Fifty Plus (50+) - Having a lot of trouble with my left hip!

Having a lot of trouble with my left hip!

I've never had any "age-related" aches and pains.

However, about 20 years ago, I was lifting a rock and knew right away that I had done something to my left hip. OUCH!! The pain was so bad I couldn't walk. So, I checked out my friendly physical therapist and got diagnosed with acute bursitis - inflammation and injury to the bursa in the hip.

So, I have been a bit careful of that left hip ever since. But it has never bothered me in any way while riding.

The last two years, I have been increasingly aware of the need to be careful with that hip, and have had occasional pain.

About 3 weeks ago, I fell while walking down a steep hill that turned out to be ice instead of mud - right on that left hip. I also wrenched my back out of whack and ended up walking sort of sideways for a week or so, OW!

I have been fighting it ever since. Some rather severe pain at times. Aggravated by any heavy pedaling or by walking on cement.

Yesterday, I was with the wife at her rheumatologists, and I asked if she treated bursitis. She responded "Yes" but suggested I give my hip about 4 more weeks of recovery. So, if it isn't better, I will go and see her. She uses physical therapy and injections, among other things, I guess.

I have been doing a lot of swimming lately (about an hour per day of laps) and that helps to relieve the pain. Today, I swam an hour, walked a mile (mostly on dirt or grass) lifted weights (upper body) and did a 40 minute bike ride. Right now, sitting while typing this, I am totally pain free.

Well, I don't quite know why I am writing this, come to think of it.

Have a great day!:D

Ouch! I occasionally (every couple of years) suffer from bursitis in my left
shoulder. I can sympathize with what you must be going through. 800 mg.
of Ibuprofin every six hours for about five days usually helps me out quite
nicely (as per the Doc's orders the first couple of times). Best of luck to you
Denver.

Ouch! I occasionally (every couple of years) suffer from bursitis in my left
shoulder. I can sympathize with what you must be going through. 800 mg.
of Ibuprofin every six hours for about five days usually helps me out quite
nicely (as per the Doc's orders the first couple of times). Best of luck to you
Denver.

Since I am on aspirin (required) adult dose daily, I can't take Vitamin I.

Tylenol is about the only OTC I can take, along with the aspirin. And it does help, although I hate to take too much aspirin.

Dang, Dnvr, sorry to hear that. If the pain persists, be sure to get it checked out. Avascular necrosis is all too common from old hip injuries.

I have been suffering with frozen shoulders and sore hip for over 2 years. I recently found a supplement that seems to be working great for me. I knew within 3 days that it was helping with the soreness and pain. If you are interested do a search on serraflazyme. It only cost about $12 for 100 tablets which made me give it a try. As soon as my pain was reduced enough I started taking yoga classes. The yoga helps get the mobility back and also helps with balance and many other things such as core strength which are all useful in bike riding.

Heal up quick. Pain is no fun but riding is.

I'm not well-versed on things medical, so don't take any of my recommendations as being medically sound.

I am also on an 81-mg aspirin dosage. But when I am real sore, I still take ibuprofen. There is data that indicates the aspirin affect is reduced when taking ibuprofen, so I take the aspirin before going to bed and the ibuprofen in the morning and afternoon. Data suggests that I will lose some of the effectiveness of the aspirin this way, but I should still be getting a good portion of the benefit, while helping to reduce the inflammation in my joints.

I wouldn't do it over an extended period, but over short terms, I don't worry much about it. The aspirin aren't needed for day to day survival, their benefit is a long-term one.

Here's some data on the interaction:
http://www.fda.gov/CDER/Drug/infopage/ibuprofen/science_paper.htm

Based on my experience with bursitis, time can do wonders........if you avoid aggravating it again during the recovery period.

TOM - My aspirin is NOT 81mg, it is 324 mg, and I take it in association with a cardiac ablation I had 2.5 years ago. Big, big difference.

But, thanks for the info.

Hello Dnvr.

I'm so sorry to hear that you are hurting. I'm sending some positive thoughts your way.
I wish I had some suggestions but I don't have that kind of knowledge. Hang in there ....this growing old stuff is a challenge.

Wishing you a speedy recovery,

James

I went to my DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) today.

He checked me over.

He believes it is not bursitis, but that my spine is terribly out of alignment from my fall. In fact, he exclaimed, as he touched my tailbone - this is a shear!

I don't quite know what a "shear" is in osteopathic terms, but he told me rather clearly that he rarely sees one, and that I must have fallen REALLY hard. I did. He showed me how it had pushed my hip joint up into my spinal area, and screwed everything up.

So he did some maneuvers, twisting and turning me this way and that, and some additional stretches, some Celebrex ($3.00 per pill) which I can take with my aspirin. He said I would be very sore from the manipulations. I see him tomorrow, and I hope that I will be ready for my trip this Saturday!

That DO sound painful!

I've never heard of such a thing. But it sounds like your doctor is well-versed on it and that you are in capable hands.

Another adjustment yesterday, feeling almost NO pain, BP 107/74 and off to New Mexico (Las Vegas [NM], Ruidoso and Carlsbad) this am, taking our bikes with us - but weather looks COLD! We may get to Tucson. Who knows?

I wonder if I had gone to a regular MD, if I would have been checked to see whether or not my spine alignment was all screwed up and had it realigned by manipulation, or if I would have been doped up on pain killers, never correcting the underlying problem?

Another adjustment yesterday, feeling almost NO pain, BP 107/74 and off to New Mexico (Las Vegas [NM], Ruidoso and Carlsbad) this am, taking our bikes with us - but weather looks COLD! We may get to Tucson. Who knows?

I wonder if I had gone to a regular MD, if I would have been checked to see whether or not my spine alignment was all screwed up and had it realigned by manipulation, or if I would have been doped up on pain killers, never correcting the underlying problem?

Most regular MD's just don't get spinal adjustment, and only see DO's as competition. And even DO's prescribe too many pain killers, I've been using a DO for nearly 10 years now, and really don't think I'd want to go back to a MD.

I'm glad to hear your manipulations got things back on track for you. Have a great trip :)

Hi Dnvr:
I wonder if this thread is a good place to share some information with other folks on this 50+ forum.

You have often warned about the dangers of Osteoporosis and excessive biking in the absence of weight bearing exercise. I have followed your advise and stepped up alternate exercise such as fast hiking and upper body exercise. I believe you were/are correct with that warning.

I like to introduce a warning of my own:
Weight bearing exercise can cause considerable pain for a long time if a wrong move is made. I and my loved ones have suffered years of pain from a wrong move under weight. Such as weight lifting or sudden movements under load. Lifting is the #1 culprit but we had big problems with unusual movements required by some exotic exercise machines.

None of this diminishes my hope that you will be well and the condition you report will get better. If I had that condition I would fight it with No load spinning and anti inflammatory drugs. If that does not help in 6 months, I would see a doctor.

Update:

Hip pain is about gone. Doc put me on lunges and some other stretching. I swim for about 15 minutes, then do most of my stretching in the warm waters of the pool (84.5F).

Taking no pain meds.

Riding again with no pain afterwards, doing weight lifting (but careful what and mostly HOW I do it).

Life is good :).

DnvrFox, Glad to see you have gotten past this.

Having a lot of trouble with my left hip!

Are you sure you want my medical opinion???? :p

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/palmettobug53/Young20Frankenstein.jpg

Glad your on the way to recovery-- pain is NEVER fun. Pedal on..................