Has anyone had Osteitis Pubis? I’ve noticed that when I squeeze my legs together, I usually hear a popping noise from the pubic symphysis (I had to spend a few minutes finding the terminology). I’m curious what you’ve done about it, if you’ve had the issue.
There’s nothing wrong with that popping you are hearing. It’s normal occurrence when the pubic symphysis distracts apart slightly.
There’s nothing wrong with that popping you are hearing. It’s normal occurrence when the pubic symphysis distracts apart slightly.
Not sure if If I am buying that or not. I’ve been struggling with hip problems for a while, and after about 2 miles or so, I feel like my left leg is getting much more ‘ground time’ than my right leg. By the time I get home, the left leg usually feels much more beaten up than my right, and it’s not a good pain, it’s my bone screaming at me that something’s not right. So, having a wife, if she’s home, I have her tug on my legs to see if there’s a leg length discrepancy. 100% of the time, if my left leg feels like that, the left leg is longer. The right leg has never been like this. So, we do an ‘adjustment’ type thing (because I’m tired of paying someone else to do it, and tired of all of the time I’ve spent in offices), she rechecks, and all is fine, I stretch, and it doesn’t go out of whack till my next run.
I’m buying a serola SI belt… hopefully that can keep everything stable… in the meanwhile I can stretch like I get paid for it, and work on all of the core I can do… p90x ab ripper x and planks, and add in squats. I hope this works… or I’m throwing in the friggin’ towel before I make things worse.
It’s your choice if you want to believe me or not. You failed to describe all of your symptoms initially. You only asked about the symphysis pubis region popping. It sounds as if you have a sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Regardless of whether you have that SI joint injury or not, your adductor muscles on the inside of your thigh contract when you squeeze your thighs together, distracting and sometimes popping the symphysis pubis apart. For the SI joint problem, you should be careful simply stretching everything. There are often asymmetries that contribute to the SI joint alignment being a problem. For example, a shorter left hamstring and shorter right hip flexors. You would be doing very well to continue much core strengthening. There are self correction exercises for the SI joint and you should find a qualified professional to determine which direction it moved and therefore which direction you should be self correcting. Otherwise you could be taking things the opposite direction. I have seen good success with the Serola SI belts. Either way, you have to be very dedicated to stabilizing the joint in its proper location.
I have had Osteitis Pubis in the past and never had any popping sensation. It just hurt like hell to do anything using my core. The only way to determine what I had was with an MRI as it’s the only way to show the imfamation. I was lucky as it only stopped training for 3 months. And when I say stopped I mean to running or riding for 3 months. I could still swim. I’ve also had stress fractures on my pubic bone and it’s a similar sensation except it hurts even more.
I have been recently diagnosed with Osteitis Pubis and am having an MRI in a few days to confirm everything. My pain is excessive when I am lying or sitting. Standing is about the only time I am pain free. Apparently my case is only mild…but I feel like I’m getting worse every day. I would like to get back to swimming and am wondering if you thought that made your pain less or more? I know every case is different, but I feel like since I stopped exercising the pain is increasing. I have been advised to rest for at least 3 months and am now only 10 days into the rest. Keen to hear feedback from you or anyone who has had. Thanks
Blazeier:
I’m pretty late to this thread, but I wanted to see if you had any input on recovery/rehab from O pubis. I’ve been several months doing isometric ball squeezes (between the knees), and bridging. I thought maybe I was making some progress, as I haven’t run or bike or swam in about 6 weeks, but after stopping Ibuprofen the other day, it’s still a focal/almost pinpoint tenderness and pain on the front of my pubic symphisis.
What worked for you? Rest only ?? Ice??? I’m so F’ing over this whole experience and would like to feel like I’m making some progress somehow.
thanks in advance,
Chester
I am currently recovering from osteitis pubis and have had this condition for 1year and 3months. This is an incredibly frustrating and debilitating injury that requires bucket loads of patience and determination. Education is everything and having the right physio/doctor is key. I have got to the stage where I am now out of work and its looking like i may have to do something else for a few months. I am a self employed carpenter and with the bending and lifting required in the most basic elements of my job its not ideal.
I am writing a daily blog called Osteitis Pubis - Patience of a Patient for the last 45days and it may help people out there in the same boat as I. This condition is not going to get the better of me. Remember knowledge is power and never give in!!
Here’s the link http://osteitispubis-patience-of-a-patient.blogspot.ie/
Their will be bad days but don’t ever give up!!!
I am curious is some or any of you have been using split rail saddles? I also had OP and a stress fracture last year after using one of these. I could help but wonder if there was a connection about direct irritation to the area?
Does Lance have Osteitis Pubis?
If so, can we have some generalised hysteria, lamentation and ululation about it?
If not, why have you raised the subject on the Lance forum?
Raced my first race last night after my recovery from OP. 586 days after being diagnosed. 18 months sucked waiting but it did get better very slowly!!
I am curious is some or any of you have been using split rail saddles? I also had OP and a stress fracture last year after using one of these. I could help but wonder if there was a connection about direct irritation to the area?
Yes, I am using an Adamo race saddle. I was wondering about this myself, but since taking a break (a loooong break) from running & swimming, I’ve solely been cycling. I haven’t had as many and as bad as problems as I was having when I was running & swimming (which I’m sure it was more running than swimming). I’m just not a runner, no matter how conservative I train.
