What do you do for hip pain?

[Plodderman]

Over the past year I have experienced some hip pain- more like a feeling that the hip is stretching out a little bit. Wondering if what you did for hip pain.

[Gaiter]

yoga?

[hikergirl1120]

I am a runner and tend to have tighter hip muscles because of that plus ever since I was a kid my hips have bothered me after hiking alot. I found a really helpful stretch. You cross your legs and lean to the side opposite of the leg in front is pointing. Kind of hard to describe but it really helps me. I started doing that everyday even when I dont run and I haven't had as much irritation.

http://www.usaweekend.com/05_issues/050807/images/hip_stretch.jpg

[Plodderman]

I will give it a try, thank you.

[Blissful]

Also check the shoes you are wearing - if they are not correct or overcorrect, esp the insoles, it can throw your hip out of position.

[tiptoe]

Another vote for yoga. I've been doing Bikram (hot) yoga since last spring to strengthen a knee and help with spine alignment, and I definitely feel better for it. Of course, it depends what's causing the hip pain in the first place.

[Kerosene]

Yoga and stretching of hip flexors and back might help. In addition, deep tissue massage works wonders for me, especially if you can find a massage therapist who works on accident victims. I find that after a few 60-90 minute sessions (which can sometimes be pretty painful) that I'm able to walk again without hip or back pain. If I was disciplined I'd get a massage every month, but I tend to do it more as a "tune-up" when things start to get out of alignment.

[MoBill122]

I always wondered about opening a..uh...one of those " massage parlor " type places at about Woods Shelter. I mean...think how many hikers would love a massage by then.

Bet a lot of them would be broke and off the trail when they got to Neels too ! LOL:banana

[Jim Adams]

ibuprofin and keep walking...works for me.

geek

[Tennessee Viking]

Do basic stretches. Cold, heat, and menthol patches.

[take-a-knee]

I don't know...maybe go see an ortho doc?

[warraghiyagey]

Yup. . . pretty much stretching out not only the areas of discomfort but your entire body everyday. . . .:sun

[hikergirl1120]

Stretching before and after exercising helps me as well. Also stretching before bed and when you wake up....lots of stretching.

[Incahiker]

I have some kind of pain, it feels like it might be hip pain, I don't know.

It feels like the pain is where my spine meets my hips, or whatever that is that is between the hips, where the spine connects. Some days it hurts all day long, usually before a rain, and other days it does not hurt what so ever, at all. Its really weird. Before I went to a chiro I used to have bad sciatica, after I had gone a few times the sciatica stopped (shooting pains down my right leg) but now the pain is just centered in that particular area. Weird. I hang upside down too and that seems to stretch that area really good.

Also, while sitting in a chair, put 1 foot on a knee, then bend forward and that will stretch your muscles back there quite a bit.

[sasquatch2014]

I get this at times. My back is like a slinky and not in a good way I have had two back surgeries and hope to avoid a third if at all possible. The hip flexor stretches are good and as people have already said yoga. When all else fails I go for my old standby Motrin and Vicodin.:D

[Tinker]

I get this at times. My back is like a slinky and not in a good way I have had two back surgeries and hope to avoid a third if at all possible. The hip flexor stretches are good and as people have already said yoga. When all else fails I go for my old standby Motrin and Vicodin.:D

Bubba, you carry too much. :D

[George]

You might try glucosamine for joint pain I take it for my hands but it helps with all joints

[Rockhound]

Over the past year I have experienced some hip pain- more like a feeling that the hip is stretching out a little bit. Wondering if what you did for hip pain.
I'm not allowed to say but it works like a charm.

[sasquatch2014]

Bubba, you carry too much. :D

How is it that you think I can get away with carrying that much. :D

[SGT Rock]

That was my thing. When My hips are hurting I am carrying too big a load.

[Tinker]

How is it that you think I can get away with carrying that much. :D

I know, dude - "Powered by 'Vitamin I'". I'm right there with ya.

DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT! ;):)

[Egads]

drop the pounds & lose the pain

[mkmangold]

Therapy depends on what is causing your pain. For some unforeseen, unknown reason, my left hip now hurts. I did promise myself, though, that I would not succumb to the old person habit of making a grunting noise whenever I rose from a squatting to a standing position!
Personally, I use Limbrel (an anti-inflammatory based on plant phytochemicals), Flector patches, and Diclofenac gel. I may use aspirin, ibuprofen, and/or naproxen if the pain is severe enough which it rarely is.

[Incahiker]

I have been going to the chiropractor once every other day for the last week and it has worked wonders.

As usual I thought he was talking out his arse when he said that my hips were locked in one position and that my right leg was about 1 1/2" higher then my left leg. He said that my hip wasn't rotating correctly when I was walking and was locked in a backwards position and that I would need to come in every other day for 2 weeks so that he could adjust me and get my muscles used to the new, normal position. I thought he was just full of crap and trying to get all the money he could get out of me.

So he laid me on my left side and pulled my right leg near my chest and then pushed down with all his migth on my right hip and I heard a huge "POP" and some minor discomfort at first because he nailed the area that was hurting so bad, I thought he broke my back lol. Then a second later I felt all the pressure go away and it was just great relief. The next day I was pain free. The day after it started hurting again and that is when I was suppose to go see him, and he did the same thing, and it felt immediately better. He said that my body is slowly starting to get used to it. Now it has been 2 days and it feels great. Quality of life is so much better!!

I would definitely recommend going to see a chiropracter for a month and see if that begins to help.

