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Chronic hip pain climbing specific

Original Post
Stephen Burns · · Telluride, CO · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 25

For about four months now I've been experiencing hip pain in the inner top portion of my right leg/ groin. The pain is experienced when sitting and crossing my right leg over my left and climbing, or moving my body in funny ways to see what hurts, ie, climbing. For the most part trad movement is fine but powerful high right steps where the inner thigh is engaged sends a sharp pain threw, causing everything from the innner thigh tothe hip flexor to tighten up. I have continued to climb through all of this and finally resolved two weeks ago to take a break and do pt. the physio thinks it may be hip labral tear but many of the symptoms associated with this don't seem to be present. I've already ruled out adductor strain and due to the fact that this has been four months I'm truly worried that this might be needing surgery. Any knowledge or insight would be hugely appreciated!!! I just wanna climb!!

fossana · · leeds, ut · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 13,318

With the groin pain and hip flexor "locking" I would have guessed labral tear also. They don't always present in the traditional manner; I had one with no groin pain, just a lot of hip flexor issues. Arthritis can also cause groin pain, but it's not usually described as sharp. Have you had an MRI?

george wilkey · · travelers rest sc · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 235

this may not apply at all but I had severe hip pain for about five months. not all the time, usually sitting or standing too long would start it hurting and a lot of times there seemed to be no rhyme or reason to it. it started out not too bad and continued to get worse until I could no longer run. that's when I went to see a doctor. he diagnosed it as a common running injury which I spent a couple more months trying to rehab. finally my wife(who is a nurse) made me go see a back specialist and after an MRI I found out it was a ruptured disc. the disc was putting pressure on the sciatic nerve and I was feeling all the pain in the hip. I got a steroid shot in the back and most of the pain was gone in a few days.

I say all this to explain that just because your feeling it in the hip doesn't necessarily mean the problem is in your hip. you may want to at least talk to a back specialist, specially if the hip doctor isn't helping you, or there's any numbness associated with it.

john strand · · southern colo · Joined May 2008 · Points: 1,640

it doesn't sound like the psoas, mine was more of a pain/flex, not any lock ups

Just Solo · · Colorado Springs · Joined Nov 2003 · Points: 80

Arthritis can definitely cause a sharp pain in that region as it advances. I have a hip resurfacing, there was definitive sharp pain in my groin at times. Right side is doing it now as well.

Having said that, hip pain can often be related to the back and vice versa. If it has been four months, an X-ray to rule out arthritis or other bony issue is in order. Even early onset arthritis can cause tightness, stiffness and general aches. Often the psoas can get pretty severe tendinitis that is VERY DIFFICULT to relieve. If the joint looks good, you probably have psoas tendinitis that usually requires PT to help it calm down. Then you need to address the reasons it got pissed in the first place. Range of motion issues, possibly just a funky hip joint (not uncommon) or other muscle imbalances. Often the Gluteus Maximus is either weak, or inhibited as well, with hip flexor issues. Sometimes even causing the problem. The hip is a complex joint and it can be difficult to nail down the chicken and the egg. Don't let it get worse, it can be really hard to reverse after too long...

Stephen Burns · · Telluride, CO · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 25

Thanks for the replies. So far I've been working with a PT and we've been addressing the obvious imbalances which within a week and a half a taking it easy on climbing and balancing exercises has allowed me for the most part to cross my leg over the other. Today I wen't to the gym and had a very very easy session and nothing got pissed, which is very hopeful.
In response to whether I've had an MRI yet, I have not. The PT said we should give it a few weeks and if nothing is looking up we should start looking towards the MRI... surgery route. I fear this for my employment is based upon my mobility and I already would have a hard time paying just for the scan let alone blah blah blah....
You know. Strange thing about this for me is after combing the internet for similar climbing related injuries I find very little, and those with similar symptoms complain about not being able to run. Running, specifically trail running hasn't been effected at all which doesn't seem to line up that much, though I think playing soccer might exacerbate it quite a bit... the whole kicking with the inside of your foot thing... Thankfully I don't play soccer.

fossana · · leeds, ut · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 13,318

If it is a torn labrum and you're considering surgery, PM me. I can tell you what I had done surgerywise and how the recovery went. I had everything done ~locally (Boulder, Golden, Vail).

Goldie Johnson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2015 · Points: 0

Hi,
Chronic hip pain is worrisome indeed. You should have your hips checked by an orthopedic doctor. This article can be your reference: placidway.com/package/153/D…

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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