FWIW, i was diagnosed initially with osteitis pubis (OP) at the end of the summer of 2010, after a ton of tri and marathon training (approx 15 hrs per week which was a lot for me.)
A PRP (platelet rich plasma) injection helped, along with a lot of stretching and PT.
After about 4 months of limited activity and modest improvement, a leading sports doc xrayed the area, said it wasn’t OP, but just tight hip flexors and adductors.
He advised intensive deep massage on these areas and the problem went away after a few more months. It worked out fine, I had a good subsequent season.
Now i also pay a lot more attention to core strength, good running form, and flexibility.
FWIW, i was diagnosed initially with osteitis pubis (OP) at the end of the summer of 2010, after a ton of tri and marathon training (approx 15 hrs per week which was a lot for me.)
A PRP (platelet rich plasma) injection helped, along with a lot of stretching and PT.
After about 4 months of limited activity and modest improvement, a leading sports doc xrayed the area, said it wasn’t OP, but just tight hip flexors and adductors.
He advised intensive deep massage on these areas and the problem went away after a few more months. It worked out fine, I had a good subsequent season.
Now i also pay a lot more attention to core strength, good running form, and flexibility.
I’ve never used a split rail saddle so can’t comment on that.
Interesting that you say stretching/massage helped, as it’s almost hard to tell tightness from tendon/pelvic joint pain. I’m about to see a new doc after having dealt with this for about a year. I feel like I should be doing something, but other than waiting I can’t really tell what’s best. Very frustrating.
Hi,
I had osteitis pubis. I had an MRI back and pelvis area and nothing was showing as abnormal however from my symptoms doctors and physio did say it seems like osteitis pubis. I will share with you what worked for me. Total bed rest for a period of 3 months (no gym, exercise). I kept thinking that aqua/swimming would help but what was happening was i was repeatedly injuring it. So i stopped all exercises. After 7 months i can walk pain free 70% of the time. I plan to return to gym/exercise in about 5-6 months. When they say rest and time heal this injury it really does well in my case at least. Note: after 7 months i still kept the occasional pain when i walk but that stops as soon as i stop and even the pain level is not as bad as it was once before. I think mine could also involve nerves. Hope this helps
I was diagnosed with athletic pubalgia, and like Osteitis Pubis, the whole groin area is difficult to pinpoint the exact problem/diagnoses based on my experience with my ortho. I certainly understand the frustration, I am a year into my injury, and much better through PT, but healing slow, and still only running at about 80% of what I was prior. I am 51 years old, so that could be part of the problem with it taking so long, but groins heal slow. I also did nothing for 3 months, any sudden movement flipping over in bed, or a sudden mis-step, or pushing my knees together was painful for months. Biking was okay, swimming was not, pushing off the walls was painful as was using a pull bouy, running was not even an option. When I started running easy again, it was still rough at first, and after a half mile or so, seem to go away. In hindsight I should have taken 6 months off, it is crazy that this kind of injury cannot be addressed more quickly, and so little is known about how to rehab from it. I wish you the best in your recovery, be patient and listen to your body.
I’m way late to the thread but man it’s been a breath of fresh air to read what others have gone through with OP. I’ve had bad injuries but nothing as UTTERLY frustrating as this… going on 14 months of not being able to run or do much at all. It’s been a roller coaster… Just as I think I’m improving it all falls apart and I can’t even roll over in bed let alone run or swim.
My question is this: For those who’ve had PRP, where did they inject it?
I had a single PRP injection into the adductor attachments at the pelvis. 3 months later it has improved things but I still feel like the main issue is instability right at the pubic symphysis and that instability is what tweaks everything else (yes it’s a chicken and egg dilemma). Has anyone had a PRP injection directly into the cartilage disc at the pubic symphysis? If so, has it helped?
I’m way late to the thread but man it’s been a breath of fresh air to read what others have gone through with OP. I’ve had bad injuries but nothing as UTTERLY frustrating as this… going on 14 months of not being able to run or do much at all. It’s been a roller coaster… Just as I think I’m improving it all falls apart and I can’t even roll over in bed let alone run or swim.
My question is this: For those who’ve had PRP, where did they inject it?
I had a single PRP injection into the adductor attachments at the pelvis. 3 months later it has improved things but I still feel like the main issue is instability right at the pubic symphysis and that instability is what tweaks everything else (yes it’s a chicken and egg dilemma). Has anyone had a PRP injection directly into the cartilage disc at the pubic symphysis? If so, has it helped?
Since there is not good prospective research for PRP, you’ll mostly get anecdotal info from others. I’m not saying anything against PRP. My wife had it for hamstring tendonopathy and it subsequently cleared up. Some have great results and some have none. Not sure if it’s directly injected into pubic symphysis area or not. Since PRP is supposed to incite an inflammatory response at the location, this would seem like the likely spot
We’re many of you able to continue cycling? How about standing up while cycling? Seems like it would put a lot of strain on the area to sit or stand it’s cycling?
Thanks for the response above. As far as cycling goes, it hasn’t been a major issue for me. Seemed to me that there was pretty limited flexion at the symphysis during cycle strokes. In fact, cycling felt good because it warmed up the adductors and allowed me to stretch and decrease tension on the symphysis. Running was the problem…impossible for me during the peak of OP. Running would actually push the symphysis out of alignment and I’d have to do some PT tricks to pop it back. Terrible.