Ok i'm new to this!! For the past 6 years i have had left hip pain on and off. Recently, my right hip has went the same way, but unlike previous times with my left hip, i am struggling to recover!! I'm in alot of pain, find it hard to move around sometimes. The joint isn't swollen and an xray showed nothing as did blood tests. I have all the classic symptoms of this condition so why wont my doctor listen to me? Atm i have no diagnosis and am awaiting to see the Osteopath but have been on the list a long time. I've been off work since September and feeling really down as i have no diagnosis!! Anyone else had the same or similar problems?
Yes, I've had exactly the same problem. I've got it in one hip, both knees and lower back. Been to the doctors loads of times and all of them just say take paracetamol!! It's a joke! So much for the NHS! I've started exploring natural remedies and have found that Holland and Barret's Glucosamine, Chondroitin and MSM give me quite a lot of relief. So does Flexiseq which you might want to explore too. Anything is worth a try because lying in bed all night wracked with pain is no joke, and during the day not being able to do normal things because of the pain is awful and depressing. Good Luck!! Christina
Think yourself lucky Kimmy!
I have the opposite problem. I was unfortunate enough to have degenerative changes show up on x-ray and so they took the easy way out and diagnosed me with hip OA. Stopped looking for the real cause.
Chances are that you simply have some muscle imbalances and movement impairments that are putting strain on the soft tissue around your hip. Look into trigger point therapy (a DIY solution - goolge it!!) and see if that gives you any relief. If it does, then that will probably throw up some clues as to what's wrong.
Maybe if you describe the symptoms in more detail. Where is the pain? What does it feel like? What makes it better? What makes it worse? Do you have restricted range of motion? What do you do for a living (or hobbies) - in other words, what is your typical day like - lots of walking? Lots of sitting?
It's the fact i've been off work!! Thanks i will look into that Christina
Sorry if that sounded like i wish to have this!! Wasnt meant to sound that way, but i'm looking at every angle now. The NHS is a total joke. Just keep throwing painkillers at me. I'm sorry to hear th NHS have let you down also!! The pain is from my hip joint, thigh and sometimes buttocks. Sometimes the pain is bearable, but on other occasions i cant even describe tha pain!! But i'm sure you can relate. I work as a pupil support assistant, dealing with kids with special needs so it's very physical at times and i do enjoy walking and cycling (the cycling has been put on hold atm) I am on my feet alot at work. Because i've been off since Sept i'm not on my feet as much, but on the days i do go for a walk, climb stairs etc i'm in agony!! I'm just totally clutching at straws here. I feel the doctor has just written me off and won't properly listen to me. Sorry for droning on Susan!! I hope your on the mend and not in too much pain. Thanks for replying.
Christine would you mind me asking if you live a relatively normal life? I just feel like mines is on hold atm. I"m normally very outgoing, but just feel embarrassed because i can't walk very far and i also limp!! Do you limp as well?
Oh - don't take that the wrong way!!
The pain is very real and absolutely you need more than being fobbed off with pain killers. My point really is that if they diagnosed OA you wouldn't be any better off. Worse off in fact as they wouldn't even be prepared to consider other causes for your symptoms.
I'd look up trigger point therapy if I were you. There's a very good booked called the Trigger Point Workbook. You look up the source of your pain and it will tell you which mucles it's likely to be referring from. You simply use massage (do it yourself - it's all explained) on little 'knots' in the muscles. This can give instant relief so really it's worth gettign started on right away. No risk; no cost.
I'd go as far as to say that ANYONE that has pain will have at least some trigger point involvement. Simply because pain will in itself cause you to tense up and that sets off painful trigger points. I'm sure it will give you some relief.
I will defo look into that Susan. I just want back to work but it's looking unlikely atm. Walking can be excruciating!! I see what your saying. If i could afford to go private i would!! Thanks so much. I feel better already just speaking on here.
Just to add - I don't have pain or symptoms any more. Contrary to my doctors claims that I had incurable OA it was just a bunch of muscle imbalances - with pain and stiffness caused by resulting trigger points.
This is somethign that doctors and even NHS physios know nothing about. All they know is drugs and surgery. If they can't justify surgery then all you'll get is drugs. There are no other options as far as they are concerned!!!
