Hip pain

[kirstenlp]

This summer I was training and participating in duathlons (I'm new to running)...a few weeks ago I woke up when I rolled over onto my hip because the pain was so severe. I spent the next few days limping and barely able to walk, although sometimes my hip just hurt/pulled but I could stand and walk upright. After four days, I went to the doctor. She said it was probably a pull in my IT band...rest and ice and ibuprofen every 4 hours is what she recommended...she told me to not run, do long walks or anything with repeated leg motions (nixing pretty much all of my cardio activity). So, that's what I've been doing. It's definately better, but I still feel a "pull" all the time when I walk or spend a lot of time standing. I've not been doing any cardio, but have been doing strength training with a trainer. Sometimes there are exercises that he asks me to do that hurt and I feel like a pulling, almost ripping sensation (so of course, I stop immediately).
My question is, how much longer do I need to "rest"?? or is this my hip from now on? Can I start up with walking as exercise now? aerobic classes?  A couple of times when I felt like "I'm better" and try to do some cardio on the elliptical, within 10 minutes I know it was a bad idea and later on I'm sore again...
I'm just tired of finding myself holding my hip when I walk at the end of the day...
(Oh, I've never had any injuries, I was running just a couple of times a week 2-4 miles...not much at all...but I was walking long distances, using the elliptical machine and doing aerobics several times a week besides personal strength training sessions and I'm 43.)

[kirstenlp]

No xray or MRI...it is feeling better, even since I've started stretching more than once a day (I found IT band hip stretches on the web!)...I walked on a high incline yesterday on the treadmill, but only did a mile (I usually do a minimum of 4 miles) and iced it immediately and I don't feel any worse than yesterday. So that's good. It's still a little tender, but way better than how limpy it made me a few weeks ago...

[Michael L Gross, MD]

I would not restart cardio workouts until you are pain free, and have completed a PT program,which can be as short as three weeks, designed to prevent reinjury.
You didn't mention whether or not you have had an xray or an MRI.  If not, and if the pain perists despite appropriate rest and treatment, they should be done to rule out other pathology, especially a stress fracture.

[kirstenlp]

But will I be able to start back up walking, running and aerobics?
It was an overnight (literally) development and I've been resting and not working out on my legs for 3 weeks now...I can't take the inactivity!!! When can I or should I re-start cardio workouts?

[Michael L Gross, MD]

It certainly sounds like IT band syndrome.  Rest, ice and NSAID's are the way to go for the acute symptoms.  Occasionally, a cortisone injection is needed.  However, this will not prevent recurrance once you return to activity.  I would suggest a course of physical therapy, stressing a focussed stretching and strengthening program. Deep friction massage, electrical stim. and other modalities are also useful in the acute phase