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Pain in the left buttock
12 years ago I had an MVI where the head of my femur was pushed out of the joint (left side). I was driving a stick shift and on impact, I was pushing the clutch in, the force caused the head of my femur to be dislocated. At the ER they had to sedate me so that they could hyperextend my leg to get it to "pop" back into the socket. Recently, I have experienced severe pain in the joint and it seems to run down the outside of my thigh to my knee. It ends here and seems like the only "remedy" to the pain is constant motion (walking). I have been woken up three times in the last two weeks by the pain. Anyone have any suggestions on how to decrease the pain until I can get into the see the Dr? Tried stretches, Vicodin, heat/ice.
Sorry my friend in pain, I don't have a suggestion for a D.O. in your area. I'm closer to Madison and just don't know the physicians in your area. I can provide you with some hints.
When you do an internet search for a D.O. make sure they practice Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT). It will often list that on their websites. If it's not clear than a call to the clinic should give you that information - but don't always rely on that. If a newer employee is answering the phone they make not know.
I found the same dismissive attitude until I changed from an MD to a DO. I had never heard of OMT - at the time I chose my new physician because of gender and specialty, Internal Medicine. The fact that she was a DO just turned out to be my life savor.
At the time of my MVA (once they determined I would survive) I was told I'd be lucky to ambulate without a device - and like you I'd always have some issues with the hip and leg. My consult Orthopedic Surgeon said it would only get worse with time - sadly he was correct. I'm thinking the same is true for you. They missed the injury to the SI Joint - in fact it wasn't caught for years. Don't let that happen to you. Once it's been years without DX or treatment the prognosis is not good.
Just don't give up as I did. Keep searching, even it you can't locate a DO right away I'd consider a change. Your PCP should never be dismissive of your SX (symptoms). Be assertive as you are your own best advocate.
The fact that your pain doesn't extend past the knee is right in line with a SIJ problem. The diagnosis (DX) of Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction (SIJD) is often overlooked and underappreciated as a main source of low back and buttock pain. Hip Bursitis often goes hand in hand with SIJD.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction is difficult to diagnose and is often mistaken for other medical conditions. It's what officially disabled me. People may go for years without proper diagnosis, delaying treatments that could help them. The search often feels futile leaving people with SIJD frustrated, alone and unseen. That's a horrible place to be, I know.
I'm not telling you that you have SIJD, obviously that would be foolish and dangerous. I am telling you that you deserve to have a complete medical evaluation looking at all possibilities.
Please let us know how you are doing. I'll be anxious to hear more from you and your progress.
Take Care,
~Tuck
When you do an internet search for a D.O. make sure they practice Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT). It will often list that on their websites. If it's not clear than a call to the clinic should give you that information - but don't always rely on that. If a newer employee is answering the phone they make not know.
I found the same dismissive attitude until I changed from an MD to a DO. I had never heard of OMT - at the time I chose my new physician because of gender and specialty, Internal Medicine. The fact that she was a DO just turned out to be my life savor.
At the time of my MVA (once they determined I would survive) I was told I'd be lucky to ambulate without a device - and like you I'd always have some issues with the hip and leg. My consult Orthopedic Surgeon said it would only get worse with time - sadly he was correct. I'm thinking the same is true for you. They missed the injury to the SI Joint - in fact it wasn't caught for years. Don't let that happen to you. Once it's been years without DX or treatment the prognosis is not good.
Just don't give up as I did. Keep searching, even it you can't locate a DO right away I'd consider a change. Your PCP should never be dismissive of your SX (symptoms). Be assertive as you are your own best advocate.
The fact that your pain doesn't extend past the knee is right in line with a SIJ problem. The diagnosis (DX) of Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction (SIJD) is often overlooked and underappreciated as a main source of low back and buttock pain. Hip Bursitis often goes hand in hand with SIJD.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction is difficult to diagnose and is often mistaken for other medical conditions. It's what officially disabled me. People may go for years without proper diagnosis, delaying treatments that could help them. The search often feels futile leaving people with SIJD frustrated, alone and unseen. That's a horrible place to be, I know.
I'm not telling you that you have SIJD, obviously that would be foolish and dangerous. I am telling you that you deserve to have a complete medical evaluation looking at all possibilities.
Please let us know how you are doing. I'll be anxious to hear more from you and your progress.
Take Care,
~Tuck
Tuck,
Thanks for the reply. Do you have any suggestions for DO in the Chippewa Valley? I am skeptical about returning to my regular physician as he has been rather dismissive of the pain and chalking it up to extra weight. Losing weight would help (I am well aware of this) however, since the pain is unilateral and doesn't extend past the knee, I tend to disagree with him. I was also warned at the time of the MVI that I would have issues with it (hip) in the future. Any referrals for DO's would be fantastic!
Thanks
Thanks for the reply. Do you have any suggestions for DO in the Chippewa Valley? I am skeptical about returning to my regular physician as he has been rather dismissive of the pain and chalking it up to extra weight. Losing weight would help (I am well aware of this) however, since the pain is unilateral and doesn't extend past the knee, I tend to disagree with him. I was also warned at the time of the MVI that I would have issues with it (hip) in the future. Any referrals for DO's would be fantastic!