Hi Kimmy. So sorry to hear you're in such pain, I really sympathise. Also very sorry to hear you're having such difficulty trying to get a diagnosis. To be honest even if you had a firm diagnosis of OA, they won't do much else other than tell you to take over the counter (OTC) meds like ibuprofen or paracetamol, which sometimes help but often cause severe stomach issues, even if you take a stomach protector meds alongside. I've given up on otc painkillers, they cause me too many problems and don't really take the pain away anyhow. I also take Gluco/chondr/msm combined, I get the liquid form from Holland and Barratt. I've also started taking Hyaluronic Acid in tablet form, which is good for joints, skin, eyes, etc. My local homeopathic store recommended it and said its wonderful for restoring joint flexibility. I've only been taking it a week so too early to tell if it's going to work. There are two other things which really do work - fresh ginger, both taken orally (I brew it into a tea with lemon and honey) and rubbed onto the painful area (I mince/grate it and mix with body oil and rub in. The last is frankinsence - I buy the essential oil, put a few drops into a 'carrier' oil like sweet almond or argan oil or even baby oil and massage it into the painful areas. It takes the edge of the pain within a very short time and the whole area feels less inflamed. Hope you find something that works for you soon. xx
Thank you so much Loxie. I'm only 37. Always been fit and healthy, so as you can imagine i'm not taking this very well!! Doctors just seem content to let me leave the surgery with Tramadol, cocodamol and diclofenic. Great for numbing the brain, but not the pain!! I'm going on the Holland and Barratt website now. Thanks xx
So glad your not in pain now!! Im hoping i'm going to be the same soon and can get back to my hectic life!!
Hi Kimmy
I had a bit of a job to get my GP to refer me to the hospital bet he did.He had been telling me there was nothing wrong with my hip/leg {I hadnt even thought arthritis}
On going to thre hospital.....diagnosed with OA in both hips. MRI's show arthritis in lots of other places....ankle, lower spine, neck etc
I did have a THR but I was 60 then.
I'm on paracetamol and naproxen, get cortisone injections, physio, nd some accupuncture from the physio dept at the hospital.
Thats all I can tell you really
I'm sorry you are suffering so much at such a young age
Love
Eileen UK
Thanks so much for taking the time to reply Eileen. The thing is my blood tests and xray haven't shown any signs of arthritis, but i've been told osteoarthritis maybe wouldn't show? I"m hoping my appointment with the osteopath is sooner rather than later!! I hope your not suffering too much Eileen.
Do be careful with those meds. Tramadol is highly addictive and cocodamol is grim for constipation etc. Diclofenac causes acid so make sure you take a stomach protector such as omeprazole or similar alongside it. I find it unacceptable that all we are often given is health damaging opiates or NSAIDs. I wasn't given the opportunity of physio or acupuncture. I did have a cortisone injection in my hand but I don't recommend it, number one its horrendously painful and number two, the effects lasted such a short time, it wasn't worth it. Do look into hyaluronic acid, it's stated that Hyaluronic acid works by acting as a cushion and lubricant in the joints and other tissues. In addition, it might affect the way the body responds to injury. I asked whether it was better to buy it in topical form (ie to rub onto the skin) or oral (taken by tablet) and the homeopath said he always recommends taking it orally. I bought a tablet which is a combination of HA and Chondroitin, so let's see if it works at all.
Fingers x'd for you Loxie. Funny your saying that about diclofenic. I havent been given any stomach protectors, but recently i've been wakened in the night with acid!! That'll be the next thing i ask for. I will try anything to feel better as atm i feel my life is lost!! Good luck and thanks for your reply.
Our local swimming pool runs trigger point classes. Unfortunately they are during the day at times I can't get to because of work. I did manage to go along to one on a day off and it was very good and not at all painful. As Susan has said, it's all about doing little exercises that apply pressure and massage to various 'trigger points' in the body to loosen up knotted muscles and trapped nerves etc. All very simple so no difficult techniques to master. After I'd been along I bought a rubber ball similar to that used by the instructor, to use at home, it's very good for shoulder and lower back pain although I didnt find it quite so helpful for sciatic pain in my lower joints. Certainly worth a try though as it's total safe and not at all harmful.
I wasn't either Kimmy, then I started getting horrendous acid reflux and heartburn so I went back and asked why and was told 'oh, you shouldnt be taking NSAIDs without them'....hmf, thanks a bunch. In the end naproxen and diclofenac both caused horrible diarrhoea and other issues, so I dumped them 
Jeezo. Why are things never plain sailing? I'm at the giving up stage. I have no idea what to do next!!
Well at least you've found this forum, with all of us fellow sufferers, some of which have found solutions so hopefully you will too soon. Don't give up, continual pain is soul destroying but there's so much good advice on here from those who've found ways to help. Don't forget the 'squeaky hinge gets oiled' concept - ie keep badgering your doctor perpetually, and don't be fobbed off by just a hastily written prescription and a push out of the door 'cos that's their preferred method of getting shot of you. Keep pestering your doctor for an early referral to the osteopath, try telling them you'll cost them more by keep taking up their time until you get some treatment and it'll be cheaper to get you seen sooner - £££ signs usually work. When I had a trapped nerve in my trapezial muscle, I got referred to a private sports massage therapist for three free sessions under the NHS. Because it was a private practice, I got an appointment within a week or two. Ask for that too. You may have OA but you may also have a trapped sciatic nerve, which is hell on earth. Basically be a nuisance until they get you help. I really feel so bad for you, it's so unfair at your young age you should be suffering so much. Good luck