yeah, so like the topic sez, i have this weird pain in my left hip: fairly sharp, sometimes radiating down my leg in a throbbing type manner
from the research i’ve done on the web, it seems to match up with some of the symptoms of iliopsoas tendinitis (snapping hip syndrome)…i do have a snapping hip on that side, but it’s been like that for years and has never given my any problem whatsoever
i do run with orthodics, and motion-control NBs because I have very pronated ankles, but these too haven’t given me any problems, ever
i haven’t run since i first noticed it (about a week ago), but it doesn’t seem to be getting any better…what should i do? take advil? just wait? this is my first type of injury associated (I assume) with running so i really have no idea what to do.
I have read several times that hip problems are potential, though not usually serious. The suggestion is to go see your orthopedist ASAP. I did that recently and he diagnosed the problem quickly and set me up with some targeted therapy. About four weeks later, I was doing much better.
I suggest you go see the doctor. This is not an internet diagnosis.
I don’t know if it’s the same thing or not, but I’ve had some hip trouble myself - usually on the left side as well. At its worst, it’s a sharp pain that seems to be in the hip joint and sorta radiates out from there, making it hard to pin down the source. Seems that mine is related to trying to squeeze too many miles out of my shoes. Once they start to break down, the hip pain rears its ugly head and it’s time to break out a fresh pair of treads. If I can head it off early enough, it usually clears up within a week or so - I typically take a couple days off running and then start to build back up slowly. It generally responds well to Vitamin I (that’d be ibuprofen), so I’ll take 800 mg 2X/day for a couple days to hit the inflammation hard, and then lay off the stuff - no sense in punishing your kidneys too much. Of course, it should go without saying, but pounding down a handful of ibuprofen so you can continue training through the pain is not the thing to do - then you’ll end up with serious kidney damage in addition to the hip problem, which will only continue to get worse. Keep in mind that I’m no doctor…just found that this approach works for me. Good luck and a speedy recovery!
Ajfranke’s advice to see an Orthopedist is right on the money. After experiencing similar symptoms in late February/early March, I suspected some type of stress fracture-related injury or sciatica. I immediately sought out a reputable Ortho who ordered an MRI and diagnosed a femoral neck stress fracture. The healing process has been slow, as I was on crutches for 5 weeks and only just reached the point where I can complete a brisk one-hour walk without any pain/discomfort. I have managed to get in some non weight-bearing workouts (pool running and very light cycling), but my fitness has suffered tremendously. Injuries of this sort are not to be taken lightly. Best of luck…
Spastics experience is exactly why you go see the doctor for hip pain. Had he not attended to this injury properly, I will wager he would have wound up permanently crippled. For an example, just look to Bo Jackson.
Just returned from appointment with massage therapist for a very similar problem. I went to orthapedic that determined that it was muscular in nature. Today was second visit and progress is coming slowly. I can ride and swim but running is not an option at the current time. I have been sidelined for about 6 weeks now.
Good Luck and make that appointment with your doc.
I had the same problem this time last year. ‘Snapping hip’ syndrome is usually associated with the ITB (same tendon as runner’s knee) but in the hip. After several doctors, I tried the ‘julstro’ self-massage method, popular with Triathletes (e.g., ‘the pain free traithlete’) and it took care of the problem in a about a week. The problem is actually a muscle spasm in the ITB and associated muscles. It’s worth trying to rub it out. It requires a small, fairly hard ball (e.g., a tennis ball). You’ll know it if you’ve got it - it hurts like heck when you rub it out, but the pain goes away as the spasm diminishes.
Please note that this is not a plug for the Julstro products. I have not bought from them. But I do use their method and find it helps with hip and lower-back pain I get from my incessant running and bike-riding.
If your doctor does not find anything structurally wrong, and it does not heal on its own, it may be worth trying. Not sure what the best website is on this. Hope this information helps. …
I was training for the LA Marathon and got ITB in the left hip. The orthopedic gave me Bextra and recommended PT – it took a few visits, but the PT did an awesome job figuring exactly what the problem was. I guess over time the exterior rotation and flexibility in the left hip deteriorated and during running I would rely mostly on my quad – hardly contracting my left glut at all. As a result ITB got irritated, and I got that searing pain in the hip that would get worse as I ran farther. I did not even notice it, but while sitting I could hardly cross my left leg over the right, while I am totally fine crossing the right over left.
So over about a dozen PT sessions she demonstrated all of the stretching that I need to do, and worked on the contracting and strengthening exercises for the gluteous medius. It amazing how the PT could find subtle things in the leg movement and muscle contraction that I would never notice.
Anyway, I couldn’t do the marathon but was able to run/walk Wildflower Long Course last weekend and did not have any hip pain. The flexibility of the left versus right is still not near the same, but there has been a big improvement. I recommend to see an orthopedic, but if it is ITB he/she may not do much more than give an x-ray, give you an anti-inflam like Bextra, and recommend PT. If that is the case then find a good PT.