Hi there! Count me in on the hip and lower back pain. Some days I struggle to walk and have to adopt strange gaits that end up impacting on my back.. I too do Qigong Tai Chi, morning 15 min, lunch 15 min and 1 hour at night. I take a class twice a week and use a DVD at home the other days. There is always marked improvement in mobiiity after the sessions. I also have a deep tissue massage once a fortnight (literally just walked in the door from one). These are my personal inputs. I am waiting to meet Aussie requirements for Biologics (awaiting Snr Specialist referral) and meantime I'm on MTX, Sulphazine, and Plenquil - I don't think any of them are working too well.
Hi Marianne: I run and play squash a lot and have had issues with left hip pain for years. I find that hard activity really helps many of the symptoms of PsA, but would kill my hip. After doing tons of research I found a condition called gluteal tendinopathy. It mimics arthritis pain in the hip joint, but is actually tendinitis, which is a big part of PsA. There's a lot of information out there about the condition if you go looking for it. One thing I read was to reduce stretching that area of the body before exercise...sounds counter-intuitive, but it really seems to have calmed mine down a lot.
Bursitis can often be correct in the sense that the inflammation is usually in the SI joints and radiates to the hip in the form of inflamed bursa. As it was explained to me - true hip inflammation hurts in the groin area (which I suffer from as well) and SI inflammation can be in lower back to hip.
As far as anything in the way of relief goes - I haven't really found anything in years other than floating in the pool or heating/ice packs and sleep. I had a bad flare that lasted over a year - no lie. Couldn't do anything without wanting to cry - but just carried on. It is what we do.
Nic.Pat
Dazzlebandit said:
PSA Pain started in my hips and for 11 years I was told it was bursitis.
Thank you for that!! It always radiated out of my lower back and groin with a pain sensation that my lower body was falling away from me! MTX has taken a lot of the hip pain away but when I flare, that is where it starts!I need more, like a biologic, but I cannot afford it at this time. Better insurance is needed!
Nic.Pat said:
Hi - Dazzlebandit,
Bursitis can often be correct in the sense that the inflammation is usually in the SI joints and radiates to the hip in the form of inflamed bursa. As it was explained to me - true hip inflammation hurts in the groin area (which I suffer from as well) and SI inflammation can be in lower back to hip.
As far as anything in the way of relief goes - I haven't really found anything in years other than floating in the pool or heating/ice packs and sleep. I had a bad flare that lasted over a year - no lie. Couldn't do anything without wanting to cry - but just carried on. It is what we do.
Nic.Pat
Dazzlebandit said:
PSA Pain started in my hips and for 11 years I was told it was bursitis.
I hear you. I was off of biologics for 3 years after we lost our drug plan. I start again this week on Enbrel. Are you in the US or Canada? In Canada you can get government help with the cost, and Enliven will also help with co-pay. I am only paying $60 a month for Enbrel after my work plan covers 80% up to 10,000 a year, and Enliven covers 80% of what is left. When the max of my work plan is reached, the government will help pay. So crucial to have the right medication to slow this disease. It just seems so wrong that medications are not available to everyone who needs them.
Nic.Pat
Dazzlebandit said:
Thank you for that!! It always radiated out of my lower back and groin with a pain sensation that my lower body was falling away from me! MTX has taken a lot of the hip pain away but when I flare, that is where it starts!I need more, like a biologic, but I cannot afford it at this time. Better insurance is needed!
Nic.Pat said:
Hi - Dazzlebandit,
Bursitis can often be correct in the sense that the inflammation is usually in the SI joints and radiates to the hip in the form of inflamed bursa. As it was explained to me - true hip inflammation hurts in the groin area (which I suffer from as well) and SI inflammation can be in lower back to hip.
As far as anything in the way of relief goes - I haven't really found anything in years other than floating in the pool or heating/ice packs and sleep. I had a bad flare that lasted over a year - no lie. Couldn't do anything without wanting to cry - but just carried on. It is what we do.
Nic.Pat
Dazzlebandit said:
PSA Pain started in my hips and for 11 years I was told it was bursitis.