is the pain from hip or back?
Mom is 92. One kidney. 5 ft tall..113 lbs. uses walker. She has had this pain for 5 weeks. She has pain in low lumbar, into hip, down side of leg only to knee , and lifting her leg causes hip and groin pain. Coughing causes groin pain almost down to vaginal area. Not much pain at all when walking or standing. When she is in the act of sitting down, or can't find a comfortable position to stay seated, it's severe, but once she "gets over that spot", it's mild. This is not a result of falling. The act of standing up from being seated is painful. MRI of hip is normal.... MRI of lumbar shows lots of degeneration , loss of disc space, etc but nothing jumps out as a cause like herniation . CT of lumbar is ok. Had epidural of L 4-5 ... no help. Bursa injection.. no help. Now they want to do a bone scan AND bone density test.
1. Does this sound like hip or back. We have differing opinions. One ortho says back ... another says hip... therefore bone scan. But mom is concerned about taking it due to one kidney and creatinine range of 1.3 up to 1.7. ( the contrast)
2. One says rest it... the other says PT.
3. Should we push for another epidural at L 3-4???
4. They want her to take gabapentin but drowsiness is issue , esp with walker etc. Takes Ultracet.
We are at a road block not knowing what to do
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How to handle this?? We have a well respected radiologist at my church. He looked at MRI of moms hip and lumbar. He saw on the " coronal" view of the left hip a " illeosoas tendonosis." Edema and fluid in or on tendon that he said would produce the pain mom is having. On the MRI report of the left hip, written by the radiologist who originally read it , he doesn't mention it. I want that person to read what our friend says that he sees so it can be confirmed and treated by our pain doc and others. There was a doc who ordered the MRI of left hip--- should I go through her? Or direct to radiologist ??? I don't know the radiologist . Thanks !!!!!!!
Voltaren gel helps my joint pain a lot. Only problem is you have to reapply it every 4 hours. Also it is not easy to get a prescription. Insurance company likes to rule out all the other anti-inflammatory medications first.
The Voltaren gel has diclofenac in it. Can someone tell me how much of the diclofenac nsaid gets into the system?? How does the pain reliever gets into the painful joint??? Or bunion in my case?? Is it like absorbed into the system through the skin?!
You put it on the area that is painful and it absorbs through the skin.
I have had similar symptoms than those of your mom and what I had was simply a pelvis misalignment. Once the Physiotherapist puts back in alignment, all pain miraculously goes away. My PT is very senior and he sees a LOT of people with pelvis misalignment that cannot walk or do anything. The procedure to re-align is simple but the long-term fix is to strengthen the muscles. That is not to say that hip or back issues are contributing to the pelvis misalignment - but the pain from knee, groin, lower back and sometimes upper back and jaw, are very possibly from a pelvis misalignment. Good Luck!
The pain is from lower back. I'm 81 and have RA with pain in back going down my left leg to knee I walk with cane and take hydrocodone . Also go for steroid shots in back. All help very little or for short period of time. I'm sorry for your mother having all this pain.
God Bless her I've had both back and hip replacements.Since then develop pain in my hip and groin and that it was my hip by the back surgeon . Then told by the hip surgeon that it was my back. Both did feel as it was my hip. Today I was diagnos with a hernia. Who knew?
It's her back. I have same and pain radiated from back to leg and down to knee. I use Espercreme at night and it numbs pain for hrs.
I have Voltaren and it helps to take the edge off of the pain
Some interesting thoughts about pain:
Trust Your Gut: 5 Ways to Relieve Aching Joints
By Kelly Lindamood
Trust Your Gut: 5 Ways to Relieve Aching Joints
When it comes to lower back pain, the struggle is real. For more than 10 years, I’ve worked hard to find natural and noninvasive solutions that allow me to reduce discomfort while maintaining an active lifestyle. I’ve seen benefits from physical therapy, acupuncture, yoga, and, most recently, changing my diet. You might be thinking, “What can diet possibly have to do with back pain?” As it turns out, quite a bit.
The Arthritis-Gut Health Connection
Back pain and other aching joints can often be a result of arthritis, one of many autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid and psoriatic are two types of arthritis). Autoimmune diseases occur when our immune system mistakenly attacks our own internal tissues and organs. Conditions range from type 1 diabetes to thyroid disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, and psoriasis. It’s estimated that 23.5 million Americans suffer from some type of autoimmune condition. In my case, the aching back was due to arthritis, and I quickly learned that I could control it through — of all things — my gut!
Why Gut Health Is a Promising Frontier For Aching Joints
In recent years, doctors have identified the gut as a major contributor to a wide range of bodily functions. As a result, some of the most exciting and promising advances in personal health are happening in the gut. Trillions of microorganisms live in and on our bodies; these microorganisms comprise our microbiome, the majority of which is found in our gut. This living and active microbiome has been shown to play a role in cognitive processes, emotional health, obesity, and in fighting off disease and sickness — and more. In fact, the list is so long that our microbiome has been referred to as our second genome. And study after study has shown that this community of microorganisms can play a role in relieving autoimmune conditions.
When I first happened upon this information, I was thrilled for two reasons: One, tending to our microbiome is a noninvasive, natural approach to managing aches and pains — especially my back pain. And two, it’s empowering to know there are personal actions we can take to help find relief for autoimmune conditions.
For me, this was like finding that one missing puzzle piece. I had speculated that certain foods would irritate my aching back and cause it to feel more inflamed. Now, it makes sense.
So today when I eat in a way that agrees with my digestion (a.k.a. my microbiome), my back pain is reduced, and on most days even nonexistent. I avoid foods like gluten and sugar that seem to trigger inflammation, and I’ve added things like sauerkraut to my diet that cultivate my microbiome. I’ve taken control of this aching back, and it’s an amazing feeling!
5 Ways to Cultivate Your Microbiome
You can do this, too! While we have a lot more to learn, there’s growing consensus on what constitutes a healthy microbiome and how it affects every part of our body. Try this checklist as a starting point for better health:
Eat your veggies! We’ve all heard that we need to eat more veggies, and now there’s yet another reason: Our garden of microbes loves to feed on these fiber-rich foods. Make sure that every meal includes at least one to two servings of vegetables. Looking for a snack? Reach for those celery and carrot sticks.
Go easy on the antibiotics if you can. It’s not hard to come by a prescription for antibiotics. If you have a sniffle or a sore throat, take antibiotics only when absolutely necessary. Studies have shown they may be detrimental to the microbiome.
Avoid foods that cause bloating and gas pain. Pay attention to what foods cause you digestive stress. Loose bowels, gas, and bloating can be indicators that a certain food doesn’t agree with you (and your microbiome). Common triggers can be dairy products, grains, and legumes. You can test these out by eliminating a particular food for seven days. After seven days, reintroduce the food and pay attention to whether you experience any discomfort. If you do, work to eliminate these foods from your diet.
Choose whole foods over processed. Artificial preservatives used in many processed foods have been shown to adversely affect gut bacteria. These preservatives are often found in foods like ice cream, peanut butter, and salad dressings. Go for whole foods or lightly processed foods that have recognizable ingredients.
Show some love for fermented foods. When it comes to our gut bacteria, diversity is key. Add in fermented foods such as sauerkraut, miso, kefir, and kimchi to enrich your garden. When buying off-the-shelf products, make sure they are unpasteurized so that the bacteria are preserved.
Cultivating your microbiome can be as much fun as tending to an abundant summer garden. Practice these tips and see what works for you; relief from nagging aches and pains can be right around the corner!
Be Well,
Kelly Lindamood for the Remedy Chicks
Illustrations: iStock.com
Last Updated: 8/2/2016