusing itself, I have 2 discs that are herniated in those areas as well.  Just a thought, but I can sympathize with you totally!! (I am 34 and a car accident kicked off my issues of which the lower back is just one...)  Just an wanted to let you know I understand!!