vol

I recently developed some hip pain on one side, which I'm 100% sure is caused by cycling, especially I felt it more after yesterday's long ride, and the area is exactly the part that drives my pedaling the hardest when I'm riding up a slope (or raise the gear). From the anatomy pictures, it seems to be around the head of the femur (where the hip connects the thigh). It's only the left side that hurts, and when I'm in certain positions or make certain movements. I'm riding a hybrid bike in upright position. I can't figure out what's wrong with my pedaling, but apparently something improper, since you are not supposed to have such pain just because of pedaling hard?

Any clues/tips what's the problem and how to correct/avoid it will be much appreciated!

It's nice and sunny and warm today and I wish to ride more

10 Wheels

My wife suffers from hip pain.
MRI showed it was a sciatic condition in her lower back, not in the hip.

Nightshade

yes, go to a chiropractor to get it adjusted.

vol

That sounds more serious than I thought. Is hers related to cycling? When I am sitting, it doesn't hurt, but it hurts when I am sneezing.

niccig

This sounds identical to an injury I had from running. It turned out to be bursitis that was induced/aggravated by the muscles in my left hip being weaker than the right. A few months of exercises prescribed by the physical therapist fixed it right up. Have to disclaim that I'm not anything even close to a doctor, and you should probably visit a good sports medicine clinic since their advice is bound to be way better than mine

10 Wheels

No, she does not cycle.

vol

Could well be similar to your case. Thanks for mentioning bursitis--I looked it up and found some useful info. In my case it also hurts when going down the stairs, maybe more than upstairs. I begin to think it's not from pedaling hard, but from sitting on the saddle for too long, even though my saddle is a relatively very comfortable one. I remember my butt felt so uncomfortable from the long sitting during the ride yesterday that I let off one hand so that I could sit more upright. Maybe I should lower my saddle a little. Now I also got another good reason to stop and dismount at every red light!

Sixty Fiver

Is the point over your hip tender or painful to the touch ?

If so it could be an IT band issue which can be remedied by backing off a little and making sure these muscles are kept limber and sometimes an anti inflammatory may be prescribed as it is a form of inflammation.

My back problems cause bio mechanical issues where muscles that work compensate for muscles that don't so have experienced some IT band pain which can be excruciating.

vol

Not really; if there is any pain to the touch, it's very very slight, like a very minor bruise feeling. Does that count? It hurts when walking downstairs (maybe also upstairs), or when I sneezes while seated (maybe triggering some nerves?). Hurts especially after a night's rest and stand/walk on the floor after getting up in the morning. Also if I stand on only the left leg and bend the knee (the hip, not the knee, hurts). I saw some articles (such as this one) mentioning trochanteric bursitis as a condition some cyclists suffer; maybe? I just lowered my saddle a little--it may have been too high.

What's intriguing is that I used to bike much more than now many years ago (different bike) and don't remember suffering this kind of pains. And consider so many people commute by bike every day and are fine, I'm guessing improper bike set-up such as too high saddle may be part of the culprit. Saddle too low, knee injury; saddle too high, hip pain.

Wake

+1

Captain Blight

Try moving the nose of your saddle away from the affected side a degree or two. Really helped for me.

vol

But what about the people on road bikes? They all have high saddle positions

Thanks. Will give it a try.

UberGeek

This is my experience.

I had the same issue. I focused while riding on proper cadence, and not "mashing" the pedals. I also reduced my mileage a little bit for a couple of days.

It cleared up, and I now try to maintain proper cadence, and the issue has not come back (yet).

rogerstg

+1, it feels sore at the ball joint.
FWIW, the upright riding style of a hybrid puts a lot of pressure on the lower back.

vol

Update:

After I lowered the saddle, no more pain. Now 4 months later, when I almost had forgotten this incidence, one day (3 days ago) I carried heavy loads of grocery walking only 2-3 blocks, and this pain was back the next morning! So it seems 4 months were not long enough for it to have completely healed, even though I did not feel any pain or discomfort. It is probably hip bursitis, according to this:

"The trochanteric bursa may be inflamed by a group of muscles or tendons rubbing over the bursa and causing friction against the thigh bone. Your Iliotibial band goes from the iliac crest of your pelvis down the outer side of your thigh and attaches just below the knee. A tight Iliotibial band can lead to trochanteric bursitis. This injury can occur with running, walking, or bicycling, especially when the bicycle seat is too high."

Now the pain is gone after 3 days. Obviously, I'll have to be careful for at least half year from now not to carry heavy loads.

Machka 

OK ... so you're good at looking things up on the computer ... and apparently you like diagnosing yourself with whatever you've read ...


But what did Your Doctor say about it?