He said that it could have been caused by a car wreck, stepping of the curb the wrong way, falling, etc.. and it just takes time to wreak havok on the body.

[wakapak]

I have been going to the chiropractor once every other day for the last week and it has worked wonders.

As usual I thought he was talking out his arse when he said that my hips were locked in one position and that my right leg was about 1 1/2" higher then my left leg. He said that my hip wasn't rotating correctly when I was walking and was locked in a backwards position and that I would need to come in every other day for 2 weeks so that he could adjust me and get my muscles used to the new, normal position. I thought he was just full of crap and trying to get all the money he could get out of me.

So he laid me on my left side and pulled my right leg near my chest and then pushed down with all his migth on my right hip and I heard a huge "POP" and some minor discomfort at first because he nailed the area that was hurting so bad, I thought he broke my back lol. Then a second later I felt all the pressure go away and it was just great relief. The next day I was pain free. The day after it started hurting again and that is when I was suppose to go see him, and he did the same thing, and it felt immediately better. He said that my body is slowly starting to get used to it. Now it has been 2 days and it feels great. Quality of life is so much better!!

I would definitely recommend going to see a chiropracter for a month and see if that begins to help.

He said that it could have been caused by a car wreck, stepping of the curb the wrong way, falling, etc.. and it just takes time to wreak havok on the body.

good decision to go to one! of course, i am biased towards chiropractic since i'm a chiro myself! thing is, even after you go for a month and feel better, you should still go in once every few weeks to make sure you're not wreaking anymore havoc on your body and staying in line so nothing like this happens again. You may also notice improvements in other areas of life such as, better sleep, getting sick less, things like that.

one question, why does everyone think chiro's are full of it and just trying to get as much money as they can but NEVER question MD's???? and i'm not trying to start a debate or anything, but seriously, stop and think what regular medical care costs (take the insurance out of it) and look at who cost more and who is getting the money.

[handlebar]

I had severe pain in my hip around Partnership Shelter during my 06 thru. It was bad enough that I could barely walk. Went home, saw doc and got a diagnosis of hip tendonitis---probably as an aftereffect of jamming my leg with knee locked on approach to Mt. Rogers. Doc prescribed 2 weeks of ibuprofen, 600mg 3 times per day with meals. Also ice packs (I sat on gallon ziplocks) 3 times/day and non weight bearing exercise---bicycle on level ground. Sure enough on the 13th day the pain was completely gone.

[brooklynkayak]

I was born with hip pain and will eventually get it replaced. For now I put as much of my weight on my trekking poles as possible. It really makes a difference for me.

Of course vitamin I helps.

Proper fitting shoes/supports makes a difference.

Yoga may help depending on the type of pain. My pain is in the joint, so yoga doesn't help me.
Yoga/stretching does help me with most hiking pains though. Try to do a little just before the hike and a little after, especially as you get older.

[Ekul]

You might try glucosamine for joint pain I take it for my hands but it helps with all joints

Understand that taking ^^ is a overtime thing. Takes a month or so to notice an improvement. Least it did for me. I lightened my load and choose a smaller pack to help make me pack lighter and not bring the comforts I thought I would want. The hip flexor stretch works great! I use it now specially on the trail.

[superman]

I get off her hip.:)

[middle to middle]

take two of what rock hound is using and call me in the morning.

[general]

drugs, lots of drugs.

[OldStormcrow]

Over the past year I have experienced some hip pain- more like a feeling that the hip is stretching out a little bit. Wondering if what you did for hip pain.

I'm not much older than you are and am already starting to get a lot of hip pain. At one time I thought I could be the only hiker to hike the entire AT....downhill. I would have friends shuttle me to the high spots above towns and hike primarily downhill for several days to my vehicle. This, too much weight in my pack, and too many old injuries from car wrecks, motorcycle wrecks, bicycle wrecks, horse wrecks, whitewater wrecks, hang glider wrecks, etc. have reduced the cartiledge in my hips and knees to almost nil. Spring for the "old man" model sleeping pad (I have been known to carry a thermarest AND a blue insulate pad) so your hips can rest at night and so you can get a decent night's sleep. It's worth a little extra weight and volume. And don't forget to bring a big bottle of ibuprophen and Bushmills Irish whiskey.

[Cedar Tree]

On my hike, I experienced a period where I was hurting badly in my hips and thighs. I would stop and before long the pain would go away. I finally realized I was cinching my pack's waist belt way too tight and I believe cutting off the blood flow to the lower half of my body. Do you cinch your waist belt very tight?
CT

[Chaplain]

Stretching before, during and after hiking, exercising. There is a muscle or tendon or something that can flip over the hip boen causing real pain. Especially if you are lying on your side at night. My bone doc advised shots and then the stretching.

[The Weasel]

Mayo Clinic has a great "symptom checker" that can help you self-identify possible causes and some treatment. Not just for hips, but this is the hip page.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/symptom-checker/DS00671/SYMPTOM=43DCF946-2A5D-9994-E4F423A2AE249B5B&TAB=Hip%2520pain

[JAK]

I'm hurting more each year. ( Not complaining. Just saying. ;) )
I'm going to try and hike my weight down and keep it down. It's seems crazy to say at 6' 220#, but I think there is a 160# skinny old man in this body waiting to get out. My Grandfather was a skinny old man and he really tore up the woods.

[darkage]

I'm not allowed to say but it works like a charm.

I couldn't agree more.

[double d]

One thing to consider about hip pain, how do you sleep? Do you sleep on your side of the painful hip? Try and sleep each night either face down or face up. I like to sleep on my side and sometimes have hip pain, especially when I work out.