Fibro Feelings – Hip Pain Answers
Yesterday I got quite the surprise at my rheumatologist appointment. The last time I visited him I told him about the new continuous pain I was having in my right hip and upper leg area that had gotten worse over the previous weeks. He told me that if it was still going on in three weeks that he’d want to do an ultrasound and look more into it. My hip had looked normal in the x-rays I’d gotten within the last year or so. He even told me to book my appointment now and to just cancel it if it was feeling better. Honestly, when I scheduled the appointment I thought I’d end up canceling it.
Yesterday was that three week appointment. Over the past week I’d gotten a new symptom – a loud, low-pitched, painful pop from my hip/groin area twice when I was rearranging my sitting position while in my desk chair. Getting the ultrasound was painful and my rheumatologist took extra time examining the images he was getting. His conclusion? I probably have a torn labrum caused from when I fell and sprained my ankle two months ago!
I was shocked to hear this. Yes, I’ve had a lot of new pain, but I never thought it could be something this serious. I mean, sometimes people get surgery to repair these tears! If I hadn’t happened to have an appointment with my rheumatologist three weeks ago I probably wouldn’t have even mentioned it to a doctor for the first time until sometime around now. I couldn’t even figure out what could’ve caused the tear until The Helpful Hubby and I were talking it over. I had slight pain in the area when I was keeping my other leg elevated for the days following my fall, but it had mostly gone away and then got worse starting around two to three weeks later. What The Helpful Hubby reminded me was that when I fell it was my right foot that had tripped on the root and when I feel my leg was in an odd position.
My rheumatologist and I talked about options and decided that we’d try giving me a cortisone-lidocaine injection. Getting the shot was pretty painful for me, but my nurse was kind enough to hold my hand through it. As I started redressing my leg/hip pain felt worse than when I’d come in, but after a few minutes is started feeling better. Within 20 minutes or so I could walk without any pain again and I was super excited! A few hours later all the pain returned though and I’m wondering if I’m now having a “cortisone flare.” I’m going to call today and see what my rheumatologist’s nurse says.
Have you ever gotten a cortisone injection?
I thought this small ultrasound machine looked cute
Posted: November 17th, 2011 under Fibro Feelings.
Tags: Cortisone Injection, Hip, Labrum, Pain, Rheumatologist
Comments
Comment from HealingWell
Time November 17, 2011 at 9:49 am
I’ve had them in my knee for arthritis. You are right, they are very painful. Here’s hoping they can help find something to alleviate the pain so you can heal.
HealingWell recently posted: Book Giveaway: How Can You NOT Laugh at a Time Like This?
[Reply]
Comment from Kelby
Time November 17, 2011 at 10:10 am
That’s my diagnosis too! I’m getting my cortisone shot tomorrow morning. I have to be sedated because the pain from the contrast medium for the MRI was too painful. Maybe that’s the pain your feeling, from the injection?
Kelby recently posted: Hip News
[Reply]
Felicia Fibro Reply:
November 17th, 2011 at 11:45 am
Haha, even though I commented on your post about it I had forgotten that was the same issue you had! It is kind of funny because I wrote something to you about how painful it sounded…all the mean while I was going through the same thing! I think being sedated will make it much easier for you. I was holding my breath so much from the pain that the nurse kept telling me to breath.
[Reply]
Kelby Reply:
November 17th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
I’ll let you know whether the sedation was worth it!
Kelby recently posted: From scratch: Pumpkin Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Buttercream
[Reply]
Comment from karen
Time November 17, 2011 at 12:57 pm
Unfortunately, I am VERY familiar with cortisone shots. When I first started having chronic pain (it was probably fibro pain looking back now) it was in my neck, and I had 3 shots in my neck. Later, I developed Plantar Fascitis in both feet and have had multiple shots in each heel of my foot. FYI, the heel of your foot is NOT a pleasant place to get an injection. It is usually VERY sore for a day or so afterwards, so they had me ice it down but then the medicine would work and calm down the inflamation.
karen recently posted: Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop – 7 Wonders
[Reply]
Felicia Fibro Reply:
November 17th, 2011 at 8:02 pm
Glad to hear yours felt better afterwards. It’s been ~31 hours now, so I hope I start feeling better soon!
[Reply]
Comment from Jamee
Time November 17, 2011 at 6:57 pm
I had to have a cortisone shot in my shoulder one and it hurt soooo bad! Hope I don’t have to repeat it ever but with as much hip pain I am having I wonder if it will be in my future!
