Hip Pain

[Eera]

Yup. Xray first, but don't be shy about visiting a chiropractor in your travels. I'm finally using one after a 2 year battle with hip pain (GlutealTendinopathy). Unwinding all sorts of dysfunction movement patterns and muscle imbalances now that thre tendons are healed (I hope). I always use to go to a chiropractor, but we moved and blah...blah... you know how that goes.

Do you just see a chiro for the GT or are there other strategies you've put in place? I've had symptoms for about 6 months now, been "treating" it with supplements and strengthening exercises - which have made a hell of a difference to be fair; I couldn't sleep on my side and had trouble with stairs 4 months ago, now I'm sort of maybe debating if I can start cardio again, I just really don't want to twinge it. Anything extra that's worked, I'm up for giving it a shot!

 

[SnowHot]

@SnowHot sound familiar?

You can’t rule out out spinal issues with hip pain. Hubby just spent three weeks out of service (while we were supposed to in Japan) because of severe leg and hip pain. He couldn’t walk 25 yards. We ended up in the ER one night, he was in so much pain he does not remember about 3hrs. Chiropractors, physical therapy, X-rays, Dr. recommended MRI, but insurance refused to pay. We paid out-of-pocket. MRI revealed compression at L3/4. He got two shots in the back last week and has returned to work.. I’ll never put off the MRI again. The cost of out-of-pocket MRI was 1/5 what insurance would have been charged.

Yup.
I've been treating trochanteric bursitis in my right hip since June. It was helping but not fixing it, then a little over a month ago I was in so much pain I crawled out of bed to the bathroom and struggled to stand upright.
I called my PT who told me to put an ice pack on my back and walk (standing as straight as possible) until the pain started to go away, then go to my Ortho and tell him I was walking miles with ice on my back and ask for a lumbar MRI (as well as a hip MRI) My insurance accepted both and my reults were crazy.
I have an appointment with a spine and pain specialist Monday who will (hopefully) give me a shot for pain relief. I have another appointment with a Neurosurgeon on March 13. I'm pretty sure spine surgery is in my future.

My husband put my MRI results into Chat GPT to make it more sensible from a layman's term as it relates to a skier.
This was the summary at the end: Made me chuckle.

Ski-industry analogy (because… you )


Your spine has:

• Some base wear from mileage
• A few scratches that tune out
• One core shot at L4–L5 that’s catching an edge and throwing you into the trees


That’s the one everyone’s staring at.


A friend put my MRI results into an AI photo generator which came up with this.

 

[SnowHot]

BTW, I want to give a shout out to @mustski
She was with me in Utah for the ski testing and trade show while I had a major flare up.
OMG I am not sure how I'd have done my job without her assistance. When it was time to come home our Yukon was filled with bootfitting bench and tools so Phil rode home with winks and mustski drove the Yukon with me in the passenger seat. #lifesaver #patisaweseome

When you have pains like this you need your support team and she is most definitely in that circle.

 

[SnowHot]

I also want to mention this.
If you have muscle loss in your legs it means you have something more going on.
My DPT and my PT both said the reason they think surgery is in my future is because I've lost strength and muscle tone in my legs due to the nerve impingement.

My DPT said that I'll be shocked how quickly it may come back once the nerve is released because the nerve that is being pressed is the nerve that feeds the legs.
I'm still unsure why the results of the MRI concentrate on the left side impingement but my right leg is suffering, but my legs are weak at the moment and my muscle tone is all but gone.

Edit to add:
I'm typing this while laying on an ice pack trying to have a morning cup of coffee.
As I'm laying her I'm saying to myself. "I didn't think this through. I really want to drink my coffee but I'm laying on my back."

 

[VickiK]

BTW, I want to give a shout out to @mustski
She was with me in Utah for the ski testing and trade show while I had a major flare up.
OMG I am not sure how I'd have done my job without her assistance. When it was time to come home our Yukon was filled with bootfitting bench and tools so Phil rode home with winks and mustski drove the Yukon with me in the passenger seat. #lifesaver #patisaweseome

When you have pains like this you need your support team and she is most definitely in that circle.

Reminds me of helping someone manage a booth at a salsa dance convention--it was a lot of work. I don't do much salsa dancing anymore to avoid causing a flare up on SI joint on my right side. All that hip twizzling. Like @skibum4ever has said to me, it's always the right side.

