repeatedly misdiagnosed hip pain with a happy ending

Jodycat

I've love it if someone here repeated my experience.  

I've had severe pain in, I would say, my hips for about two years.  I couldn't walk more than a quarter of a mile, and while in England this spring I acquired a cane to lean on.  I was living in East Oxford and going into my college in central-north Oxford.  There's about a quarter of a mile gap between where one bus leaves one off and then the northward picks one up.  With one thing and another, I was walking a very painful mile a day when it was all added up.  At least at the beginning.

I'd often had some discomfort, but when it started getting bad I went to a highly recommended surgeon in Houston, who ordered large amounts of scanning.  The result:  arthritis but not bad enough for replacements.  

Over the last year it's seemed to have gotten worse, and starting femara may have made it still worse.  So I was thinking I was close to immobilized and would have to get replacements.  

But, while I was in England, I decided that since I had extra time living alone, I'd look out for some yoga or pilates.  I don't believe in most new age therapies, for the record, but have liked my experiences with these two.  I tried a few places and ended up seeing a yoga therapist at Eau de Vie, on the Cowley Rd, Oxford.  The biggest result is that she pointed out that where I was having pain was really the ileic (sp?) amd it was pretty clearly muscle pain from my sitting at a desk for nearly 50 years.  So she gave me some exercises, and the pain is increadibly reduced and nearly gone.  After all the pain I've had, I found I was very frightened about walking, but I've managed nearly a straight mile pretty easily.  

I also had back pain which the doctor said was in part due to my landing smack on my tailbone about two years ago in a kitchen accident.  Again, the yoga therapist gave me some exercises and it is nearly gone.  There is a non-trivial theory behind particularly the back exercises, about the importance of the facia (I think it is).  I was very surprised that simple movements and breathing could have such an effect

I still probably will need a knee replacement soon, but comparatively speaking, I'm feeling great.

By the way, the therapist's name is Anita.  She's recommended that I find someone who does cranial-sacral therapy here in Houston.   I'm really not advertising for Anita; I'm just very grateful.

AnneW

It's amazing what muscle imbalances will do to us. So often we spend a fortune on scans and referrals, only to find the simplest of answers. I'm glad you've had such a good outcome!

DianaNM

I'm having terrible hip pain that hasn't been diagnosed as well. I am going to an integrative doctor and they have yoga therapy, but couldn't get an appointment until July 30. Thanks for posting this.

Jodycat

Anne W: Yes!



Diana, best wishes for great relief.



Kayb, it is good to hear about another's good fortune. Our experiences were very similar.

fujiimama

SO glad to read this. I have been doing physical therapy for about a month. A few weeks ago one of the therapists tore at a huge section of scar tissue. My back has been buggin me since. I have the same issue with pelvic tilts etc. They were trying to get me a tangeirs device (little elctrode muscle stimulator thingy) Now my surgical onc is in a panic and wants me to get a PET. Sure whatever. I had so much scar tissue built up on my rib cage that it was actually pulling my spine into a .5 degree twist and flattening what is supposed to be an s curve. Can't move that much supporting structure without expecting other areas to get grumpy. I'll let you guys know next week if I've got the same story.

proudtospin

I had pain in my right hip, then a trainer at my gym showed me some stretches (he had been a chiropractors asst in past life)

the stretches were simple yoga type but have worked tremendously so that the woman who gives me massages, can tell the difference in my hips

good luck

Leah_S

I had increasing stiffness and achiness from the Femara/Aredia combo I'm on. I started to take a beginner's yoga class and within a fairlt short period of time it began to improve. I started the class in Feb and would say I have about a 90-95% improvement. Also, my agility has improved and my ROM in my surgery-side arm is almost normal.

The class is almost all women in their 50s-60s so it's a gentle yoga class. The teacher is very good at modifiying poses for those with any problems and offering suggestions where appropriate to help those problems if she can. She changes stuff for me so I don't stress my LE arm so I don't have worries in that area, either.

Leah