Jamee recently posted: What I Wore Wednesday
[Reply]
Felicia Fibro Reply:
November 17th, 2011 at 8:26 pm
Are you having hip pain now that is unrelated to your surgeries? =/
[Reply]
Comment from Displaced
Time November 17, 2011 at 7:49 pm
I’m with Karen – shots in both heels for plantar fasciitis – that pain was worse than childbirth! Although worth it ultimately as it solved a very painful ongoing condition. I have never experienced cortisone flare though. I hope this resolves it for you after your body settles down!
Displaced recently posted: Trudging through treacle…
[Reply]
Felicia Fibro Reply:
November 17th, 2011 at 8:03 pm
Thanks for sharing your experience and sending me well wishes!
[Reply]
Comment from karen
Time November 18, 2011 at 6:26 am
My urologist has one of those small ultrasound machines….uses that on me to check my bladder at my IC visits. They are pretty neat
karen recently posted: Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop – 7 Wonders
[Reply]
Felicia Fibro Reply:
November 19th, 2011 at 12:09 pm
I didn’t realize that ultrasounds were used to monitor IC, but that makes sense!
[Reply]
Karen Reply:
November 19th, 2011 at 8:09 pm
Oh yes…they’ve used it several times on me to check to see if my bladder empties completely, or for other abnormalities. It’s very useful for IC
Karen recently posted: Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop – 7 Wonders
[Reply]
Comment from aimee
Time November 19, 2011 at 6:18 am
How do I sign up to receive your blogs? I have recently been diagnosed with firbromyalgia and myofacial pain syndrome? I would definitely like a support group as 8 begin this journey!
[Reply]
Felicia Fibro Reply:
November 19th, 2011 at 12:08 pm
You can follow my RSS feed using http://feliciafibro.com/feed/ in a blog reader. Also, If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter you’ll see me share each new post.
I’m glad that now you’ve got some answers to the symptoms you’ve been having, although receiving the diagnosis can still be tough. Did you see my “Newly Diagnosed?” page (in the left column)? If you use Twitter, there is a huge community of support there that uses the hashtag #spoonie
[Reply]
Comment from Ruth Lamb
Time November 19, 2011 at 12:39 pm
I’ve had fibromyalgia for about 12 years. I have changed physicians and she (the physician) has put me on 90 mg of Cymbalta per day. I have seen so much improvement in my pain. Cold weather is not a good time for me usually with February being my worst month.
[Reply]
Felicia Fibro Reply:
November 19th, 2011 at 1:21 pm
I’m so glad to hear that Cymbalta is working for you since it doesn’t work for everyone!
[Reply]
Comment from Virginia
Time November 30, 2011 at 8:32 am
I’ve had FM before they ever gave it a name! I was told to go to a psychiatrist, it’s all in your head! My darling husband got politely up and said, “we’re leaving, I know my wife and she is suffering big time,” so as far as my husband was concerned if you can’t see it on the outside or in some particular test your nuts is that it!! So we went to a bunch of doctors that tried everything to help control something they knew at that time nothing about!! Finally we found a doctor that is now our reg. MD and I took a book about FM, I believe I insulted my doctor. But by next appointment, he knew so much more about the disease that we started right away trying meds out. Sad thing is I still haven’t ever found complete relief and I really don’t think there will ever be completely pain free days! I hate this!!
[Reply]
Felicia Fibro Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
I’m so glad to hear that your husband was/is so supportive of you! I am hopeful for pain free days once we understand more of the science behind fibromyalgia, in the future.
[Reply]
Comment from Virginia
Time November 30, 2011 at 12:59 pm
I do have a wonderful husband, without him I don’t think I would have made it thus far! I just wish they would find something to at least help the days & nights be a little less uncomfortable!
[Reply]
Comment from Debbie Elmore
Time December 7, 2011 at 1:34 pm
I had a shot in top of both hips and I thought I was dying for 3 days could not sleep or sit very well at all but then it leveled out and I don’t hurt as bad as I did they do work once they get in there to the right spot I guess
[Reply]
Felicia Fibro Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
Glad to hear yours gave you some relief! My post-shot pain eventually leveled out, but unfortunately I never got much relief from it. Due to that, my rheumatologist is having me see an orthopedist and get an MRI and go from there.
[Reply]
Felicia Fibro Reply:
November 17th, 2011 at 11:47 am
Peter, did you get any type of “cortisone flare” after the shot for 24-48 hours? I’m hoping that is what I’m in and the relief will return in one more day.
[Reply]