Groin Pain; Hip or Spine?

[WolfSoul]

I'm a 52 yo adult female who had surgery when I was 13. One Harrington Rod used to "correct" two 79 degree curves forming an "s." I'm getting a lot of pain in my groin, down where the hip joint joins the sacroiliac (I think.) I've tried to exercise but when I ride a stationary bike, the pain is right where the seat hits. After I walk or do the elliptical or bike for 5 mins, I"m in terrible pain and have to go to bed. It seems I spend more and more of my life in bed. I'm not sure I"m describing this in a way you can understand, but over the years I've lost more and more abilities and the pain keeps increasing. I'm finding it hard to care for myself and I am alone; no one to help me but my dog. I go to doctors and they keep shipping me off for tests and specialists and all they say is "it may be degenerating hips or radiating pain from the disc degeneration in your spine." How did you guys who have had hip problems know it was your hips and not your spine? I'm so afraid I won't be able to take care of my dog or me anymore. Thank u for ur help.

[titaniumed]

Your dog understands more than most people think. lol No, its true, animals are amazing. I need to add this to my sig.

It would probably be a good idea to stay off the bike and walk your dog more often. It sounds like the area below your fusion is probably to blame as the nerves in this area will cause hip and leg pain.

Welcome
Ed

[LindaRacine]

Groin pain is usually from the hip, but not always. There are some very specific tests to determine which area is problematic. Have you been to an orthopedic surgeon?

[WolfSoul]

Your dog understands more than most people think. lol No, its true, animals are amazing. I need to add this to my sig.

It would probably be a good idea to stay off the bike and walk your dog more often. It sounds like the area below your fusion is probably to blame as the nerves in this area will cause hip and leg pain.

Welcome
Ed

Ed, thank you for your reply. I've always been an avid hiker and before the scoliosis, I was an athlete. It's just so hard to sit or lay and that's it. I can walk farther than I can do anything else, but each year it gets shorter and shorter (the distance.) I used to walk between 3-5 miles daily on trails, then 3, then 30 mins, now only 15 mins on a good day.

My neurologist took an MRI of the area below the rod, but (no surprise) said the rod made it impossible to see the image clearly. He wanted to do nerve conduction studies for all regions of my body, but I said "not now." I didn't think he would gain any further info and I figured why put myself through more pain. He then recommended a pain management doctor, but again, I've been down that road before and found myself drugged to sleep every day.

I notice that you are my age....do have similar limitations? I hope that is not an invasive question. I"m trying to figure out if this is "normal" for the double major scoliosis w fusion to L3/4 or not. From what I'm reading, it does sound normal.

Also, what do you do about social isolation? Perhaps I should ask that as a separate question. I'm new, so thank you for your patience.

Karen

[WolfSoul]

Groin pain is usually from the hip, but not always. There are some very specific tests to determine which area is problematic. Have you been to an orthopedic surgeon?

Hi, Linda and thank you for responding. Yes, I've been to an ortho specialist. He showed me on my x-rays everything that was going on with my spine; arthritis, schmorl's nodes, levoscoliosis below the rod, ddd, .....etc. etc. etc. His words to me were, "when you're in so much pain you can't stand it, come back in and we will discuss fusing the bottom of your spine." He made no suggestions as to how I was to live with this condition, being as I'm single now nor how to control pain other than to lie down when it hurts.

I read all of the current research studies, but nothing seems encouraging. Most of the doctors want to give me high doses of meds.

I think I'm too young to be sitting around without a life, so I'm looking for a way to manage my pain.

Thanks,
Karen

[LindaRacine]

Hi, Linda and thank you for responding. Yes, I've been to an ortho specialist. He showed me on my x-rays everything that was going on with my spine; arthritis, schmorl's nodes, levoscoliosis below the rod, ddd, .....etc. etc. etc. His words to me were, "when you're in so much pain you can't stand it, come back in and we will discuss fusing the bottom of your spine." He made no suggestions as to how I was to live with this condition, being as I'm single now nor how to control pain other than to lie down when it hurts.

I read all of the current research studies, but nothing seems encouraging. Most of the doctors want to give me high doses of meds.

I think I'm too young to be sitting around without a life, so I'm looking for a way to manage my pain.

