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X-ray for hip/SI; acupuntcure questions
Hello everyone,
For background I am female, 46 and in good health.
I have been having some issues with my right lower back/hip/glute area for about a year. I initially had left shoulder pain a couple of years ago. A sports medicine doctor diagnosed me with pelvic tilt last Feb (2023). I have been doing physiotherapy and the shoulder pain has completely gone away. But I have since also been having lower back/hip/glute pain on my right side only. My physiotherapist has tried different things and has given me several exercises to do at home. Recently, he has been working on a muscle in my lower back that is tight and believes it is causing the issues. I think there has been some improvement but it is not consistent. For example, the last couple of weeks I was feeling great, then after my last physio session a few days ago, I have been in pain again. My physiotherapist has also suggested electrical acupuncture. I am hesitant, but my husband told me he has done it in the past and it helped him a lot. So my first question is - has anyone tried it and would you recommend it? Any downsides?
My second question is about x-rays. A few months ago I spoke with my doctor about these issues and she gave me a requisition for an x-ray and included the hip, lumbar spine, sacrum/coccyx, and SI joint. I have not done it yet because I don't know if it would be beneficial. An x-ray would not show anything if it is a muscle issue, correct? Should I do it in case it is a bone issue or to at least rule that out? Should I ask for other imaging (e.g. ultrasound)?
Thank you for any input.
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Hi I would recommend doing the MRI .
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3 ReactionsHi @reedvr2
My doctor suggested an x-ray, not an MRI. I think it would be more difficult to get the MRI and the wait times are extremely long (I am in Canada). But I will discus it with the doctor at my next visit.
Thank you
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2 ReactionsAsk for what you want and be prepared to offer your concerns and questions. Especially now...we need to be our own best health advocates.
Check out
patientrevolution.org
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3 ReactionsI would definitely have the X-ray done to determine if there are any obvious reasons for the issue.
I was having similar issues to you quite a few years ago, and had they done x-rays, I would have saved many years of physical therapy & injections trying to treat back problems, when in fact I had a very badly deteriorated hip ball and socket. A hip replacement fixed (and yes I was only around 45 when it began.)
Sue
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4 ReactionsHello- I have very similar (almost exact) symptoms as you. I also have chronic pain so I’m very used to being on this merry-go-round you’ve described.
Usually a doctor will order an x-ray because it’s faster and cheaper than an MRI. You are right and it won’t show a muscle issue, but if your pain is persistent, an x-ray might still be helpful if you have an orthopedic issue going on such as hip impingement.
That said, you want to keep in mind that imaging is not the be-all, end-all. Someone with hip impingement or arthritis on imaging may not have pain, and someone with pain might have nothing on imaging. The result isn’t always consistent with what you feel, which is totally frustrating. For example, most people are wandering around with a labral tear, yet many don’t have pain. Some people have labral pain surgery and get no relief.
That said, there could still be a benefit to the x-ray because it might help guide your PT.
Have you tried seeing a pelvic physical therapist yet? If you’re not having relief from regular PT, a pelvic PT could be more helpful because they have significant additional training in the lumbo-pelvic area, which sounds like where most of your pain is.
Ultimately, I got diagnosed with coccyx pain, hip impingement, and I have very tight pelvic floor muscles that are pulling on the other muscles and referring pain to all the same places where you’re describing. Not everyone is the same, but a pelvic PT would have more expertise if you’ve tried other things.
Oops I forgot to answer your question about electro-stim acupuncture.
I’ve tried it, but it was too aggressive for me. However, I have central pain syndrome. It didn’t hurt, just felt funny and I got a flare later, but it’s more to do with my nerve sensitivity.
If you’re concerned about it, why not try regular acupuncture first and see if you like it? I find it deeply relaxing, but it doesn’t have much effect on my pain.
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1 Reaction@sueinmn Yes, I will do the x-ray and hopefully it will help with a better course of action for treatment.
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2 Reactions@soph77
I have cervical and lumbar spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease. I also have hip/buttock pain/numbness/weakness. I just went today for an X-ray of my hips and the joints look okay. I am now being sent for an MRI to check soft tissues/cartilage for inflammation to determine if steroid injections would be helpful. I have had MRIs for brain and spine and my hips were the last source of pain. I had 3 injections in my lumbar spine which helped reduce the pain but I still have numbness and weakness.
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1 Reaction@soph77
P.S. it sounds like you have nerve roots compressed in your lumbar spine that radiate pain signals to hip/buttock on right side. I am not sure if you are still having this problem after a year that it is muscle only. It could be nerve. Have you seen a neurologist to do EMG/nerve conduction testing? An MRI would show soft tissues and if there is any compression or inflammation. I have not done acupuncture but not sure that would help if nerve pain. I did do dry needling for neck pain and muscle tension but didn’t really do much for me. Another possibility is bursitis. I have had bursitis pain in my hip. Did your doctor mention this as a possibility?