Thanks
Hello Fellow Wisconsinite,
Welcome. Please excuse my tardy reply. I am delighted you found us and took the time to post your question.
The heading of your post says, "Pain in Left Buttock:" I'm wondering if you have consulted a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy)? I too had major trauma to my right leg in a MVA. A loaded truck struck my sports car. It was much later determined that my thigh slammed into my hip joint causing tiny fractures and injuring my SIJ (Sacroiliac Joint). This causes the severe pain in my buttocks. I had (have) pain in the hip joint running down the outside my my thigh and into my knee, just as you describe. Walking makes it better. Sitting can be near impossible.
It took me years to find a DX (Diagnosis). It was a D.O that finally DX me, proved it with several tests and treated me. I have chronic SIJD. I also had Greater Trochanteric Bursitis - in simple terms, hip bursitis. This can be caused by trauma to the hip. Very painful but treatable. An injection or a steroid into the joint can bring almost immediate pain relief. Of course there is follow-up - and in your case possibly PT.
So given your SX and trauma I'm wondering if you may be experiencing SIJD (Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction) and Greater Trochanteric Bursitis. Again because of the trauma that your hip and probably SIJ experienced?
I encourage you to pursue a DX and treatment. Left untreated both can become chronic and very difficult to treat - in other words a lifelong condition. The sooner you obtain treatment the less apt this will become a permanent condition.
I know there are some great D.O.s in WI. I suggest that you find one the does OMT (Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy). The new grads especially seem to have magic hands that can often feel these misalignments. Before I saw a DO I would not have believed they could be so knowledgeable. A DO saved my life.
Nothing relieved the pain I had as you describe. Heat alternating with ice helped a bit along with a NSAID taken in therapeutic dosages. I would avoided weight on the effected hip.
Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing. I hope something I have offered has been of help. I'll look forward to hearing from you soon.
Take Care,
~Tuck
Welcome. Please excuse my tardy reply. I am delighted you found us and took the time to post your question.
The heading of your post says, "Pain in Left Buttock:" I'm wondering if you have consulted a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy)? I too had major trauma to my right leg in a MVA. A loaded truck struck my sports car. It was much later determined that my thigh slammed into my hip joint causing tiny fractures and injuring my SIJ (Sacroiliac Joint). This causes the severe pain in my buttocks. I had (have) pain in the hip joint running down the outside my my thigh and into my knee, just as you describe. Walking makes it better. Sitting can be near impossible.
It took me years to find a DX (Diagnosis). It was a D.O that finally DX me, proved it with several tests and treated me. I have chronic SIJD. I also had Greater Trochanteric Bursitis - in simple terms, hip bursitis. This can be caused by trauma to the hip. Very painful but treatable. An injection or a steroid into the joint can bring almost immediate pain relief. Of course there is follow-up - and in your case possibly PT.
So given your SX and trauma I'm wondering if you may be experiencing SIJD (Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction) and Greater Trochanteric Bursitis. Again because of the trauma that your hip and probably SIJ experienced?
I encourage you to pursue a DX and treatment. Left untreated both can become chronic and very difficult to treat - in other words a lifelong condition. The sooner you obtain treatment the less apt this will become a permanent condition.
I know there are some great D.O.s in WI. I suggest that you find one the does OMT (Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy). The new grads especially seem to have magic hands that can often feel these misalignments. Before I saw a DO I would not have believed they could be so knowledgeable. A DO saved my life.
Nothing relieved the pain I had as you describe. Heat alternating with ice helped a bit along with a NSAID taken in therapeutic dosages. I would avoided weight on the effected hip.
Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing. I hope something I have offered has been of help. I'll look forward to hearing from you soon.
Take Care,
~Tuck
Hmm, perhaps movement such as walking lubricates the joint else there's too much friction which leads to pain.
Experimenting with propping your leg in some manner using pillows may help make sleep easier going. Possibly propping while sitting may be helpful, too.
The only (very) useful stretch I've used simply to loosen up my hip joints, is to lie on my back, knees up, feet on the floor, then grasp one thigh (halfway to the knee joint) and manually rotate my leg in one direction then the other, a half dozen times each; then do the other thigh. This may have no impact at all for you, or may be helpful (or I suppose may aggravate it). I do know it works well for me (I can walk faster because my stride becomes longer).
Experimenting with propping your leg in some manner using pillows may help make sleep easier going. Possibly propping while sitting may be helpful, too.
The only (very) useful stretch I've used simply to loosen up my hip joints, is to lie on my back, knees up, feet on the floor, then grasp one thigh (halfway to the knee joint) and manually rotate my leg in one direction then the other, a half dozen times each; then do the other thigh. This may have no impact at all for you, or may be helpful (or I suppose may aggravate it). I do know it works well for me (I can walk faster because my stride becomes longer).
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