What could I have done to my hip?

[GrantMeThePower]

I went backpacking last weekend (not like 2 days ago, but like 9 days ago) and my left hip started hurting the second day. Its on the side and sometimes back toward my butt. It hurts when i walk and feels really stiff. It doesn't feel like muscle soreness at all. It isn't totally overwhelming pain, but it is not comfortable at all. I was carrying maybe like 40 lbs or 45 lbs, over 20 miles and we were doing a pretty quick pace and the terrain was anything but flat.

Does anyone know about hip issues? Could I have messed something up? I'm 26, btw...

 

[MedicBob]

You strained something most likely. NSAIDs, rest, and don't do it again. When in doubt go see your PCP.

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Originally posted by: MedicBob
You strained something most likely. NSAIDs, rest, and don't do it again. When in doubt go see your PCP.

What could I have strained in the hip area that isn't a muscle? Like a ligament or something? It hurts more when my leg is pulled down.

 

[eplebnista]

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower

Originally posted by: MedicBob
You strained something most likely. NSAIDs, rest, and don't do it again. When in doubt go see your PCP.

What could I have strained in the hip area that isn't a muscle? Like a ligament or something? It hurts more when my leg is pulled down.

Muscles or ligaments are the most likely choices.

 

[BoomerD]

SI Joint?

 

[jimmyj68]

A few months back I awoke one morning with a severe pain in my left hip. Like your case it seemed to be deep in the joint and slightly around toward the buttock. I ended up unable to walk and on a lot of pain killers (over the counter) before finally going to my personal physician on the third day.

To make a long story short - after x-rays and cat scan we found that I had herniated a disc at lumbar 5. Fortunately I was referred to an excellent spinal surgeon who actually recommended against surgery unless I absolutely didn't want to live with left leg problems for maybe a year. He offered a steroid injection into the problem disc (and I thought the original hip pain was bad) and brother that hurt like hell.

Now, my left leg is a smidgen weaker than my right and is slightly tingly and painful if I use the leg the wrong way. But - but - even with the latest techniques, and technology spinal surgery should be an absolute last resort. The hip pain has gone completely and any problems now are in the thigh muscle. I defintely can live with it.

Here's the clinker - on reflection, it turns out that holding a thirty pound bag of kitty litter under my left arm using my hip to support most of the weight - and reaching up high above my head to pull down the hatch on my Toyota Highlander was not the thing to do. I felt a slight twinge in my lower back as I did the pull down on the hatch but thought not too much of it. I felt the results the next morning. All it takes is a disproportionate stress from an akward abnormal effort to do spinal damage. Lugging that back pack up hill and down dale over rough and uneven terrain could have caused serious damage. Get yourself checked out ASAP.