Pretty sure I have hip impingement, have any info or advice?

In My Humble Opinion
1

After searching for a long time, I have come to the conclusion that this is what I have:

I have read many different pages about it, with the usual variance of opinion. But there’s no question that it is the one hip issue that most exactly matches my symptoms: acute, razor sharp, stabbing pain when making certain movements, sometimes. Primarily standing up from a seated position, particularly a relatively deeply-seated position.

At least that’s what it was for about a year or so, when it only happened maybe a couple of times a month, maybe once a week. The pain is relieved by “backing out” of the movement I’m attempting, (which happens immediately since the pain is intense and my body automatically recoils from continuing with the movement that is producing the pain) and sort of gently readjusting myself, getting support if possible, and trying again slowly and carefully.

I’ve been extremely active in recent months, doing boatloads of housework, bending, lifting, walking, standing (I’ve also dropped 18 pounds without even making any effort.) and the pains are now triggered several times a day, and very recently I have been triggering them in my sleep, which seriously blows.

I’m very interested in learning more about physical therapy and exactly the goal, to try and do what I can on my own. I am very financially limited and I have no medical insurance, so popping off to the doc for x-rays and MRIS and arthroscopic fixes isn’t really in the cards for me right now. But if I just ignore it and go on with my life without trying to do my best to strengthen my leg and muscles to minimize the aggravation of it, I’ll end up in a wheelchair.

So, share away, please. Your experiences, information, whatever.

2

Got it, actually have had it undiagnosed for about 30 years. Finally got it diagnosed about 4 years back.

Other than actually going to PT, there is not a lot you can do other than try to strengthen the muscles in your hip, and keep flexible by moving. It isn’t as death sentence as you are making it out to be.

3

I’ve also had this, or something like it, my whole life. I had tearing/damage to the cartilage inside my hip socket twice as a child. Firey pain, couldn’t walk for weeks. Normally, though, it’s only an occasional and bearable stabbing feeling, and soreness when I do certain things (running, biking - fine. Nice, easy walking - can easily make it flare up and I’ll have sore hips for days).

Yoga (carefully…) is the only thing which has helped improve my strength, and range of movement in that area. I’m now 28 and it hasn’t gotten any worse in the past 10 years, but if I let myself get inactive, or even if I am active (I lift weights and generally move around a bunch every day) but don’t stretch enough, I’ll have weeks or months of discomfort from normal activity.

Usually with these kinds of body issues, the problem isn’t not enough movement, or too much movement, but too much of only certain movements. Physical therapy exercises, and also many yoga poses, are tailored to stretch, stimulate and strengthen muscle groups and individual muscles that don’t get as much use in our daily life.

4

My other, or contributing problem is that I have ridiculously loose joints,born with them. It has caused me to have flat feet (I have oval footprints), collapsed ankles and funky knees. The left leg, which is where this is, is by far my weaker leg and foot overall. I had a torn miniscus about 8 years ago that I had surgery for but which has been weak ever since, requiring a brace sometimes because I can feel the knee collapsing inward in a similar fashion to my ankles. I had to get orthotics for my shoes about 12 years ago and that’s one thing I know I’ve been screwing up is not wearing them. BAD me. So that’s step one.

My joints are so loose and funky that it hurts to stretch my legs out “flat” sitting on a flat surface: my knees bend backward. It’s very pronounced if I put them up on a surface like the coffee table from the couch, they “dip” at the knee.

So this all became an issue when I had the knee surgery and I was told by the PT people then that what I needed most was to build up the muscles in my legs to support my joints since they were doing such a shitty job of it. Being obese is fucking with it all as well. And 55.

Sigh.

Anyway, I understand my leg muscles need to be strengthened, I just want to make sure I don’t do things that inadvertently make it worse (wtihout signalling same via pain…that can happen in bone stuff, I’ve learned. You think you’re doing something right, but no, not so much…)

5

I thought I had it, but it turns out I do not.

What I actually have is disk impingement between L3 and S1. Spinal stenosis complicated by scoliosis, which I have had forever but has become unstable.

Thus, a simple laminectomy will not do the trick. I need to have my spin fused from above L3 to S1. This is a difficult, dangerous surgery and I am putting it off for now and living with the pain.

Bottom line is get an MRI if you can. What feels like hip impingement can be something else entirely. FWIW the symptoms you describe are exactly like mine were at the beginning.

6

That’s a whole separate issue, and I’d be very careful. My joints and muscles are too tight, with my hips being the worst, so what works for me might very well be harmful for you.

7

Yeah, stretching is not my problem, I’m ultra-bendy. And it occurs to me that maybe that’s one of the things that has aggravated it: unlike your average inactive adult, especially obese inactive adult, I find it far more comfortable and simple to bend from the hips to reach the ground or near, rather than bend my knees to kneel the way most people must because it isn’t comfortable to touch their toes. I can put my hands flat to the ground in spite of my gut, and regularly do nearly that just in the course of housework and caring for my dogs

8

You could also have this joyful syndrome:

I’ve had this in both hips for many, many years. While the pain is generally characteristic (my primary care doc diagnosed it, but did send me along to the rheumatologist), it does sometimes feel like a very sudden, drop-to-the-ground pain. Steroid shots and stretching helped. You definitely need a real diagnosis, hips are essential to continued ambulation :slight_smile:

9

Is the pain on the outside of your hip, or in the inside/groin area, Stoid?

10

As far as I can tell it is the groin, at the juncture lying beneath my inner thigh and my girl parts.

11

The pain is being triggered by more kinds of movements… sigh. The other day my foot was turned out and that did it… sucks sucks sucks.