Yay, @mustski , for her muscle and generous spirit and good company!

 

[skibum4ever]

I also want to mention this.
If you have muscle loss in your legs it means you have something more going on.
My DPT and my PT both said the reason they think surgery is in my future is because I've lost strength and muscle tone in my legs due to the nerve impingement.

My DPT said that I'll be shocked how quickly it may come back once the nerve is released because the nerve that is being pressed is the nerve that feeds the legs.
I'm still unsure why the results of the MRI concentrate on the left side impingement but my right leg is suffering, but my legs are weak at the moment and my muscle tone is all but gone.

Edit to add:
I'm typing this while laying on an ice pack trying to have a morning cup of coffee.
As I'm laying her I'm saying to myself. "I didn't think this through. I really want to drink my coffee but I'm laying on my back."

I get that. My best position is flat on the recliner. Works for using my phone but not so well for drinking my morning coffee flavored protein drink.

And exercise? I haven't done anything for weeks. Canceled all my activities except for PT. That's Physical Therapy. Haven't seen my personal trainer since I hurt myself. Next ski trip, in early March hopefully, will not be fun.

 

[SnowHot]

I get that. My best position is flat on the recliner. Works for using my phone but not so well for drinking my morning coffee flavored protein drink.

LOL
I poured my moring cup of coffee a few days ago and put it on the end table, then got into a comfortable position and immediately said, "Well, I didn't think that through very well"

Now I sit or walk around with my morning coffee then do my PT at home then I get comfy to do my daily on line activities. Trying to get reviews written and doing some editing.

BTW, if you haven't already considered this, get yourself a portable massage table for your home PT.
My therapist cautioned me about getting up and down off my yoga mat and almost commanded that I get one to do my home PT. He was right. It's so much easier on a table and a lot more effective.

This is the one I bought. When we went to Utah last month I took it with me and immediately got on it every morning to prep for the day of work.

This is my at home set up, complete with balls, resistance bands, Theragun, and TENS unit

 

[SnowHot]

Yup. Xray first, but don't be shy about visiting a chiropractor in your travels. I'm finally using one after a 2 year battle with hip pain (GlutealTendinopathy). Unwinding all sorts of dysfunction movement patterns and muscle imbalances now that thre tendons are healed (I hope). I always use to go to a chiropractor, but we moved and blah...blah... you know how that goes.

Just as a side note, my ortho and PT have both advised me to not see a chiropractor for the type of back issues I have. Because I have herniated discs any kind of adjustments could cause permanent damage.

IMHO any chiropractic visits should happen after imaging is done so that the chiropractor and you know what you're dealing with.

 

[contesstant]

Aging sucks.

 

[altagirl]

Just as a side note, my ortho and PT have both advised me to not see a chiropractor for the type of back issues I have. Because I have herniated discs any kind of adjustments could cause permanent damage.

IMHO any chiropractic visits should happen after imaging is done so that the chiropractor and you know what you're dealing with.

I would second this with a side note that there are chiropractic styles that don't involve any cracking. I saw one a year or so ago who did xrays then just pressure points and quite honestly it feels like nothing but he lines you up on a scale to detect imbalances before and after with lines on a mirror and is like huh my hips and shoulders weren't even and now they are, etc.

So just to point out that not all chiropractic involves cracking your neck and back, etc. Like the traditional style does. I feel like they should call it something else completely but then when insurance provides coverage for chiropractic, I guess it would be hard to get coverage for a thing no one has heard of...

 

[SnowHot]

An interesting thing happened over the weekend.
Phil was in the middle of a bootfit with a woman who was wearing a hat for a Stretch center. Phil mentioned my back issues and she had all kinds of advice. Including stretching differently than I am and taking magnesium baths to reset my nerves. She is very high energy and I'm not going to dismiss her but since I have a plan of action with a spine specialist and a surgeon I'm staying on track for that at the moment. I'm still paying strict attention to my PT since he's seen my MRI and has done wonders for me so far.

I would second this with a side note that there are chiropractic styles that don't involve any cracking. I saw one a year or so ago who did xrays then just pressure points and quite honestly it feels like nothing but he lines you up on a scale to detect imbalances before and after with lines on a mirror and is like huh my hips and shoulders weren't even and now they are, etc.

