hip pain

Hi all -
I've been on the UC forum but this is my first time here. I'm 53, 5'6", 210 lbs (I've lost 15 in the last year - I'm really trying!)
I've had hip pain, right hip, on and off for a few years, but I've got a busy life and I ignored it. Occasionally people would say, "ooooh, are you limping?" but the hip didn't even always hurt! Until last winter I rode horseback weekly (ok, so, that did hurt the hip for the last year...) and last summer I was walking a mile every morning.
During the winter I fell on the ice, hurt my left hip, and developed bursitis in the healing. I had it Xrayed and went to a local orthopedist. Cortisone shot, P/T, and I was great...
for about a month. Then my right hip began hurting horribly, waking me several times each night, hurting in several places - groin, outside, shooting pains down the thigh... I figured, well, maybe I overcompensated when healing from the other, maybe this is more bursitis. I went back to the orthopedist's office and had that hip xrayed.

Finally, I saw The Orthoped (not the PA.) He walked in, shook my hand in introduction, then sat and looked at the computer with my x ray - and, still not even facing me, said, "You've got severe osteoarthritis in this hip, bone spurs on the inside, a cyst on the outside....there's very little room left between the bones and I think you're looking at hip replacement within the year. Oh - and your lower spine's no picnic, either!" Then when he came to flex my leg to test for range of motion, he noted the bursitis in that hip.
No one had ever even said the word "arthritis" to me before. I was stunned! I asked what I could do to help myself. Lose weight, he told me. Well, yeah, I know that, I've been trying. I asked: exercise? he said "no." P/T? "no." ANYTHING? "No, there's nothing you can do to help."
Because of the UC I can't take NSAIDs (I bled horribly from Advil some years back.) He prescribed Percocet because I know I can take it, and I try to take no more than one late in the day if I need it, and not every day.
He said to come back in 3 months.
So.... I need a different doctor - this guy didn't explain things, didn't look at me when he talked to me - and I know there are things people have done to stave off surgery - I'd like to put it off a few years! I think I have a name or two for a second opinion.
But - this was such a horrible experience, I just felt the need to share. And - though I've read about exercises, does anyone have anything specific they can recommend?
I also asked if this was related to my UC, and he answered, "Good question."
I guess I'm a little better off than before I saw him, because now I know that I can't tough through this, and if an activity hurts I should stop it and rest.... but, goodness!!

Thanks for listening -

Hi, thanks, Judy.
Talk about being in limbo! - Both my GI and my PCP have moved/retired in the past months, so I've really been set adrift from my medical support people. I met a new GI this past week, and he seemed like someone I could work with - so I asked him for recommendations for PCPs. I also told him the above story and he recommended another group of orthopods - and it's a group I've begun to hear a lot of good things about from friends. I'll call and try to get in there.
I've wondered about possible osteonecrosis. Hopefully my second opinion will check out the whole package and not just the hip!
In the meantime, I can't really "exercise" because of the pain, but I am making sure I gently stretch it out, and I have one of those roller things to roll over the area to get the blood flowing and help spasming muscles.

We IBDer's do seem to have a second cross to bear in our bones, don't we? I've had severe migratory symmetrical joint pain even before I was diagnosed with UC. I didn't realize how much pain I lived with until I walked for three months on two broken bones in my lower leg, thinking it was just a bone flare in my ankle.

I hate autoimmune disease!

Thanks to you all for the support! At this point the hip is bothering me more than the UC. It hurts in the night, in the morning, when I walk, do the stairs, get in and out of the car.....obnoxious!

My next decision is that the Top Doc at this practice I've pinpointed for my second opinion - the Top Doc's next available appointment is in December, but if I'll go with one of the others in the practice, I can get in this coming month. According to the receptionist, they all confer and generally have the same philosophy..... hmmmm. I'll need to figure out what to do; that's the assignment I've given myself for the next few days.
Have any of you run into issues like this? I was with my same wonderful doctors for almost 30 years, so these issues aren't something I've had to deal with!

HI UC

I would just add, get a Ortho you trust, but don't be afraid of hip replacement. I have it and thank heavens, because that new hip is great and I have to fight the osteoarthritis in other joints!

Hi SongLady

My recovery on the hip was not bad. It took about a week using a walker, then to a cane for a couple weeks. I drove after three weeks. I could do most things for myself, but you will need some help at home for a couple weeks. It is alot of exercise and will put stress on your other joints (knees) which is what has happened to me. I didn't realize I had osteoarthritis in my knees till after my hip surgeyr. I think i am going to need knee replacement now, but going to try to put that off for awhile as I try to get strength back in my thighs and loose a few pounds. All my joints are bad, but I do think if I can get pain relief from replacing a weight bearing (big joints) I probably will in the future. Meanwhile trying home remedies.