Adam Rufa - 9/27/2006

Question
I am a 20 yr old college student.  I ran track and cross country in highschool and once I graduated I went into the military.  I was in  special forces training where physical fitness was all we did.  We would go on 3,4,and 5 mile runs.  On other days we would swim in a pool with fins using only our legs to propel ourselves.  We also went on ruck marches with 60 to 70lbs on our backs for roughly 5 miles.  During a timed run, I began to feel pain in my right hip.  I ran through the pain and it subsided, however as soon as I stopped running I could barely walk.  During the following week I walked with a limp.  I went to a military doctor who said I had simply pulled a hip flexor.  It is now a little over a year later and I have gotten out of the military since then due to my injury.  I have receieved no explanation or help.  I am pleading with anyone who might beable to help me as physical fitness is a major aspect of my life.  I have iced it, wrapped it, put heat on it, taken glucosamine pills, chicken cartledge.  My hip still hurts when walking long distances, any form of running, cycling  and sometimes swimming.  I tried to go for a short 1 mile run at a very slow pace and my hip has been hurting worse.  I can feel a very sensitve place on a bone it feels and pain is comming from there.  Several MRI's and X-rays have been taken but I have never heard anything back.  Please give me any information on what this injury could be.  Thank you.  

Answer
Jon

Sorry to hear about your hip pain. This type of pain can be from several things. A few things to look into are:

1) labral tear-- This is a ring of cartilage that goes around the socket of your hip joint. Tears in this do not show up well in MRIs especially if contrast is not used. The person reading the MRI has to know what look for in order to see it. This can sometimes be treated conservatively but often needs surgery.

2) Anterior impingement-- This occurs when the capsule of the hip gets pinched by the joint. There will often be pain upon full flexion of the hip.

3) Low Back-- referral from your low back should also be ruled out.

This kind of problem can be difficult to diagnosis. Find a good orthopedic surgeon in your area or a good physical therapist to help you.

Adam