I've been having hip pain for the past several months. It comes and goes, but my walking routinue has been thrown "out the window" until I recooperate.

I went to my regular doctor today to figure things out. It looks like I may have bursitis or tenonitis. My RX is for physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medicine (of some type.) My regular doctor wanted me to make sure what I could take anti-inflamatory-wise. Some of my regular doctors ideas were: 1) course of NSAIDs over a period of 2-3 weeks or 2) steroid injection or 3) steroid topical cream w/a type of sonogram that drives the meds. into the skin (I forgot exact name...the physical therapist does this).

My surgeons office was ok with anything other than the oral NSAID's.

Now, I need your opinion. My pain comes and goes and sometimes occurs when I sleep. I am not in constant pain.

I'm afraid of the steroid injection....given that I am not in excruciating pain now!

What would you do?

Shawn

...I went to my regular doctor today to figure things out. It looks like I may have bursitis or tenonitis. My RX is for physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medicine (of some type.) My regular doctor wanted me to make sure what I could take anti-inflamatory-wise. Some of my regular doctors ideas were: 1) course of NSAIDs over a period of 2-3 weeks or 2) steroid injection or 3) steroid topical cream w/a type of sonogram that drives the meds. into the skin (I forgot exact name...the physical therapist does this).

My surgeons office was ok with anything other than the oral NSAID's.

Now, I need your opinion. My pain comes and goes and sometimes occurs when I sleep. I am not in constant pain.

I'm afraid of the steroid injection....given that I am not in excruciating pain now!

What would you do?

Shawn

You may find that just a steriod injection will not completely relieve your pain. You may need repeated injections to manage the condition and steroids can cause unpleasant side effects. At some point, it's possible that you'll have to use both steriods and painkillers. I often take liquid Motrin and have no problems with that. My surgeon told me that although liquid Tylenol is preferable, as long as I use liquid, chewable, or crushed forms of NSAIDs, then it will not harm the band. The concern with NSAIDs is that a pill or capsule won't pass through the band and will sit in the small upper pouch. NSAIDs can be corrosive to the stomach, so you don't want them sitting in the upper pouch where they could damage the lining of the pouch, which could possibly lead to erosion in the future. You might want to talk with your surgeon again and see if he would be OK with liquid NSAIDs.

Personally (I'm not a doctor and I don't have any medical training), I have done rounds of Aleve for tendonitis. I am sure to drink lots of extra water with the medication, to be sure it's not sitting in my top pouch, and I don't stay on it for more than a couple of weeks, and I try to avoid other things that aren't good for the stomach. I have tendonitis in my wrist on and off and sometimes that's the only thing that seems to help..

Thanks for guys for the imput.

I went today, for the first time, to physical therapy. She evaluated and treated my "condition." It seems that one leg is a little bit shorter than the other (common). She put in a heel lift on the short side and suggested that I get some insoles for extra cushioning support. While I was there, I got the sonogram (deep heat) on the hip/thigh area.

We've modified my workout time/amount (walking) as I am starting up again. I'm fixing to go out and test the waters.

Funny thing....with the heel lift, inserts, deep massage, my hip feels pretty terrific!

We are going to try the natural method...without steriods. Only time will tell (about 2 weeks).

Thanks, Shawn

This is just my two cents, but I occasionally take liquid ibuprofen when I have severe pain, like cramps. I buy the children's version, so it takes 2 teaspoons to get 200mg, but that has been enough for me. I take it very rarely, but I have not had any resulting problems. You should talk to your md, of course, since I am not a doctor. I make sure to take mine with plenty of water and after I have eaten a couple of crackers or something, since I have a very sensitive stomach and ibuprofen has always irritated it if I take it on an empty stomach.