Bursitis help

caraellen23

Hi ladies,

I'm hoping someone can help.  I've had hip pain for a long time, over a year.  It started during training for a triathlon last summer.  Last November, FSIL (who is a doctor) did a quick exam and told me I had bursitis in my hip (along with recurring sciatica in both legs that is really annoying).  She prescribed heavy ibuprophen and rest for two weeks.  I didn't quite get through the two weeks.  Since then, I've amped up the workouts as I gained a few pounds around the holidays last year and really wanted to lose them and a few more before the wedding.  But the pain is really, really starting to get to me.  I'm constantly sore. I limp when I stand up until the soreness eases.  I can't sit with my legs crossed, going up steps is painful, and I can't sleep on my side. In fact, the pain wakes me up at night.  I know I need to see a doctor, but I'm frustrated because I'm 6 weeks away from my wedding and if I can't workout, it would be so easy to slip and gain the weight back.  I'm doing a lot of running because I feel I get the most bang for my buck.  Can I still get good cardio results from spin and swimming? Those are okay for hips right?

Has anyone had any experience with bursitis? Any tips, ideas, help?  I'm really at my wits end.  And I'm quitting running after the wedding! :-(

Thanks!

arwo

Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor! My experience with injuries is first-hand, so I only know what worked for me.

I had some (mild) bursitis in my knee several years ago. It wasn't chronic (as yours seems to be) but my PCP, a sports-medicine specialist, suggested strengthening the muscles around my knee. She said it would take some of the "pressure" off of the bursa sac getting irritated. I haven't had any problems with it for years.

Besides the treatment you're already doing, maybe you could try some strengthening exercises for the muscles around your hips (hip flexors, adductors, etc.)? I don't know any off-hand, but I bet you could google for them. And in the meantime, I think swimming and other exercises that don't hurt your hip sound like a fine idea.

[Deleted User]

i agree with PP I have had bursitis in my shoulder and strengthening the muscles around and stretching the muscles in my shoulder eased the pain. i do still get an occasional pain but nothing compared to before
as for spin and swimming both are good choices for cardio, but remember to stretch and strengthen those surrounding muscles as well

kayakrunhike

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_bursitis?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:238Discussion:c77b5f50-2f99-43df-8ee1-fe936b856e0cPost:81a1c210-7ce6-4f5b-aac1-043a7191e096">Re: Bursitis help</a>:
[QUOTE]Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor! My experience with injuries is first-hand, so I only know what worked for me. I had some (mild) bursitis in my knee several years ago. It wasn't chronic (as yours seems to be) but my PCP, a sports-medicine specialist, suggested strengthening the muscles around my knee. She said it would take some of the "pressure" off of the bursa sac getting irritated. I haven't had any problems with it for years. Besides the treatment you're already doing, <strong>maybe you could try some strengthening exercises for the muscles around your hips (hip flexors, adductors, etc.)?</strong> I don't know any off-hand, but I bet you could google for them. And in the meantime, I think swimming and other exercises that don't hurt your hip sound like a fine idea.
Posted by arwo[/QUOTE]

I have never had it officially diagnosed, but I played soccer for many years (it hurts on my main kicking leg), and I've had pain like you described for almost 10 years.  It comes and goes, esp with weight fluctuations and depending on whether I'm running or not. 

I was diagnosed with Hoffa's disease a few months ago, which deals with your knee cap sliding around.  the doc prescribed some leg strengthening exercises, for the muscles around my knees, along with the hip flexors and abductors.  I noticed after several weeks of doing the exercises daily that my hip barely hurt at all.  I would definitely go talk to your doctor, there is no reason you should deal with this kind of pain.  I don't know if they will tell you to completely stop working out or not, though.  If nothing else, google some of those exercises and see if it helps. 

Btw, I had my knee pain for months before our wedding and HM.  I didn't want to see the doc bc I *knew* he would tell me I couldn't go hiking, which was exactly what we planned on doing during our HM in Colorado.  My DH ended up carrying me down the mountain, all bc I wanted to help carry the heavier pack.  We literally wobbled, hopped, cried and cursed our way down 4 miles and 3k feet.  Take care of yourself and don't be as stubborn as I was!

raynes

Get your butt to the doctor and focus on keeping your diet in check.  A wedding is no excuse to aggravate an injury that could adversely affect you later if it's not taken care of.  Stop focusing on your wedding and start focusing on your marriage.  The wedding is one day, being healthy and active for your marriage is for life.

caraellen23

Thanks for the feedback and advice ladies!  Don't worry, I will be making a visit to my doctor.  The way things go....visiting my PCP, getting a referral, getting an appointment with an ortho or a specialist, it might not all go down until after the wedding anyway.  But I will put things in motion, as this is ridiculous.  Hopefully they'll just prescribe PT to strengthen all the hip muscles and that'll be that.  What an annoyance!

ETA: I made an appointment with an ortho for two weeks from today, hopefully they'll send me to PT! Thanks!

tychandler

I have been having hip pain from running as well.  I haven't been to the doctor, but I did notice my running shoes were worn on one side, so I bought a pair of new ones for overpronaters and I am hopeful it will help. I haven't had a chance to break them in because my hip pain is still pretty bad.  Have you tried new running shoes?