Well, My Hip pain isn't from my hip - it is my spine - OUCH

For the past few months I have been in so much pain, it is terrible.  I originally had a hip xray and it showed some arthritis but that was it.  It hurt really bad when I slet because I sleep on my side but during the day it wasnt' that bad.  When the doctor examined it, I had like no range of motion but I really didnt want to do physical therapy at that point.  Then about 2 months ago, I went in for a bone marrow biopsy and all helll broke lose.  I was put to sleep at my request and it was done in the outpatient surgical unit of the hospital.  I woke up sore but that was it;  The next morning, I woke up I thought I was going to die from the pain.  The pain was going down my leg and he thought he might have hit a nerve during the biopsy.  Then about a week later, the hip pain just got horrendous to the point where I could hardly walk and I was using a walker.  I went for more xrays and they showed more arthritis but unfortunately no one has sent me of an MRI of the hip.  I was seeing a Rheumotologist at that point and he noticed that the hip pain was also in my thigh and very localized which meant I had severe bursitis.  So, he gave me a steroid injection in my hip/bursa and it was amazing - I walked out with no pain.  I was a new woman.  Unfortunately,r 2 weeks later the pain was back and with a vengance.  I was back with the walker.  I went to my pain management appointment and thankfully my doctor was on vacation and his partner was covering. His partner is much more aggressive and easier to talk to.  He ordered an MRI which I had been asking for from my regular pain doctor *****fused saying I didnt need one.  Well, thankfully I got one because I have a large herniation of the L3-L4 disc with compression of the nerve root, a tear of the L2-L3 disc, severe degeration of the L5-S1 Disc - bulging of all the othe discs and I cant remember all the other stuff - lots of big words. gave copy to the physical therapist today.

I am going for  an Epidural injection next week and then PT after that.  So, hip pain isnt always hip pain - it can be your spine.  I do have arthritis in my hip but the bulk of it is my spine.  the weird part is I have had spinal problems for almost 20 years, after a fall in a supermarket and then a car accident.  So, I have had arthritis and herniations for years but I have always had severe back pain even up until 3 months ago when this started.  with this, I have no back pain (other than flank pain - that I have) I just have the hip and leg pain.. I find that very odd to not have back pain after all these years.

One good thing has come out of this - Being I saw the partner of my pain management doctor -  I asked him if I could switch to using him. I explained that my original doctor has just gotten too comfortable - just gives my prescriptions every months  = and actually gives me a hard time sometimes saying that he wants me to get some of the stronger stuff from my surgeon because I say I need it because I have a hernia and alot of abdominal pain.  He is always trying to push me off on othe people - tried to get me to go to the Rheumotologist as a regular do to give me my meds and I dont understand he has been giving me my meds for 15 years and all of a sudden.  And, when I ask for a diagnostic test he says they arent' necessary and I have to find someone else to do them. So, thankfully the covering doctor is now MY pain management doctor and I love him.  He ordered the MRI - he called me as soon as he got the results - the other one never did that.  Now he is giving me the injection.  I am much happier.  Hopefully it will help.

Sorry you've been having such a rough time of it.  I know it can't have been easy for you.  Glad you switched doctors.  This new one sounds alot better!!    

Oh, back (and hip) pain is the worst!  I'm so sorry you've been going through this!  But it's SUCH a relief when we finally find a doctor that LISTENS to us.  In the meantime the other docs always make us feel like such hypochondriacs!

Hey, this is totally off topic (hijack!) but I saw that you haven't been getting notices of replies to your posts.  You had been very helpful to me when I was concerned about my copper levels and was headed for the specialist.  I wanted to let you know that he gave me the ceruloplasm (sp?) test and it was high too.  And that's good (he explained).  He said that the regular copper test doesn't distinguish between "free" copper and "bound" copper.  Bound copper is bound to the ceruloplasm and is harmless while the free copper is the one that runs around doing damage.  Apparently I've been eating a lot of copper (multivit, protein bar, protein shake) and my body has compensated by making more of the ceruloplasm and binding it up.  Doc also said that the copper rings in the eyes can be easily seen without any special instruments.  Finally, he also said that there was no way a 45 year old woman could be walking around with Wilson's disease -- the disease is too severe and the free copper does terrible damage, not only to the eyes but also to the brain, and most undiagnosed cases have neurological damage.

Of course, I hope I understood everything the doc told me correctly!  I wanted to let you know what happened because you were so helpful before.

Thanks again!

I am so glad to hear about the copper thing.   I didnt realize a high ceruloplasmin was good =that is interesting.  I have to do some more research myself about this because some of this is totally oposite of everything I have ever heard and read -so now as usual, I have lots of reading to do.  I know some multi's have a little bit of copper but didnt' realize that protein bars and protein shakes would have that much to send your levels up that high.  For the first 2 years I was drinking and eating them like crazy and my levels have always been normal.  Did he say anything about your levels being high when you were a child?  I would be curious about that having any correlation to this?  The copper rings is also new to me, always heard you cant see them to the naked eye/  Interesting.  I do know that WIsons is very neuro toxic and actually saw a show on TV where a woman had schitzophrenia for 20 years and it turned out it was undiagnosed Wilson's.  IT was really interesting but they said you cant see the rings without special tools.


