I get hip pain even if I stand or walk for a few minutes. Why?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am suffering from left hip pain over the last few days. This pain comes if I stand for more than 20 minutes in one place or doing some exercise. When the hip pain once starts, it takes two to three days to get relieved after taking Voveran. I also have pain while walking and sitting.

I work 7 to 8 hours a day on a computer. I sometimes stand while working if I feel back pain, and there is a standing desk for this purpose. This standing is now causing my left hip pain. When I exercise, like pulling the upper thigh towards the chest, I get relief from back pain (due to lumbar disc bulge), but I am getting hip pain. So I am avoiding that exercise.

I have other related problems in the knee and spine. I have a ligament injury in my right knee due to falling from a cycle in childhood. This was cured, but I am getting pain in the knee for the past five years. The right knee cannot take all weight, and I have to wear knee support while walking. If I do not wear knee support, then it hurts a lot. I put 80% load on the right leg, and the remaining load I put on the left leg while standing or walking. If I put 100% pressure on the right leg, then I will get pain for sure. The knee MRI shows normal, and the doctor says the knee problem could be due to ligamentous instability that is not detected in MRI. I consulted another doctor, and he says knee problem could be due to cartilage issue and prescribed medicines for five months, but it was not cured. I find some popping sound sometimes while stretching. I am managing the knee problem by doing exercise and using Jointace cream daily or every other day.

I have a minor disc bulge in the lumbar and cervical area that was confirmed by MRI. I am managing the pain in the shoulder and back by doing regular exercise. I use Volitra APS spray locally and take medicines like Ultrcet when pain is more. I am using a lumbosacral belt most of the time to avoid back pain. I also use a cervical collar, shoulder support while working on the computer. I have attached the spine MRI and knee MRI done last year.

What is the exact cause of this hip pain? Whether hip pain is linked to unequal weight distribution while standing due to knee problem? Is there any chance the hip pain is related to a disc bulge? Is there any support or belt available only for hip pain? Which medicine will you suggest in this case? What is the exact problem in the knee and if this can be cured?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

It is difficult to speculate about the cause of hip pain without examining you. From what you have written, it appears to be movement-related, especially hip flexion. This could be tendinitis or femoroacetabular impingement.

In addition, the pain can also be referred pain from the lower back or the SI joint. I will recommend that you continue to with antiinflammatory tablets and get an x-ray of the lumbar spine and the pelvis with both hips to give us a direction to move into. For the purpose of getting relief, I will recommend that you take frequent breaks while standing at work.

The changed mechanics of walking well certainly cause other joints to misbehave and the SI joint is notorious for this. And yes, you are correct in thinking to link the issues. I already alluded that hip pain and back pain may be related. There is a pelvic belt that you can use to help with SI joint inflammation. There is no brace for hip pain as such.

Piroxicam 20 mg twice daily or Diclofenac 75 mg twice daily are good options as both are effective anti-inflammatory drugs. MRI shows no obvious anomalies, but I could see the films myself as the pictures were too fuzzy and small (attachment removed to protect patient identity). There is no mention of a cartilage defect in the patella or the main joint. It is difficult to assess without checking for muscle weakness or patellar maltracking.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Glad to have you back.

The answers to your queries are as follows:

It is the second option.
Try using any sacroiliac belts that are easily available.
Yes, you should wear the belt and remove it only while bathing.
I cannot clearly view the pelvis belt that you are wearing (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity).

I hope this helps. Do get back in case you have any further queries.

Thank you.