Hip pain

LilyoftheValley

Quite suddenly I am experiencing severe pain around my right hip. It does feel as though the leg may just give way at times. Does arthritis begin as strongly as this? I shall try and speak to Dr next week because it is so painful. A real stabbing pain not a dull ache. Does anyone have any thoughts, please?

Some years ago I (male, now in my seventies) I had exactly the symptom you describe. Someone suggested glucosamine and chondroitin supplements. I asked my son who is now a consultant orthopaedic surgeon but was a 'mere' registrar then, and he said there's no clinical evidence to support the use of this supplement, but there is a great deal of anecdotal evidence of its efficacy. So I started using it and now more than a decade later, I still take it and my hip pain is occasional, but short lived. Another comment he made was interesting from someone who makes his living from surgery was to avoid the operating theatre for as long as possible and to rely on painkillers for as long as your quality of life permits. My thought s on prosthetic joints is that once chopped out, the joint can never be put back!

My husband put a new in bedroom laminate floor. Of corse he didn't wear any knee pads. He's 75. Guess what, his knees hurt. So he took a few pain killers and hot showers and mostly waited, but kept up his daily activities mostly. Didn't get better, so after a month he went to a clinic. Told, all looked fine. Another month, got an. XRay. Told, its just arthritis. Got some physical therapy, but no change, and doesn't do any knee exercises besides walking and his "normal work". He even painted exterior a small house last Nov. Long story...sorry. Over a year now
He's still is pain daily, doesn't take pain pills nor lotions, and seldom complains. But keeps going and going.
Anyway, YES, arthritis can come on suddenly. I was very doubtful, but guess so.

I'm using a Paingone pen at the moment on my hip and find it helpful. Looks a bit like a pen, touch the area and it gives a small electrical shock that numbs the area. Doesn't last all that long, a few hours at best, but a great relief. You can use it as often as you like.
It cost about £30 from the chemist but you can get it on the internet.
Doesn't seem to work on my knees or elbow .
Pain in the groin and knees giving way are signs or hip arthritis according to my doctor.

I regularly get hip pain due to bursitis. It’s like having toothache in my hip and wakes me up at night. Seeing a private physiotherapist really helped and I now do daily exercises to help reduce the frequency of flare ups.

I too had terrible hip pain which caused me to limp. I thought I'd pulled a muscle but X Ray showed osteoarthritis.
I was referred for physio and now I find that as long as I do my excersises I'm absolutely fine, but when I don't do them I soon know about it!!

Unfortunately, initially a physio misdiagnosed my hip pain, the exercises weren't appropriate and the pain became worse.
An x-ray didn't show what was wrong either, it wasn't until I had an MRI, that I received a diagnosis.

Go to aphysio they can diagnose most things and will point you on the right direction
I had and have pain in my hip and. I’m area and it’s gluteal tendinopathy which is treated with specific exercise and avoiding things that irritate like Pilates sadly at the moment
Physios are amazing !

Hi there ,I can Totally sympathise with how you feel,, I was like you in 2020 but unfortunately no one would see me face-to-face ,
To make a long story short
I was just put off and given exercises by email to help with the pain in my back ,groin an the the side of my legs. In the autumn of 2021 I actually got to see someone at the pain clinic, got an x-ray and it showed the were no ligaments in either hip it was just bone on bone and that’s why it was so so painful. The first stop was November 2021 And in March this year I have the second hip done.
I would like to reassure you that it’s nothing to be frightened of to have the operation although personally I was very grateful that I had to have a general anaesthetic because the anaesthetist couldn’t give me an epidural because it appears I have scoliosis in my spine, some people may prefer to be just sedated but for me it was better to have a general
The only thing I can equate the pain to is that it’s like being in the last stages of being in labour!!
I did the exercises I was given faithfully whether I wanted to do it or not, And I’m sure it help my recovery.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you feel you want more details of my experience.
Another thing to add is that I Recovered more quickly in the second hip operation than I did with the first because I had no idea of what was going to happen and that was quite frightening
.Best wishes Maddy

I really sympathise with those of you with hip problems. Mine started in my left hip around 2002 when I started riding lessons and I was asked forcefully to mount a 17hh horse without a mounting block. Chiropractor sorted it out. No further problems till 2018 when I injured same hip in a gym using abductor machine set too high. About a year later I had an X-ray which showed severe osteoarthritis with bone spurs. Then after lockdown I was sent to a consultant who said after a further X-ray it was only moderate osteoarthritis. Who do I believe? It got better for a further year but lately has got worse again probably after walking for many miles in early May. But nothing compared to the pain I endured in my right shoulder which I concede will never get better.

Vickya thank you for the exercise link. They seem good

There are a few exercises here and I found them useful for sciatica and OAP creaky hips and knees. I have arthritis and osteoporosis and was also told to walk at least half an hour a day. Need weight-bearing exercise to keep the bones up to scratch. I get checked with a scan every 2 years or so and they threaten me with breakages if I don't walk., which hurts but is better if you do it daily.

Check out this video on YouTube:

youtu.be/TkTw1lv2KNs

They are free, recommended by my tai chi leader. There are a few vids there.

