Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group hip pain, labral tear? Anyone have this...

My hip pain has really gotten worse now. In a previous post I have read that a labral tear can cause clunking sound and pain the groin area. I have done some reading on it and it sounds like what I go thru with both of my hips my right is far worse then my left. It feels like my hip is going to dislocate sometimes if I move wrong. My hips have always popped but this is like a catching feeling, I can actually feel it clunk deep in the hip and it feels so unstable. I had an MRI done and I see my doc on the 25th to see what whats on the mris but does anybody have any experience with labral tears? Everything I've read say to take nsaids and ice it, been there and done that, with NO help what so ever.... I know there is physical therapy, but does that actually help? I know I have alot a questions but I am getting kind of nervous about this pain. It feels so unstable and I am getting nervous about it...Any ideas? I am also having what I think is sciatic pain in both of my legs also so I have a great combo going right now . It can get really bad, I sit at a desk all day and if I sit too long my foot goes numb and it really hurts or if I am driving anywhere more then 10 minutes it starts up. Which makes it really hard to get anywhere or do anything.. Could these be related in anyway? I am going to ask my doc on Tuesday, but you guys actually experience it, ya know... I just feel like I keep getting worse and worse....


Angie


Angie

Pain and numbness in the legs/feet that tend to increase if you sit over a certain amount of time is usually caused by a "herniated" or "protruded" disc (the cushions between your vertebras). The "car symptom" is quite classic. The only way to know for sure is to have it checked up though, and yes a PT can help you there.
There is a lot of things they can teach you to improve your sciatic symptoms (postural advice, exercises, workstation positioning). Some exercises that are usually good for the back will be bad for you so its important that you get it checked to make sure they teach you the right stuff. Dont go and start exercising on your own. You could make it worse.

As for the hip, it depends. For most joints, instability will be worse if there are also weak and stiff muscles around the joint. With AS, because of our SI problems, the muscles around the hip usually develop that problem. A lot of the hip muscles attach around the SI joint. Because those muscles can pull on the SI joint, your brain will have the reflex to shut them down, resulting in a weakness in the long term. Some other muscles might have been in spasms over a long period of time, making them stiff. This is a bad mix for a joint and will accelerate problems. A PT can evaluate your muscle strenght and flexibility around your hips and give you exercises to make them stronger and more flexible (as long as it doesnt trigger the SI pain).

I developped hip pain on my right side last spring. My problem isnt the same as you though, i do not beleive my hip is unstable but i have a muscle thats been in spasm (iliac muscle) quite a bit. I find it hard to get up from a chair and also get off my bed in the morning, my hip wants to stay bent. If i try to gently stretch the muscle, my SI flares up. Its very difficult to treat a hip if the SI joints are symptomatic. I hope your SI will be more compliant then mine and will allow you exercising.



Carole

Thanks alot for the info. I had an MRI done on my hips & SI and am seeing my doc soon. this sciatic pain is new and it just drives me crazy, it hurts so bad ontop of my "normal AS issues". I go between having to sit down becuase my back hurts to having to stand because my legs are going numb/hurting and tingeling. My hip feeling unstable just drives me nuts. Today at lunch I was standing in line to order my food and I shifted my weight alittle and I get this sudden sharp pain with a loud clunk in the groin area and I half expect hip hip to pop out of joint. When that happens it takes about 30 minutes for the pain to go away. I really hate that feeling...


Angie

Hi Angie,

I haven't read up on labral tears, but I do know and have had the same symptoms you are describing for about 20 years mostly in my left hip. I have had a number cortisone shots in it and have taken the 7 pack predisone tabs to help relief the pain during the worse flair ups. Most of the time people in the same room I am in will ask me if I am okay when they hear the crunching popping noise when I stand up or turn to bend over. One doctor who gave me a cortisone shot told me I would need a hip replacement in the future but that was almost 20 years ago and I keep going. I have found that doing some stretching exercises everyday seems to help by keeping those muscles stretched out. They are not hard to do because you can do them by bending forward while sitting in a chair or on the bed.

Ice is a big no no for me so I don't use it, soaking in a hot tub does wonders. There are some new medications out and one seems to be helping my sister it is called Skelaxin. She has not been complaining with her hips,legs or sciatica as much for a few months now.

Brent