What is hip OA pain like?

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Brief history: went to GP in February with hip pain, had x-rays and I have "quite advance" OA of both hips and was given pain killers.  I still have the pain and the pain killers don't really work so went back to GP and was referred to local hospital and had more x-rays done, I have an appointment with the consultant in 3 weeks time.  The 'background' pain I am experiencing is pain in the groin (pantie line) when walking and sitting.  The pain is worse when bending down (picking up dog poo) when I also feel pain in the buttock.  Every now and again at least weekly I have episodes of extreme pain, today's pain occurred after visiting the hairdresser.  Very painful to stand and then walk (very embarassing too).  It eased slightly with walking but sitting down and standing up and putting weight on the leg is very painful.  The pain is in the groin, extending to the inner thigh down to the knee and also sometimes at the front of the thigh and feels like muscle spasms even though the muscles are not tense, is this typical of hip OA?  If the pain lasts through the night, I am unable to sleep, even with pain meds.

Sorry about the long post, but I am worried that if I end up needing a THR it might not remove these very painful symptoms.

2

Hi Wendy

you will have to trust in your consultant. Everyone's pain seems to be different but I can say that most people report almost instant relief after a THR. I suspect that as you start having problems in your hip, you may begin to compensate and use your leg/ joint differently which will lead to developing a new range of pains. 

Personally I tell all my friends that if anyone ever offers them a THR they should accept it as it is an amazing operation with such a high success rate.  

Keep us posted on how you are doing and keep yourself as comfortable and rested as you can until you get the help that you need.  

Regards 

laura 

3

You have all the classic symptom and it sounds like bone on bone once you have had the op it will be a different type of pain, of course you will feel uncomfortable but with the right pain killers you will so much better, remember that we are h ere if you want to a have a rant, you will get a lot of support on this site, I am hoping to have my left hip done in Nov, and you will make lots of friendsxx

4

Hi Wendy. I have OA of spine and now mod to severe in my left hip and mild to right hip.

For me the pain in my left hip is all in the groin and so severe at first i thought i had a hernia!

This pain affects the front of the thigh with nipping type sensation particularly in walking on even slight incline and going up steps is particularly bad.

According to msk assessor the pain is unique to each individual and not indicative of how much oa you have.

I have been referred to ortho and been suggested as suitable candidate for resurfacing rather than thr.

5

Yes, you have classic pain, at least it matches mine. I'm a couple of steps ahead of you. I've been to GP, had consultation with orthopedic surgeon, and been on pain pills, received a cortisone shot last Wednesday. For me, the shot has helped 100%. But it's only a bandaid, it doesn't fix anything. Building up my courage fir actual surgery.

6

It was so annoying.

#1 I had butt cheek pain, which if you think about it your butt cheek is the back of the hip. I never ever made this connection and I experienced a slow gradual degrading of my hip giving me the butt cheek pain and I never knew that that was why my right butt cheek hurt. Laying down was bad, sitting was bad.

#2 it wasn't until I started having pain inside the hip joint that radiated out through the side of my hip that I figured out that it was my hip. Actually more debilitating than my arthritc hip was tendonitis of the IT band. It was so bad it turned into tendonosis. Thankfully my surgen repaired this during my THR and I only have a small bit of pain on that tendon which I will have for the rest of my life.

Since you are going to the doctor anyway and you are compaining of groin pain ask your doctor to touch your Psoas Muscle, which is in your groin to check to make sure you don't have tendonitis of the Psoas Muscle. 

Test for Tendonitis of the Psoas Muscle yourself.

#1 Lay flat on your back on the bed, heel on the mattress toes pointed up, keeping your knee straight and only using your hip muscles-- raise your heel off the mattress (a straight leg lift).

#2 Lay flat on your back on the bed, heel on the bed, toes pointed up (to start), slowly drag your heel towards your butt, keeping your heel in contact with the mattress and bending your knee.

If you can't do #1 at all, or can raise your heel just a little bit but with a lot of pain, AND you can do #2 with no problem you most likely have tendonitis of the Psoas Muscle.

