Hip pain and sleeping problems - any tips?

This might not help you,but I've found my legs are considerably less painful since I've been using an electric blanket all night. I just set the lower part to 2.. I also have a supply of zolpizem 5mg tablets for really bad nights and use them very sparingly

Thanks for that henetha. A no no for me as well then.

I just googled it - apparently we shouldn't take turmeric if we are on blood thinners, so that includes me.

Juliet I was told processed turmeric which is what capsules and tablets contain isn’t (as) effective.

If you loathe turmeric, as I do, golden paste can be frozen in small tablets and then just swallowed.

Golden paste

60g turmeric powder (cheapest if bought from an Asian supermarket in my experience, next cheapest is a health food shop)
240 ml water, + more if needed (see below)
70 ml olive or coconut oil
1.5 teaspoons ground black pepper

Put turmeric and water in a saucepan over a low heat and bring to a simmer.
Simmer for 8-10 minutes, adding a little more water if it starts to look too dry
Remove from heat and stir in the oil and pepper.
Mix well and cool.

Shape one quarter teaspoon sized portions into tablets and freeze (open freeze then pop in a bag, or use ice cube trays).

Take one tablet, still frozen, twice a day with food.

You can store the paste in the fridge for a week, and take a quarter of a teaspoon twice a day, with food, but then you can taste the ghastly stuff.

Why did your GP advise avoiding turmeric capsules Iam64?

I saw the physio yesterday who gave me pages of exercises but she also told me about the escape pain group . Thanks for the link siope.
There's a real life group but a waiting list for that too!

How best to take Turmeric? It stains everything.
Like you Nannynoodles I would prefer not to rely on strong medication but when the pain is bad in the middle of the night, it's good to have something in reserve. I now have neat codeine to take a pill at bedtime and paracetamol on the other occasions.

Which I presume is different again to Greater trochanteric Pain Syndrome.

I had Gluteal Tendonopathy for a couple of years. Often gets called bursitis but it isn’t. It is in GTPS group though. Might be worth googling.

My GP advised I can continue to cook with turmeric but avoid capsules or paste. It’s a natural anti inflammatory and will contribute to the blood thinners I’m prescribed

Drina01

I too struggle with this particular problem. (I have posted before on this ). I’d never heard of GT pain syndrome and have now suffered this for nearly 2 years. The Consultant keeps saying it would be better if the hip was broken etc as this is difficult to shift. I’ve spent > £1000 privately re physios chiropractors and private mri. I too had my second ultrasound guided steroid injection recently but to no avail I’m afraid (and it sends my nervous system nuts). I’m learning to control it with paracetomol, codeine and ibuprofen. There’s also a product online called ChiroIce which helps as a beneficial ‘rub’. I can really sympathise. If the OP GP is willing it can show up on an mri. I bought mine privately as my GP just left me to wallow in pain. It was diagnosed by a private consultant. Hope this helps ..

Did GTPS used to be called hip bursitis?

I am getting confused by this thread.

I think most posters are posting tips about arthritis in the hip? Not sure.

The op has not been diagnosed yet, which makes things more complicated.

If the hip pain has reached the groin you need a replacement, in the meantime a pillow to hold your leg in a comfortable position and paracetamol is a safe long term long term painkiller. If you need to take Codeine eat plenty of laxative food to avoid constipation.

I too struggle with this particular problem. (I have posted before on this ). I’d never heard of GT pain syndrome and have now suffered this for nearly 2 years. The Consultant keeps saying it would be better if the hip was broken etc as this is difficult to shift. I’ve spent > £1000 privately re physios chiropractors and private mri. I too had my second ultrasound guided steroid injection recently but to no avail I’m afraid (and it sends my nervous system nuts). I’m learning to control it with paracetomol, codeine and ibuprofen. There’s also a product online called ChiroIce which helps as a beneficial ‘rub’. I can really sympathise. If the OP GP is willing it can show up on an mri. I bought mine privately as my GP just left me to wallow in pain. It was diagnosed by a private consultant. Hope this helps ..

I too have found Turmeric a great help in reducing my arthritic shoulder pain.

Iam64

The only thing that helps reduce my hip pain is cocodamol. I try to avoid it, but 3-4am, awake, in pain leads me to take two. I use the lowest level, available without prescription. I can’t take anti inflammatories sadly

I had to stop taking ibuprofen when put on blood thinners last year , but found Turmeric a great alternative as it’s a natural anti inflammatory, certainly worth a try.

Thanks again all! I have had a bursitis in my other hip but this pain is different.
I am not scared of going to the GP or having an operation if needed in the future but I know the GP will probably give me stronger painkillers and I like to avoid these if possible for as long as I can, so wanted to alternatives first.
I have ordered a knee pillow and also downloaded some gentle exercises to start tomorrow!
Actually my GP is still very good, you can usually get an appointment the same day as long as your not fussed who you see, so can’t complain there.

It's all very well to say that the GP is very busy at the moment, but you must have been delaying for some time as this is clearly not a new problem. The GP is there to help you just as much as other patients, and I'm sure that they will at least provide pain relief, make an appointment for an x-ray and hopefully get you on the route to a successful conclusion. Are you worried that this might lead to surgery? There are dozens - if not hundreds - of us here who have been through similar symptoms and are here (and active) to tell the tale. Please make that appointment to see the doctor - if you do it now, you might get it sometime next year!

I bought an emma mattress which helped immensely with my hip pain. I now have two arthritic knees and take 400mg ibuprofen half an hour before bed. I manage a reasonably good night's sleep.

I agree with your son that keeping active will help. I did this programne, and it made a massive difference to my pain, and my physical and mental health. Lots of advice and support around pain management, and the peer support from others in the group was (and is, most of us have continued to meet) great. Within weeks, people were telling me I was moving better, I’d lost weight without trying, and was sleeping better.

www.nuffieldhealth.com/about-us/our-impact/healthy-life/joint-pain-programme

I now have an injury (nothing to do with the programne) so am doing less again, and the pain in my hip is so much worse.

There is also this programme, which I have not done but which I’ve heard good things about

escape-pain.org/

I have bursitis in my hip had a steroid injection 2weeks ago ,I get pain if I lay on that side i take Amitryptaline for another problem which helps .

I too have a similar drug to amitriptyline to help me sleep through the pain.

Fun getting older ain't it!

Celieanne
Please be careful with coedine it can cause bad constipation.

I cannot take any painkillers that manage the pain. No ibuprofen because of gastric problems and nothing with codeine in because of a bizarre biliary problem called Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction - know as SOD!! - it causes spasm which makes me pass out.

I am going to the hospital for an injection in my hip joint, which is artificial, as nothing so far has hit the spot.

I would take paracetamol AND ibuprofen. It isperfectly safe. I was recommended to do it by my GP

Before my hip replacement surgery my GP prescribed a low dose of Amitriptyline. It apparently helps relax muscles enough to allow sleep. It worked really well for me while I waited for my surgery. I took it early in the evening and slept all night. I was also prescribed Naproxen for the pain.

Celianne, apologies if I’ve missed a post but am I right I’m thinking you’re recently bereaved, planning your husbands funeral?
My hip pain started in November last year, a month after my husband died. An X-ray confirms some degenerative chsnges but only those expected in my age group. It’s some kind of inflammation in the bursa.
Pain is enhanced by grief / look after yourself