Hip injection

Posted by msvjv @msvjv, Jul 30 9:17am

Hello. I’m having a hip injection soon to confirm or rule out the hip joint as the source of leg pain I’ve been having. I also have lower lumbar arthritic degeneration. As I understand it, the shot will relieve the back pain and if the source is hip bursitis it will also have an effect on that? So if the pain is relieved, how is the actual source of the pain determined. I neglected to ask the doc this question yesterday and the practice has no messaging system. Responses appreciated.

Also, is the hip injection painful?

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Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jul 31 7:55pm

In reply to @celia16 "Great to see this!" + (show)

@celia16, I'm pleased... make that I am thrilled by her knowledge, skill, listening and willingness to explain it all to me! Today I am feeling no pain AT ALL, but was told that there might be some pain for the next few days after the numbing agent wears off. I remain hopeful! She also said the the injection in the soft tissue can be repeated which i s unlike a joint injection. It's related to absorption and joint damage.
In the interest of caution and being responsible, I will delay my Happy Dance for a day or two!

cindisue | @cindisue | Jul 31 9:21pm

In reply to @msvjv "Hi. Did your leg pain come on slowly or suddenly? Mine was sudden. Hence my suspicion..." + (show)

It started after I had Covid in fall of 2022.... my legs would just feel heavy and get tired and achy....then in fall of 2023, the bad pain started.... glad yours was just an injury and you're better.

heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Aug 1 2:22pm

In reply to @msvjv "Hi heyjoe- Yes, it’s cortisone. Doc says if my pain goes away it’s proof that my..." + (show)

You're very welcome. I'm a little confused by your Dr's comments. The cortisone may relieve hip pain, but couldn't it also relieve pain caused by bursitis?

Just my opinion, but a good surgeon should know if a hip needs to be replaced or not. Maybe time to find a new Dr and get a second opinion?

lkhender | @lkhender | Aug 1 7:42pm

Having had a total knee replacement in Feb. of 2020 and multiple injections in my hips and now the other knee, I will opt for injections rather than surgery for the rest of my life. Joint replacement surgery is very painful and the healing time is about one year. The injections work very well most of the time. As far as diagnosis, I'm thinking your doctor must've said your injection will help determine if you need surgery or if the injection will work. If you have further questions, be sure to pin the doc down and ask away before he talks you into something you don't want. Just my opinion and advice from my own experience.

heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Aug 3 6:48am

In reply to @lkhender "Having had a total knee replacement in Feb. of 2020 and multiple injections in my hips..." + (show)

I'm sorry you had a bad experience with TKR. I prepared for my replacements, both in 2022 four months apart. I hired a trainer and got my legs in shape. After surgery, I was obsessive about doing the rehab exercises. The knees healed really well and it's the best thing I've ever done for my body.

No two knees, or people, are alike.

And I think you correctly interpreted what msjv's Dr. was saying. As long as cortisone injections work, there is no rush to surgery. My knees were bone-on-bone and extremely painful. TKR eventually was a necessity. No regrets here.

Finally, I do think joint replacement takes one year to heal completely. A patient should be feeling fine long before that, but these are major and traumatic surgeries.

tct | @tct | Aug 4 8:08am

I had a hip injection 2 months ago, and have scheduled another in 1 month (apparently they must be spaced 3 mo apart -- is this for medical reasons or due to insurance?). Anyone having received multiple hip injections please comment on how long they last.

tct | @tct | Aug 4 8:14am

Another question: I believe the source of my hip and leg pain is instability in my hip. I do not have the kind of acute pain that people with bone on bone describe. Rather, I feel as if my hip might collapse and as a result my other connective ligaments and tendons are trying to compensate. This leads to thigh pain, knee pain and general discomfort all the way down to my calve and shin. And I then walk with a limp. Anyone else experience similar symptoms?

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Aug 4 10:20am

In reply to @tct "Another question: I believe the source of my hip and leg pain is instability in my..." + (show)

My symptoms were the opposite - my leg would lock up when I tried to raise it to climb stairs or a curb. But the issue was the same - total instability, I could even feel the bones moving when I rolled over in bed. The problem was severe damage to the acetabulum and femur so there was not a proper socket for the hip to pivot in. The solution was hip replacement (and the knee and back pain were resolved when I stopped limping)

What do the images on an x-ray tell your doctor? That is step one in figuring out what to do as a permanent solution.

msvjv | @msvjv | Aug 4 10:25am

In reply to @sueinmn "My symptoms were the opposite - my leg would lock up when I tried to raise..." + (show)

Hi Sue. What caused the damage to the acetabulum?

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Aug 4 11:21am

In reply to @msvjv "Hi Sue. What caused the damage to the acetabulum?" + (show)

Lots of theories, but no concrete diagnosis - perhaps arthritis, possibly an undiagnosed childhood disease, or a predisposition to damage from one of the above exacerbated by 40+ years of frequent running & jumping.
Whatever the cause, it affected both hips. I also have arthritis in most other joints, large and small, and my spine.