This is a new experience for me. It usually happens when I am rising from a chair: groin pain. It comes on suddenly with a sharp, stabbing pain. I barely can take that first step. But, if I am able to push through it to walk it off, it will go away in about 15 minutes, and only twinge some after that. It's curious, especially because I'm taking MTX, Plaquenil and a round of prednisone. Is this happening today because of the lousy weather? Is it because my PsA is getting worse? Maybe it's not related to my PsA at all. I need the benefit of your wisdom!
There's a lot going on in that area, in terms of the hip joint, sacroiliac joint, tendons, ligaments, etc.
But if you are saying it's in the groin, then it may well be the hip joint. Truthfully, this sounds exactly like what I had 2 or 3 years ago, as part of my spring flare. My hip joints were involved that time, and yes, when I got up, I would have severe pain to start off with. Also if I started walking and then stopped, I would have to start the painful process all over again.
It was a flare, it went away after a few months. That said, last fall I started having pain in my hips again, and it looks like it's early stage osteoarthritis, along with instability. So I'm working with the physical therapist on strengthening in order to limit the instability.
It may or may not be a sign that the disease is getting worse, but it is definitely worth bringing it up with your rheumy.
I agree, Stoney.
When I thought I was having hip pain, my rheumy told me that hip pain is felt in the groin, and what most people think of as hip pain is radiating from the back. (For me this was correct...I started treating my "hip" pain with back treatment...heat etc, and it helped my "hip" pain).
Marietta- That sounds pretty common. For ByrdFeeder, it sounds like it likely is from the hip, but it can be hard to know exactly what it is.
Marietta said:
When I thought I was having hip pain, my rheumy told me that hip pain is felt in the groin, and what most people think of as hip pain is radiating from the back. (For me this was correct...I started treating my "hip" pain with back treatment...heat etc, and it helped my "hip" pain).
Exactly. I should have also said that since my "hip" pain is really coming from my SI joint area, I don't know how to help hip pain which shows up in the groin. So sorry you are dealing with this ByrdFeeder!
Stoney said:
Marietta- That sounds pretty common. For ByrdFeeder, it sounds like it likely is from the hip, but it can be hard to know exactly what it is.
I realize you groin and my groin are different, but they actually I had the groin pain so bad once, I dang near h
ad surgery. Not one but TWO surgeons were sure I had hernia. It wasn't until I asked about protecting my SI's during the prcpocedure that this 15 year old with zits and everything who was apparently with her mother at take your daughter to work day (never saw the mother) made the connection and called the whole thing off. Try all the things you do to make the si's feel better, it will likley help. Its a bugger.......
One of the first things I suspected was as you guys suggest--my hips. I always have heard that hips either refer to the front or back of the pelvis, never to the side. But, as much trouble as I have with my SI joints, that seems like a likely culprit, too.
The problems I have in my SI joints are compounded by Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. The connective tissue is so loose, that it literally does not hold my joints together like it should, so I dislocate easily. And the SI is one place I dislocate a LOT.
Does anyone have suggestions for what I can do at home for the hips and/or the SI? I have my own routines of exercises, heat, and ice. Just wondering if anyone else has any magic to suggest.
Thanks so much for answering. I can't see my rheumy until mid-June and I'm feeling a little helpless with this flare. The prednisone is about to run out. AGGGHH
I find that using a Thermacare patch on my SI joint overnight REALLY cuts down on referred pain over the whole area.
I love the Thermacare patches, but couldn't figure out how I was going to get one to stick THERE. lol I'll try it on the SI joint instead. Thanks for the suggestion!
This on-and-off pain continues. I confess, I am getting a bit discouraged. It helps so much to have people a click away that understand and have ideas about how to handle it.
I'll keep watching, and hoping someone else may have a suggestion. As always, you guys are the best!
LOL, it would have to be placed like a diaper!
I am sensitive to the adhesive, so I stick a "neck and shoulder" Thermacare in my SI area with the adhesive sticking to the underwear (away from the skin). That way I can also move the patch around a bit without pulling on my skin again. Sometimes if one side is bothering me more than the other I'll stick more of the Thermacare over to that side with the other half still covering my SI joint.
Byrd Feeder said:
I love the Thermacare patches, but couldn't figure out how I was going to get one to stick THERE.
The pain you’re describing – the stab in the groin when first getting up – was what I was getting last fall, at about the time I decided that I needed to have my hip x-rayed. I didn’t think it felt like arthritis deep inside the hip joint. At one point, I thought I might have an acetabular labral tear. (Gotta love Dr. Google!)
http://morphopedics.wikidot.com/hip-labral-tears
It’s a connective tissue thing – the flange around hip socket gets torn or frayed and then gets caught or buckles as you move. Ouch ouch ouch.
In my case, it wasn’t a labral tear. The pain came from being bone-on-bone. The x-ray showed me as having severe OA. Shortly after learning that, the deep arthritis pain started and got worse really quickly. Subsequently, I learned that the OA was, in fact, inflammatory, that is to say PsA. The hip was replaced last month, thank goodness!
Take good care, Byrd! Hope this helps.