My wife's hip

[Axis]

When did the hip pain start? She was doing some work around the house. I believe she pivoted and felt the acute pain.

Has she ever injured her hip? No

Was the onset of pain when your pain started sudden or gradual? Sudden

How about now? Still appears suddenly

What makes the pain worse other than running? Walking

Does anything make it better? Immobility

Where in your hip is the pain? Between the hip bone and the groin

Is there any swelling or redness? No

Does she have any other joint pains? Not presently. She has had problems with knee pain in the past.

Can you describe the pain? Sharp, shooting pain

Does she have any pre-existing hip or other medical issues? Gave birth three weeks ago

How old is she? 32

Do you feel generally healthy otherwise? Yes

Do you have any problems peeing or pooping? Nothing beyond what is expected after giving birth


Yesterday afternoon, my wife called me at work. She said her hip had "given out" and she was on the floor in pain and couldn't move. I came home right away. She was still on the floor.

I brought her some Ibuprofen and a heating pad. After about twenty minutes, she was able to gradually start moving and she eventually was able to get up and move to the couch. For the remainder of the day, she rested, for the most part, but when she gets up and tries to walk she gets an intense shooting pain, right around the hip bone (right side).

Last night, when she would roll in her sleep, periodically she would experience the same acute pain.

We suspect in might be related to all her bones and tissues repositioning following childbirth. Right now the plan is to take it easy for the rest of this weekend and if she hasn't improved, make a doctor's appointment next week.

Any ideas/suggestions?

[bryanc]

When did she have the baby? Was it a vaginal delivery? Any complications?

Hmm...I'm not sure you want to be posting the answer of these questions here...

Any signs of joints "giving out" though, are generally considered, "flag" symptoms. Don't wait to make the appointment. Do it now.

[Axis]

When did she have the baby? 2/24

Was it a vaginal delivery? Yes

Any complications? No

Hmm...I'm not sure you want to be posting the answer of these questions here...

I don't mind


Any signs of joints "giving out" though, are generally considered, "flag" symptoms. Don't wait to make the appointment. Do it now.

I agree. She can be stubborn, though, sometimes. We'll be spending some time with a PT tomorrow (my mom). Hopefully she'll give the same advice.

Thanks.

[Axis]

One more thing to add . . .

She just did some quadruped rocking (back straight, moving at the hips), and she was pain-free forward and backward through a full ROM.

Adduction and abduction seem to be what are causing the most pain.

[RobLL]

I recall reading that the ligaments, or something, in a woman about to give birth stretch or elongate. It may be wise to check with her ob/gyn doctor, and see if the problem is birth related, and whether or not it is self limiting, or needs attention.

[Jean-Paul]

My wife had severe hip pain during pregnancy all three times. It was so severe that it did put her on the floor, and she was in tears. Each time just one general hip soft tissue release resolved the problem.

It is actually really common while pregnant or shortly after birth. Besides the fact that they find themselves sitting a lot more in that last trimester, their bodies are also not their normal selves, and the awkward weight distribution affects their posture. Add to that the fact that their hormones are out of whack and you have a perfect storm for hip problems to occur.

The injury could have also started years ago, and was sped along by the pregnancy. As Bill likes to point out, our bodies were not really designed to sit, and that is what most of us do most of the time, which leads to what he calls "gluteal amnesia" (I love that term, and I use it all the time). It's not just a case of atrophy... It's a case of the glutes not firing at all, and other muscles trying to pick up the slack.

I'm not a physical therapist or orthopod, so when you read my advice keep that in mind.

First thing I would do is get it checked to make sure nothing tore, especially the ligaments in the hip. She's looking at hip replacement if that is the case, and the sooner you can establish this is or isn't the case the better.

She may just need a few session with a good ART person to alleviate the pain. That will only fix her current problem though, which is a symptom, and if she doesn't address the cause of the problem it will just keep coming back.

Just guessing wildly since I don't have much info, the fact that she has had knee problems in the past tells me that she problably has some lower leg, ankle, or foot weakness, and was probably an early warning of her future hip problems.