Aching hip. Anyone know what's causing it?

Question

I'm 36 years old and my left hip has ached probably since I was about 15 or 16 years old but I had always thought it was backache -what they call "deferred pain" when it feels like the pain is somewhere else - but now I pay attention to it it's obviously in my hip; the ache seems to come from where my hip and thigh meet.

It doesn't usually hurt much but in the last few years it's become an almost constant dull ache that never really goes away unless I dose up on ibuprofen or paracetamol.

I went to my Doctor a couple of years ago and she sent me to a chiropractor who mentioned that it might be my hip and not my back (I didn't quite believe him at the time because I was so sure the pain was in my back) but I couldn't afford to continue the treatments.

Can anyone tell me what the cause is and whether I should go back to a chiropractor?

Answer 1

Could be joint disease. Try using glucosomine and chondriatin. Also eat plenty of fish and take fish oil pills.

Answer 2

I will be watching your answers as I have always had hip pain (on and off) too.  Years ago I was told it was because of a mixture of bad posture and my feet being flat.  This I do not agree with as it comes and goes but my flat feet are always there.  I find driving for long periods brings it on badly.  It feels like a dull ache/burning pain right in the socket.

Answer 3

Office chair?

Answer 4

Arthritis?

Answer 5

It could be that your posture is incorrect and this is causing you the hip pain as your putting pressure there when its not needed. I'd get a second opinion and go from there

Answer 6

I've had a similar problem with increasing pain being experienced over the past few months. However, during that same period, I've been wearing flat shoes (a lot) when I used to wear trainers almost all the time.

I get the feeling we could both possibly be making a 'slight problem' ... one possibly from a innate muscle weakness or the leg differential we all have, as referred to in an earlier answer, ... we could be making that 'small problem' much worse by walking around without Any support under our insteps ...

Training shoes (Nike etc) or 'Trainers' as they're called over here, all have a built in arch support of one design or another, so if you do have a tendency to flat feet, support insoles or the right trainers may help alleviate the pain you're experiencing.

I'd recommend asking in a sportswear shop, the kind where they specialize in fitting the correct style of running shoe.

(look up 'pronating' on the web for more info)

They'll soon tell you what might be causing your discomfort, and you don't 'Have To' buy the shoes, ...

just try them on and see what the specially trained staff have to say ...

Answer 7

Go back to your doctor and ask about x-rays of the hip and lower back.  The area that controls the hips is located at L-3 so it could be coming from the hip itself or the lower back.  Also ask for a postural study so that the height of each hip can be measured exactly. It might be something as simple as one leg being longer than another.  Ask someone you know to do this with you.  Lie on the floor with your legs out straight.  Tell them to hold your ankles and pull them lightly until both legs are out straight.  Release the ankles and you then come up to a long sitting posture.  Ask them to again gently pull both legs and place them on the floor.  If the bones on the inside of the ankles are at the same height then it is not likely that they are unequal in length.  Remember that almost everyone has one leg that is slightly longer than the other so don't get upset if you find that there is one.  There are more accurate ways to measure the legs and hips.  There is also the possibility that you have a weakness of the muscles of the hip creating extra stress upon that one hip.  Ask for a referral to a physical therapist.  They would be able to help you with an exercise program to counteract the deficit as well as any postural problems.