I have a pain in my left hip. Walking is slightly painful, but the pain is really only obvious when I step forward with my left leg. Generally speaking, it hurts when I shift my weight away from my left leg. If I’m simply standing, and I shift my weight to my right leg, it causes my left hip to hurt a little. If I lean even further to my right, and relax the muscles in my left leg, it hurts even more. However, the pain is sharp, and once I’m in a particular position, it no longer hurts (other than a slight soreness).
Other things that hurt: Sitting down in a chair (slightly), standing up again (a bit more). Also, lying on my right side and lifting my left leg straight up.
As for the pain itself, it’s a sharp pain that feels like it’s to the back-outside area. It’s actually a little difficult to pin down to an exact location.
So, any ideas as to what could cause it? Bursitis? Pinched nerve? Strain? If it helps, I’m in my mid 20s, and I have no history of hip injury, or any hip pain other than these specific symptoms, which have occurred probably twice in the past 3-4 years.
I’m pretty sure that this will go away on it’s own, as it has in the past. I’m just curious if there is anything I can do to speed up the healing process: Ice? Heat? anti-inflamatories? Any advice would be appreciated.
You may have a pinched nerve or have slightly dislocated it. You may try some stretching exercises like sitting cross legged and bending forward, back and to the sides.
Has it been popping? I assume you are a guy, but this happens to women a lot as they grow in the hip area.
Still, you should go get it checked out. You want to avoid surgery in the future to clean out the area effected.
Thanks. I’ll give that a shot. Actually, sitting cross legged is one of the least painful positions I have found to sit in (meaning that shifting positions causes much less pain).
You’re assumption is correct, I am a guy. An no, no popping (although I think there may have been some slight popping the first time this happened several years ago).
I agree. However, my current economic situation (very little money and no insurance) makes a visit to the doctor a bit too expensive at the moment, so I 'd really rather save my cash for an actual emergency. Imagine how much it would suck to go to the doctor for this, have him tell me to stretch, put ice on it, or something, and then crash into a tree and break my arm on the way home.
[edit]
During the stretching excercises you described, I found that the only part that is even slightly painful is when I lean to the right. I don’t know if that means anything, but I figured I’d mention it.
Oh, and another question, if this is a pinched nerve, could sleeping on a waterbed be contributing to the problem? I’ve been told by a few people that waterbeds are not good for your back, but I have a 85% waveless matress with lumbar support.
Don’t assume that just beacuse the pain is in your hip, that the problem is too.
Technically, it could be caused by a problem anywhere from your knee, to your back, taking in your abdomen en route.
It could be sciatica, but it doesn’t seem to be shooting pain.
Do you have any pins-and-needles or numbness?
Anyhow, use icepacks, take pain killers if you need to, and consider seeking professional help from a doctor or physio if it’s interfering with your life.
Nope, no numbness or pins-and-needles (believe me, that would worry me enough to seek advice from a professional and not a messageboard).
Add you’re correct, it’s not a shooting pain at all. It’s sharp, but localized. The fact that I can’t seem to pinpoint an exact location for the pain makes the pinched nerve scenerio seem probable.
Thanks, I’ll do that. It seems worse today that it has been since it started last weekend, and I’m actually taking an Aleve. I normally shun unnecessary medication for any minor ailment, but the pain was annoying enough for me to take something.
I just wanted to thank everyone for responding, expecially sj2; a little bit of stretching has made a huge difference. When I woke up yesterday morning, I was limping because of the pain. However, later in the day (after a bit of stretching) I was walking around with just some soreness in my leg/back and a few twinges of pain. I just wish I had know to do that sooner. I was was afraid that moving around too much would make things worse, so I never thought to stretch.
This has served to boost my belief that the Teeming Millions have all the answers.
