Severe pain I can not identify

Hey everyone, its been a while! I really need your help. I have developed a horrid pain on my right side- it seems to radiate from my hip, its in a huge area that shoots down my right leg until it reaches under my right knee; when I move it feels as tho something is being pulled apart. There is no way to sit without the worst pain I have ever felt except for when my appendix ruptured. I went to the urgent care last nite and got an injection of toradol, that had no effect at all. The doc gave me an Rx for percocet- this morning I took two around 10:30a and I don't feel any change. I'm really scared because I am at a 9 for pain and I normally am at a 7. Does anyone have any experience or thoughts about what I may be dealing with? I thought maybe kidney but the doc said no blood in the urine. Hip, gallbladder? I'm really afraid of this pain and what it may be. Thank you for your support!

Hi Sera~

I'm sorry you're suffering so much. I found a description of the bursitis that Sherrine is talking about and it sure sounds painful.

Hip bursitis is a common problem that causes pain over the outside of the upper thigh. A bursa is a fluid filled sac that allows smooth motion between two uneven surfaces. For example, in the hip, a bursa rests between the bony prominence over the outside of the hip (the greater trochanter) and the firm tendon that passed over this bone. When the bursal sac becomes inflamed, each time the tendon has to move over the bone, pain results. Because patients with hip bursitis move this tendon with each step, hip bursitis symptoms can be quite painful.

But like Sherrine said, we're not able to diagnose anyone so it would be best to get to your primary doctor ASAP. Tuesday morning give them a call and find when you can get in to see him/her. Plus you need some serious help with pain control until they find out what's going on. Hopefully your doctor is able to get some tests run quickly and make you more comfortable.

Hugs,
Chutz

Hi Sera

I suffer the same things. Bursitis of hip will be extremely tender to touch on the outside of leg from hip to knee.

Could also be sciatica if it runs down the back of leg right in the middle, sharp nerve pain.

I had a steroid shot that helped sciatica for awhile.

Good luck

Maggie

sounds like what I get in my chest and arm sockets.

While it hurts so bad, I couldn't tell if it was spasming or throbbing. But it does pulse with pain. I can't tell you how many pills I have taken today to ease the pain. I have been reading about hip bursitis; I am afraid for my job- I am on my feet for three 6 hour shifts each week. I hope to get this under control so I don't lose my job.

If it's bursitis, the cortisone injection helps so much faster. It takes about 2 days to kick in and it usually starts working. If it is siatic pain, the injections could help. Probably couldn't lose either way. I use to have to get them in my hips once or twice a year. Haven't had to in many years. The pain can really push your buttons. Heat pad on my hips helps also. I have taken care of the problem on my own, but it takes longer period of time. When I was working I didn't have time to be down so the injections was the way to go. Hope you start feeling better!

Hi Sera,

You sound a little like me. I have pain in my hip that was so bad last week I couldn't walk and if I had to I was walking on my tip toes on the right side to keep the muscles from pulling on might right hip as much. I also took prescription muscle relaxants to help me to sleep. I was crying a lot, too. I have had this problem before but this time it was way worse. I've been diagnosed with arthristis in hips, knees, fingers, spine and neck but this was so bad. I went to a new chiropractor last week and she confirmed that my low spine is definitely turned to the right and twisted slightly, probably because I've been babying that side. She explained how this is causing me pain from my hip join and down the leg. The IT and periformis muscles/bands are really really painful. I had a myofascial release massage several weeks ago because it helped last time. This time I only got a little relief and it was short-lived. Plus, the massage was excrutiating. She said I had a lot of lactic acid and was just a bundle of knots. I tried using one of those therapy rollers myself but it hurt really bad. I had a chiropractic adjustment yesterday and it felt better for a while. I should say that I'm on Cymbalta, 90mg for depression and pain. The dose is high to help with pain. But I can't sleep and am so tired. My doc told me to drop down to 60 mg a few weeks ago but the pain came back strong. After a week I went back to the full dose which helped, except for sleeping that is. I'm wondering about Protandin. My friend takes it and says she hates to see me so miserable and believes it will help me. I've watched all the documentation about it. Curious about other people and their thoughts on it. I would suggest that you have xrays taken if you haven't yet to rule out a need for surgery and to pinpoint the problem. Sometimes the pain is referred, like I'll get it really bad in the gluteus area. I've also had physical therapy for this and it did help. They actually had me strengthen my back not my hip. You can also ask your doctor, therapist or chiropractor for stretching exercises. Type in HIP PAIN in Google Images and then pick an image that shows where your pain areas are. I know I have pain in my piriformis and my IT band, my hip socket and my gluteus, sometimes around and under my knee.