What is this pain and what should I do about it, if anything?

May 25, 2009 10:24 AM

What is this pain in my hip, how can I make it go away, and should I make a doctor's appointment yet?

Yesterday morning I woke up early to take my dog to the vet hospital. I went to the waiting room to sit down, and all of a sudden felt a sharp pain in my left hip, right around the outer lower part. It's not really a dull muscle-y pain, but is pretty sharp and feels like it's inside the joint, almost as if something was a bit out of place. It's not noticeable when I'm standing up, but is particularly bad when I'm sitting.

Later in the day yesterday, I laid down for a bit and it wasn't too noticeable. It was definitely less painful while lying down than while sitting. I took some ibuprofen throughout the day, whimpered and bit, and just hoped it would go away by the morning. Last night though, I just couldn't get comfortable at all, and the pain seemed to have gotten a lot worse. Lying on my side (either side), on my back, on my stomach, all resulted in pretty bad pain. I tried putting a pillow under my hip, then under my stomach, then under my legs, then under my back, to adjust the angle. Finally, I was able to get to sleep lying on my stomach with a pillow under my hip to elevate it a bit, but it was still uncomfortable... just not as sharp of a pain as if I was lying in a different position. It wasn't noticeable when I woke up this morning, until I tried to roll over on my side... then it hurt. When I got up, I realized it was still bothering me, especially when I had to bend at the hip for any reason. Now that I'm at work, sitting in a fancy Aeron chair, it's still hurting.

Other salient details: I'm in my mid-20s, usually run on a treadmill a few miles a week, but only ran about two miles last week. No history of joint pain or hip problems, although this hip does sometimes "pop" while having sex (but with no pain, just a bit of noise). Actually, come to think of it, I sometimes get cramps in this hip after/during sex too, but I never really thought anything of it because it doesn't last more than a minute and doesn't happen every time.

I have health insurance and am okay with going to see the doctor if it's necessary, but I usually take a wait and see approach with this sort of thing and would only normally go if it bothers me for several days in a row. The next available appointment probably won't be for at least a few days, so it seems silly to make an appointment if it will go away on its own before then. Also, it's a hassle to take time off of work if it's not necessary. Any thoughts, MeFites? Is this a problem I should just ignore until it goes away? If so, how can I deal with the pain aside from taking ibuprofren? Is it likely to be something serious? Should I go to the doctor?

posted by booknerd to health & fitness (10 answers total)

Could be all kinds of things, from "slept on it wrong" to osteosarcoma. Talk to a doctor.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:36 AM on May 25, 2009

I have the same exact malady. About to go to the doctor. I will keep this in mind if I learn anything. Please update after your visit, too.
posted by parmanparman at 10:46 AM on May 25, 2009

IANAD, but it could be PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME.

The piriformis syndrome is a condition in which the piriformis muscle irritates the sciatic nerve, causing pain in the buttocks and referring pain along the course of the sciatic nerve.

This was something I had a few years ago. My doctor referred me to a physical therapist who prescribed a series of stretches for me to do. The stretches were and are the best long term relief. In the short term, ask him for some medication to deal with the pain.
posted by cjets at 11:16 AM on May 25, 2009 [2 favorites]

stretching is probably a good idea. Now I'm doing it!
posted by parmanparman at 11:24 AM on May 25, 2009

That sounds like sciatic pain to me. And it could be any number of things, from what I understand. In my case, it started with pain in the hip upon getting up in the morning, and ended in surgery to remove a herniated disk. I'd go to the doctor.
posted by Shohn at 11:48 AM on May 25, 2009

Sounds similar to some sciatic pain I've had recently. Mine was accompanied by a shooting pain down the leg. If you're missing that then it may not be sciatic. Mine is the worst in the morning when I'm stiff, after I loosen up then I'm okay.

The doctor gave me a printout outlining some various back and leg stretches. I haven't really gotten a good routine down yet, so I can't say how effective it is.

Two Aleve in the morning usually would knock the pain out for the day, but the doctor prescribed 500mg prescription strength Aleve which has worked even better.

Rest, stretch, pain killers. Physical therapy is option if I'm not back to 100% in a few weeks. I was told these things straighten themselves out, as long as its not a serious injury.

I'd take it easy, keep an eye on it, make some adjustments to your desk chair, etc. If it's not better in a week, then see a pro.
posted by wfrgms at 12:47 PM on May 25, 2009

Yeah, it does sound like sciatic nerve problems, or if it feels warmish around the painful area it could be bursitis? I had problems with both, due to my poor posture -- I went to a few sessions pf physical therapy and learned to pull in my lower stomach muscles to hold my pelvis correctly, and both issues went away. I took a lot of aleve in the meantime, even though it wasn't terribly effective, really.

Sciatica can be caused by all kinds of dumb things like habitually carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder (thus unbalancing your hips and shoulders toward one side). May as well make the doctor's appointment, and cancel if the problem goes away, right?
posted by zusty at 3:15 PM on May 25, 2009

I had a similar experience back about 10 years, and when it started in the morning, I figured it was just pain and it would go away, and by 3 o'clock that afternoon, I was sitting in the ER (or, to be accurate, leaning against a bed in the ER, because sitting hurt too much) waiting for the nice doctor to bring me the nice drugs.

Never did figure out what it was, and it went away a couple of days later, and in the interim, I took one hell of a pile of Demerol.

That's probably not all that helpful, I realize, but just be aware of whether the pain is getting worse, and if it is, suck it up and see a doctor, because if my experience is anything to go by, it could get really fucking painful before it decides to cure itself.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:11 PM on May 25, 2009

Thanks for the comments! Parman, what did they tell you at the doctor? I made a doctor's appointment, but then canceled it when my dog's vet visit ran long. Priorities, I guess. Anyway, percocet is really doing a bang-up job of killing the pain enough for me to sleep normally, and it seems to be getting better. I've also readjusted my desk chair at work and requested a keyboard tray to improve my posture while I sit.

Based on what you all said, I think it's likely some sort of sciatic problem. Rather than going to the doctor, stretches, physical therapy, etc., I'll just keep trying to make sure I don't strain it unnecessarily and give it time to fix itself. Thanks again.
posted by booknerd at 4:37 PM on May 28, 2009

So uh, I just adjusted my office chair, and it stopped hurting. Yay ergonomics?
posted by booknerd at 2:40 PM on August 6, 2009