Orthopedic surgeons are the ones who treat tendonitis, as they do bones and the muscles and tendons that attach to the bones, and tendonitis is little rips and tears in the tendons and or muscles. As long as you are having a visit with an Orthopedic Surgeon anyway, ask him to evaluate you for tendonitis as well. Some of those symptons you describe can also be tendonitis, not related to your bad hip.

I had both, Tendonitis of the IT Band (thick tendon that runs on the outside of your leg from the hip to the knee) and I had Osteo Arthritis of my hip bone. About 2 weeks after my THR I developed Tendonitis of the Psoas Muscle. It took abou 3, 3/12 weeks but thankfully my tendonitis of the Psoas Muscle healed up and I have had no further problem with it.

Best of luck to you and I hope you do not have tendonitis.

7

Thanks for the replies.  I have been watching this forum since going to the doctor, and have found it to be a very supportive forum with lots of advice.  I will just need to wait and see what the consultant advises.  My one worry on the horizon is that my daughter would like me to accompany her to Japan for a holiday in 2 years time, the flight is 11 hours long!! so I will need to be able to sit for long periods of time (unlike now where 15 mins at my computer or passenger in the car gives me a lot of pain).  So although aTHR is major surgery (I watched a video, a bit scary) I would rather get it over and done with, rather than putting it off.

8

Wendy, you could be me, I could be you, our symptoms are identical. I struggled through the last year with pain killers and resting, haven't worked since Sept 14. I had my first THR on 30th of June and half of me is now back to normal, well, as normal as you get with a fake hip! I am waiting for number 2 in Jan 16 and all that horror in my hips will be gone. unfortunately my lower back is also affected.

9

Hi Wendy ur pain sounds identical to me. I also have se ere advanced OA & cannot wait for my op this day 5 weeks on 25th September & 2nd hip maybe December. I too can't get pain killers to relieve the horrendous bone on bone pain. According to all the posts on here that pain will be behind us after the THR. Naturally we are bound to feel pain from the healing would & implant but I seriously doubt it can be any worse than what we are current experiencing. Good luck with your consultation & here's hoping you get called for your op very soon. X

10

Wise, wise decision.

11

Hi Kate, good luck and fast healing.  I also, have some degeneration of my lower spine which results in a constant back ache, but luckily I find I can cope with it.  This hip pain does get me down though.  I will have to just wait and see what the consultant says.

12

HI Wendy, it is very painfull, and your gait shortens, then gets almost so bad that you hate to walk, it really gets worse so quickly, and no painkillers will really help, it is shockingly painfull, and makes you sick with the pain....I am past it all now as have had both sided implanted.... So happy and pain free!!! Ian.

13

Hi Ian, I have read your posts and you are doing really well with your recovery, I assume the fitter you are before, the quicker or more easily heal.  I have been suffering with hip pain since the end of 2014 with it gradually worsening, and I am really surprised how quickly muscle mass and strengh is lost in the affected leg.  one thing I have noticed on this forum, is how many more "young" people are affected.  I am 54 yrs and didn't expect to suffer with joint problems until my late 60's and 70's.

14

Hi Wendy

all I can say is ditto to all the above. 

You sound  like I used to!

dont let them fob you off. Get them done. I would myself do one at a time. I don't know how those of you out here had them done at the same time - I think you are amazing. 

If if you do it now you should be fighting fit for your trip ✈️✈️✈️✈️

Good luck what ever you decide

carol 😄 x

15

Hi Wendy, I also have OA and suffered the same symptoms. Add in low back ache, unable to sit comfortably, unable to sleep due to pain, unable to climb stairs without baby stepping. Finally I'm pain free since my hip replacement in March of this year. I was hoping the pain would just go away but it got progressively worse. After five years of misery I said enough is enough and hd my life changing surgery. I'm totally pain free now and got my life back.

16

Dear Wendy, 

Welcome to this wonderul "family" - You probably already found out that we share our personal stories and expriences, priceless advice, tips and information with support and love nowhere else to be found ...

Same here in regards to these pains - nothing I can add to the previous posts -

In 2 years time you will be good to go to Japan and enjoy this trip to the fullest and painfree!!!

What a great inentive!

Please do not hesitate to ask away ... 

warm hug

renee