So just to point out that not all chiropractic involves cracking your neck and back, etc. Like the traditional style does. I feel like they should call it something else completely but then when insurance provides coverage for chiropractic, I guess it would be hard to get coverage for a thing no one has heard of...

Yes to this.
Back when I lived in Michigan I had some back issues between my shoulder blades. I went to a Chiropractor who did pretty much what you describe. It was thorough and gentle.
I was put in a chair like a massage chair and he used a machine with a very gentle pulse that he ran down my spine in a specific pattern. By my second session I was a new woman.

If I knew a chiropractor who uses that method here in Reno, I'd consider it at some point.


Back cracking is just not my jam.

Edit to add a link to the type of adjustment he does.

Welcome to Chiropractic Health Advantage

Chiropractic Health Advantage, Cadillac Michigan.

chirohealth.us

 

[Abbi]

Aging sucks.

Does it ever!

 

[contesstant]

An interesting thing happened over the weekend.
Phil was in the middle of a bootfit with a woman who was wearing a hat for a Stretch center. Phil mentioned my back issues and she had all kinds of advice. Including stretching differently than I am and taking magnesium baths to reset my nerves. She is very high energy and I'm not going to dismiss her but since I have a plan of action with a spine specialist and a surgeon I'm staying on track for that at the moment. I'm still paying strict attention to my PT since he's seen my MRI and has done wonders for me so far.


Yes to this.
Back when I lived in Michigan I had some back issues between my shoulder blades. I went to a Chiropractor who did pretty much what you describe. It was thorough and gentle.
I was put in a chair like a massage chair and he used a machine with a very gentle pulse that he ran down my spine in a specific pattern. By my second session I was a new woman.

If I knew a chiropractor who uses that method here in Reno, I'd consider it at some point.


Back cracking is just not my jam.

Edit to add a link to the type of adjustment he does.

Welcome to Chiropractic Health Advantage

Chiropractic Health Advantage, Cadillac Michigan.

chirohealth.us

That's the kind of chiropractor I need to address my wonky hips which lead to wonky right-footed ski turns. I can't have any kind of "cracking" done anymore, and never liked it anyway.

@altagirl, did the chiropractor you saw tout a specific type of chiropractic that they did? Because I'd be all over that. I'm actually going to ask my PT today about my crooked hips and overly mobile right foot and knee to see how we can address it. It has such a horrible effect on my skiing. I never feel very in control of my right ski in anything but smooth or super soft snow. (AKA hero snow.) My left side is fine. But a chiropractor who could also help me address this would be amazing.

 

[altagirl]

This guy is down in Sandy but the explanation might help: https://wasatchspinalcare.com/conditions-treated/

 

[contesstant]

This guy is down in Sandy but the explanation might help: https://wasatchspinalcare.com/conditions-treated/

Super helpful! Ironically, my PT is working a ton on my neck and jaw and upper traps. I have chronic neck and shoulder pain and have for DECADES. There is a Chiro on staff at Snowbasin who my husband knows really well. I'll have to ask him if he can do this type of treatment.

 

[SkiBam]

Does it ever!

Yes It does. But I’m sure someone has pointed out that the alternative (to aging) isn’t great!

 

[contesstant]

Yes It does. But I’m sure someone has pointed out that the alternative (to aging) isn’t great!

That's for sure!

 

[Skidreamer]

Only just reading this now. To the OP - how did you go???

I'd like to share a cautionary (nightmare) family story. My mum got her feet tangled a few years ago in a cord in the garage and fell heavily on the concrete on her left hip. It really hurt at the time, but when the initial pain lessened, she wasn't too bad. She soldiered on and thought that was the end of it, did not consult anyone. There had been some type of internal damage as a result of it, and over many months, pain started, and got worse. Hip replacement needed. While she was waiting for the operation, the pain became unbearable. I took her to hospital here in Australia and she became critical overnight. It turns out a golden staph infection had been quietly bubbling away in the hip joint, and nearly killed her. She spent over 3 months in hospital.

Anyway, great news is that she had the operation and has survived, albeit with a limp. Other great news is that it was a big wake-up call for me and I have decided to retire in a few weeks, so that I can enjoy my health for however long I still have it. Hopefully decades, I'm 60 next year. I am looking forward to mid-week skiing on uncrowded slopes from June onwards here in Australia.

But please do get any major falls like these looked into