Thanks,
Karen

Hi Karen...

Here are the tests to determine whether groin pain is coming from the hip or the spine:

http://thepainsource.com/2010/07/the...ion-maneuvers/

Look at the paragraph that starts "Four maneuvers" in the Discussion section.

--Linda

[jrnyc]

hi Karen
i am so very sorry that you are in so much pain...
i have not had surgery....yet...but i am familiar with pain...especially the pain from
degenerative disc disease...
just wanted to mention that pain management doctors have other treatments to offer
besides oral meds....i do not know if your situation qualifies for such treatments,
but i am wondering if you have asked the pain management doctor if there are
any injections that might help relieve some of your current pain...?

hope you can find a revision surgeon or another way to address your situation....
i do not think anyone should have to live with so much pain, especially
after trying to help things with surgery!

oh...i agree with you about nerve conduction studies....i think they are pretty much worthless,
and i had a few, for both Lyme and scoli...

jess

[WolfSoul]

Hi Karen...

Here are the tests to determine whether groin pain is coming from the hip or the spine:

http://thepainsource.com/2010/07/the...ion-maneuvers/

Look at the paragraph that starts "Four maneuvers" in the Discussion section.

--Linda

Thank you so much, Linda! I appreciate it.

[WolfSoul]

hi Karen
i am so very sorry that you are in so much pain...
i have not had surgery....yet...but i am familiar with pain...especially the pain from
degenerative disc disease...
just wanted to mention that pain management doctors have other treatments to offer
besides oral meds....i do not know if your situation qualifies for such treatments,
but i am wondering if you have asked the pain management doctor if there are
any injections that might help relieve some of your current pain...?

hope you can find a revision surgeon or another way to address your situation....
i do not think anyone should have to live with so much pain, especially
after trying to help things with surgery!

oh...i agree with you about nerve conduction studies....i think they are pretty much worthless,
and i had a few, for both Lyme and scoli...

jess

thank you, jess. You made a good point. I should go back and see if the pain doc can do something other than meds. Great suggestion.

[Doreen1]

Your dog understands more than most people think. lol No, its true, animals are amazing. I need to add this to my sig.

Ed

It's funny you mention this, Ed. Since my pain levels have dramatically increased since July, our dogs are always right by me. Before, they would typically spend time between my hubby and our daughter, but not now. In fact, we all noticed recently, that at the end of the day, our girl dog will typically wait for me and walk with me from the kitchen upstairs to bed. Our little guy sleeps under my side of the bed too. They definitely sense something is up.

Karen, I used to walk my dogs until a while back our girl dog actually pulled me down to my knees when she spotted something and tried to take off running (fortunately, I was still able to keep hold of the leash). That has never happened before. I used to walk our neighborhood with my daughter but I started to notice a pain in my groin area. We live in a very hilly neighborhood so maybe the way I have to bend forward while walking combined with my twisted spine causes the pain? I don't know.

Warmly,
Doreen

[gail govan]

pain changes us

Hi, Linda and thank you for responding. Yes, I've been to an ortho specialist. He showed me on my x-rays everything that was going on with my spine; arthritis, schmorl's nodes, levoscoliosis below the rod, ddd, .....etc. etc. etc. His words to me were, "when you're in so much pain you can't stand it, come back in and we will discuss fusing the bottom of your spine." He made no suggestions as to how I was to live with this condition, being as I'm single now nor how to control pain other than to lie down when it hurts.

I read all of the current research studies, but nothing seems encouraging. Most of the doctors want to give me high doses of meds.

I think I'm too young to be sitting around without a life, so I'm looking for a way to manage my pain.