I had hip pain and terrible coccyx pain, could hardly sit still. Visited oesteopath who said my hips are fine but I was very tight. A few visits, lots of stretching exercises and so much better. She said if I'd left it I would have eventually had trouble climbing the stairs!! I am 62

My right knee and hip were painful for ages - before my back went - then it was only the back. 'Just wear and tear' they said, no operation required.

So, since August 2017, painkillers are often needed. I had a private MRI of my spine to hurry the diagnosis, then NHS treatment. As it was so very painful, I had private physiotherapy too, a great relief from the agony, while on the waiting list for NHS (which was useless, by comparison, unfortunately).

I am very interested in this thread. I have had problems with my feet and I have just seen a NHS podiatrist. He said he couldn't find anything wrong with my feet but my hamstrings were slightly tight and I tend to hit the ground quite heavily when I am walking. He said I needed to change my foot wear to something with a heel. He recommended running trainers and doing exercises for the feet.

I too have knee pain and pain in the top part of my leg and pain from one side of my right leg from the groin. I have made a telephone appointment to see if I can get some stronger pain killers in the short term and discuss the pain I have.

I had a hip replacement in my 40s. I was surprised to find that , though scary, it was a relatively pain free procedure and led to a more pain free life. If you are advised to have the op., don’t be put off by the thought of it and good luck!

Consider sciatica. Mine comes and goes, but when it comes it is like an electric shock. I have lost several glasses and cups I was holding at the time! The sciatic nerve inflames and certain movements cause the electric shock sensation. Good luck. It could be so many things, so you have to persist to get the right diagnosis... just at the time when you are not feeling at your strongest...?

My hip issue was diagnosed as ‘bursitis’ by my GP who has an interest in orthopaedics. I was given steroid injections to alleviate pain.

I too have osteoarthritis and am waiting for a hip replacement. The pain is constant, sometimes better than others. I have had an Xray and MRI and my hip joint has completely disintegrated. The waiting times for hip replacements seems to vary across the country, here in London it's around 6 months. Exercise is essential for osteoarthritis even though it hurts like hell at times, I do yoga. Good luck and definitely press for the Xrays.

I would suggest taking Hyaluronic Acid capsules (330mg). They have been amazing for my hip - not as helpful for my knee pain,

About 11 years ago I experienced severe pain and a feeling of imminent dislocation in my right hip only alleviated by crouching to do up my small grandson's jacket. I self referred through our GP website to their excellent physio who arranged an X-Ray, confirming incipient osteoarthritis and gave me some very effective but simple exercises to do. The pain returned 7 years ago and a return visit to the physio reminded me of the exercises, which I resumed, and I also started walking a friend's dog regularly until he died 4 years later - although I continued walking and had no problems until earlier this year. However, I stopped walking regularly in August last year after the 2 worst years in my life culminated and a Golden Wedding gathering being marred by an absent DGS and food poisoning. My hips both seized up this time and I was walking bandy legged. Then, in April, I noticed the NHS was promoting exercise for people with arthritis and soon after the perfect dog became available. My son adopted her and I now have her daily while my son is at work and we do a 3 mile walk together. My hips are no longer painful and the 'slippage' has stopped completely. I am hoping to continue to avoid surgery - which has not actually been mentioned by anyone yet - altogether!

This could also be sciatica. I had it when I was pregnant and a couple of times since. Every time on the right side with pain in my hip and just when I accepted that I needed a hip replacement it disappeared. I’d advise everyone to do some Pilates and yoga for strength and suppleness at whatever level you’re able.

I had the odd ache and pain then woke up one morning with severe pain in my knee so bad I couldn’t put it to the floor. Knee X-ray negative but pain extended throughout leg and groin with the leg regularly ‘giving way’ Hip X-ray showed severe arthritis and I’m now waiting replacement. Some days are better than others and I’ve adapted my life accordingly .Apparently this sudden onset and referred pain and weakness is very common in hip arthritis.

I’d spent the last couple of years thinking my worsening hip/groin pain was arthritis and assumed it wouldn’t be dealt with until it got very much worse. A very weak right leg and much loss of mobility has finally revealed, after an MRI scan, to be caused by quite severe lumbar spinal stenosis! No back pain whatsoever! NHS waiting list for spinal decompression surgery is 12/18 months so, after much soul searching, I am off to see a private neurosurgeon this afternoon. Very, very costly, but needs must. So please don’t assume it’s your hip. Referred pain is a funny thing. Well, not exactly funny, but you know what I mean!

I had an X-ray of my spine after an accident I had months previous. I was then quickly escorted to the MRI as an emergency. I won't go into the spinal damage but it was deemed necessary to have a bone density scan too. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis aged 29 in my hips and pelvis. Please don’t ignore it. The worst of my problem I had ignored for three months and suffer with greatly. The hip pain is now so bad I use Fentanyl but nothing else can be done!!! Aged 42 I’m fit for nothing, not even the scrap heap.

Hi, there, sorry for your hip pain. The best person to get diagnosis from is your own GP. Try him and see what he says.