Back to my hip/spine - I cant wait for my injection  = the pain in unbearable - the radiating is getting worse everyday but couldnt do it tomorrow because I have to be off the plavix for7 days.  the sad point is my pain killers dont help because it is the nerve and I really could use some advil or some aleve but I cant take it - I have a history of ulcers prior to RNY so I wont chance it

hello again. I did a little research on copper and wilsons - your doctor was definitely right about the high cerulaplasim ruling out wilsons - you would need a low cerulospamins for wilson's - so you are fine for that. It talked about 2 different copper tests - a serum test that we all get which you were high in then there is a whole blood -my neurologist that I dont see anymore -he used to do both and that is the distinguishing between bound and unbound - for wilson, the serum would be high and whole blood would be low.

They also talk about 24 hour urine testing to be done. The combination of your results fall into the copper toxicity category which makes we wonder since you had such high levels as a child - I wonder what you have been exposed to since childhood and maybe you might need chelation to get it out of your system - just eating some protein bars and drinking shakes doesnt give us really high levels or all of us would be toxic.

I really suggest you look into this more.

Here is a link to the one site I have found so far on copper testing - I can look further if you are interested - I dont want to push, so let me know if you want more info.

http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/copper/tab/ test


I just found one more interesting point - are you by any chance on birth control pills? Taking birth control pills and/or having high levels of estrogen can elevate copper and cerrulaplasmin levels.

Also having low zinc levels - I think we talked about this in the past.

 I can so relate. I have been experiencing awful pain in my leg since Jan 1st. I was checked twice for blood clots. Finally, my Dr conceded to a MRI and xrays. I got a call yesterday from the nurse saying it was mostly in my back ( same as you..many levels of arthritis ...I also need a knee replacement #2) I have an app't tomorrow to see my Dr to get his recommendations. He has been putting me off for some time as if it was all in my head. I have not been able to drive distances nor ride in the passenger seat in a car nor sleep in any position for more than a half an hour. It's been H!  I'm thinking of seeking a chiropractor too. There is no way I should have been suffering for the past 3 months. I hope we both find relief soon!!!!! Keep us posted!

I wish you the best. I personally dont believe in chiropractics - my brother was crippled by one.  That is why I go to PT - I feel the only way for the spine to get better is to strengthen the abdominal muscles first and then the PT can try to do a little manipulations.

I'm glad you finally got help for your problem--isn't it horrible when a doctor just won't listen to you? I had to switch my PCP because everything I tried to tell her she just would go into her sphell about my weight, age, ect.After a couple of years of telling her about chest pain shortness of breath,pain in the jaw--she finally sent me to a heart doctor who stopped his exam of me and put me in the hospital on my first visit to him--tests showed I had already had a heart attack  before he saw me and was in danger of having another one right then !! Funny thing is ANYTHING  my husband complained of she immediately followed up on. Well I hope you get all the help and relief you need. Saying a prayer for your return to good health. 

Glad you are getting answers, and hopefully some effective treatment and relief. Finding a medical professional that listens to you partners with you in the healing process is truely a blessing!

I suffer from chronic bursitis in both hips and arthritis in my knees and lumbar spine. Some days are just unbearable, but the nights are the worst. Losing weight actually temporarily exasperated the problem.

For me, building strength in my knees, thighs and abdominal muscles has been the most helpful. Physical therapy helped too.

My heart goes out to you for your pain issues. I've had three doctors manage my pain. The first was an actual pain specialist, but he fobbed me off on the back surgeon. The first back surgeon he tried to fob me off onto refused the case, so then he had to work harder to find a surgeon to take my case over. Then when my back surgeon was satisfied with my progress after the surgery (only drawback is visiting a surgeon 50 miles away when you've had surgery to your posterior)... he suggested I switch my pain management to my PCP (his office is 1/4 mile from my house).

My PCP had a few irregularities through his office, so he's under review and has very strong rules and regs for any pain patients he takes on. He took me on even though he was having issues because he has been my PCP since 2003 and he graduated from the high school where I teach, and he's always been very supportive. (best doctor I have ever had).

I'm feeling bad though because with my recent issues with my neck and headaches even though my PCP upped my meds two weeks ago (5mg vicodin twice a day in addition to the semi-effective 10 mg oxycontin twice a day was upped to two 7.5 mg vicodins)..... and I'm finding that I've taken my day's worth of pain meds by ten am. Yesterday I opted to not take more and by the end of the day I was wishing for a guillotine. Today I cut the vicodins in half... no real help. I'm feeling hopeless. I thought that upping from 5 mg to 7.5 would do the trick. I'm seeing my spine doc tomorrow, and will ask for suggestions that I can take to my PCP's office. I won't take another prescription (I have a pain contract, won't break it), but if the other doc recommends something, I'll run it by my PCP just to see what he thinks. My neurologist did switch up my neuralgia meds though, and I'm beginning to think that my escalation in overall pain is linked to that, so when I see him on Monday, I'll ask him if I can switch back.

Good luck with the PT and epidural. Tomorrow I discuss treatment to deaden the nerves that transmit pain from my spine. the Spine doc said that is the only treatment that my insurance has approved for arthritis in the spine.