Thanks,
Karen

Karen,
How true are your words. I have been so utterly disabled and changed from pain. At the beginning of this spring I stood at the bottom of my stairs and cried like a little child because I could not get myself up them. I am 67 years old. Had to quit my profession because of it. Not one single doctor diagnosed me. They looked at me like I was a dumb plank on the wall and would provide a drug. But this summer something has happened that I would hope you might look into. I went on a "quest" to take over this story and find out for myself what I could find out. I found out at the chiropractor's office about trigger points and he gave me an author's name. "Travell and Simmons, MD's." I found on Amazon their two volumes but along with that there was another book the information in which I wish I could shout from the rooftops. If you could take a look at the Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Clair Davies and his daughter Amber you might find out that this terrible domination of pain in you live could be conquered in some measure by your very self. I did, and am so happy that I can now drive somewhere without pain and get out of my van and start walking without pain and terrible weakness, and it is every bit worth reading that book which shows you every muscle that you have and tells you how to release the trigger points in the muscle easily. It is also so amazing to find out that you are not alone. I had thought I was a freak in a manner of speaking because I was in so much pain. But Davies says that at least 75 % of the disabling pain that people all around us live with and suffer from is caused by these trigger points. Pretty good odds. I know I will always have to work on these, and I don't mind. At least it is not a hopeless mystery anymore.
I sure hope you can find an answer so that you do not have to rotate like a planet around your pain! G

[Lorraine 1966]

Karen, I felt like I was reading one of my posts, our situation is so similiar. I have a beautiful dog who I just love so very much and if I cannot get up in the morning he comes over and stands by my bed, stiffens himself and I put my hands on him and he helps me up. I agree with all you say, I feel isolated at times. I have family who love me but they have their own lives and I do not like being a burden to them, so the majority of times I say I am feeling fine. I am alone and have been for quite a while ,mainly because I find it really hard to go out due to my back problems. But then I think well people are a lot worse off than you are, so just get on with things and I do, or try to lol.


Bless you and you have actually helped as it is a bit of a lift to read posts from you wonderful people as it makes one realise she(me) is not going nuts.

Lorraine

[LindaRacine]

Karen, I felt like I was reading one of my posts, our situation is so similiar. I have a beautiful dog who I just love so very much and if I cannot get up in the morning he comes over and stands by my bed, stiffens himself and I put my hands on him and he helps me up. I agree with all you say, I feel isolated at times. I have family who love me but they have their own lives and I do not like being a burden to them, so the majority of times I say I am feeling fine. I am alone and have been for quite a while ,mainly because I find it really hard to go out due to my back problems. But then I think well people are a lot worse off than you are, so just get on with things and I do, or try to lol.


Bless you and you have actually helped as it is a bit of a lift to read posts from you wonderful people as it makes one realise she(me) is not going nuts.

Lorraine

Hi Lorraine...

I always love your posts, and it's nice to have you check in occasionally. You have a great attitude. I think it's often hard to get such clarity and perspective about our pain. I'm lucky, in that way. I see dozens of people at least 3 times a week, who are far worse off than I ever was. When I had those moments of feeling sorry for myself, I had only to remind myself how much worse I could be.

Regards,
Linda

[Lue]

Hi, I had revision surgery in May, and I also had pain in grion, and It must have come from my back, because it is gone now, years ago I had surgery by Dr. Bolderston in Pa. and then I also had pain in groin area. I am 68, but a good ortho should know if it is your hip. good luck, Lu

[WolfSoul]

Thank you, Lorraine

Karen, I felt like I was reading one of my posts, our situation is so similiar. I have a beautiful dog who I just love so very much and if I cannot get up in the morning he comes over and stands by my bed, stiffens himself and I put my hands on him and he helps me up. I agree with all you say, I feel isolated at times. I have family who love me but they have their own lives and I do not like being a burden to them, so the majority of times I say I am feeling fine. I am alone and have been for quite a while ,mainly because I find it really hard to go out due to my back problems. But then I think well people are a lot worse off than you are, so just get on with things and I do, or try to lol.


Bless you and you have actually helped as it is a bit of a lift to read posts from you wonderful people as it makes one realise she(me) is not going nuts.

Lorraine

Thank you so much for your reply, Lorraine. I'm in a lot of pain today and feeling pretty down. It's very hard to make friends when I'm in pain because I have to pretend I'm not. I've had people not want to be with me because I slow them up or I'm "a downer." I try so hard to have a normal life, but to no avail. I often wonder why no one can love me and why I have to live such a lonely life. Still, like you, I think about how much worse others have it. When I'm so lonely that I think I can't make it another day, Spirit, my beautiful Golden, will give me a big hug. He makes me feel as if I'm worth at least a little bit. I don't know what I would do without my dogs. They give me the will to hold on and keep going.

Hugs,
Karen