Why does it hurt mostly when I am sitting or lying down?

When I walk around, it's fine. But I have a difficult time sitting here at the computer and especially sleeping at night.

Does anyone know why?

I wish I had the answer for you. I do know that when I was first dx'd as a child, my mom said I use to complain and cry about my hips hurting at night when I was in bed. I was fine during the day. And, when I have a joint that hurts when not in use, changing positons helps. Must just be the pressure point of where the RA is attacking or where the OA has settled in.

Having said that, your post reminded me so much of when I had shingles. I remember sitting in the church pew in so much pain I knew something else had to be going on. You haven't noticed any rashes have you?


[This Message was Edited on 02/29/2008]

Thank you so much for answering me, Bionicmom. I kind of gave up looking to see if anyone would respond....besides, my hip hurts when I sit at the computer! :)

No, I haven't had a rash. I don't think I would have thought of that!

Sometimes I am able to do something to alleviate the pain for awhile. It's like a readjustment. I lie in bed and bend one leg so the foot resting on the side of the other leg....like the number "four". Then I push the foot against the leg (or the leg against the foot). If I do it right, the pain goes away.

I guess I did it right because I am enjoying a pain-free spell. My other hip is starting to ache though.

Thanks again, Bionicmom!

be your friend too - between the legs/knees - whatever works. I was just thinking how much body pillows could have helped when I was younger. And, I too, had to always switch positions. Sometimes the relief would be temporary but at least there was some relief.

I feel for ya - I remember those days well. I've had my hips and knees replaced so no more pain there. Now I have issues with my shoulders and neck. I've had to try all kinds of pillows and doubled up on them too. I've got a combination that's working for the moment. Thank goodness.

Glad there's no rash - shingles are the pits!

I think sometimes people miss posts when a bunch are entered at once and posts get pushed down the list fast. And sometimes, I think we just don't know what to say maybe. I just took a chance. I have RA (with OA because of the RA) but decided it was probably very similar to my own experiences.

Anyway, I'm glad you're finding some relief at least to rest at night. Hmmm...wonder if sitting on pillows at the computer would help?

no wonder you are "Bionicmom"!

Do they put you all the way "under" while operating? I think that might be my biggest fear as I had a horrible reaction once to general anesthesia. I'd never want that to happen again.

But of course as we all know the pain will become so great that we will endure anything just for relief. I wonder what they did in the old days....perhaps just stayed drunk day and night?

I'll try pillows again. Heat did not seem to help whatsoever. Aleve didn't do a thing.

How about I'll think of you and what you endured the next time I am in agony! :)

Try not to sleep on your side as this puts alot of pressure on the hip joint.

Re: anesthesia. You really need to find out the name of the anesthesia that was used on you when you had the bad reaction. This is something that is really important in case you ever need emergency surgery or something.

I'll try and get used to sleeping on my back again.

My reaction was one of a panic attack (I think) although it felt completely physical and not at all psychological.

One doc told me it was not necessarily the type of anesthesia but my state of mind as I was being put under. I'm not sure I 100% believe that!

as a matter of fact I KNOW I would not 100% agree with that doc either. Yes, I was under general anesthesia for all my replacements. I've had some issues myself going under and I always make sure the anesthesiologist knows my concerns. This last time, the guy was a saint. He listened to me about all my previous experiences, and when it was time to put me under he asked if I had anything else I wanted to say. I said, "just make sure I don't wake up during the surgery" and he very convincingly said, "I won't" and that was the last thing I remembered until the Recovery room.

I think I ask more questions of the surgeon about their anesthesiologists than I do about the actual surgery.

Good luck with your pillows!


[This Message was Edited on 03/03/2008]

Boy can I relate to alot of things the rest of you have.

I really go over stuff with the anestheologist. Some anesthetics (spelling) cause me to get depression after the surgery. I plead with them to not give me any anesthetic that has this side effect. I think the newer anesthetics must not have this issue anymore.

I also make sure that either my surgeon or the anestheologist has written on my chart that I am to get an antinausea shot BEFORE I wake up in the recovery room. I have RA in my Rt. TMJ joint (Jaw). I have to be careful that vomiting doesn't dislocate my jaw on the rt. side.

I also make sure that it is written in my chart that I can have as much cold milk as I want from the time I wake up from surgery. The is evidently the opposite of what other people do; other people must get sick from milk after surgery???? The nurses always roll their eyes and hand me a vomit tray. I pour milk over a glass full of icecubes and drink about a quart of milk as soon as I'm awake from surgery. I drink at least a half gallon of milk within 8 hours following surgery.

The nurses keep waiting for me to get sick from the milk------they are STILL WAITING!

I used the same surgeon for the second round of thyroid surgery that was cancerous. That made it so much easier because he already had all the info written down from the 1st surgery. I ended up with the same anestheologist that I had for the first round of surgery. he also just pulled up my records. This really reduced my stress level.

Sorry, Hipocrite, we are really getting off of topic from your original post. I'll blame it on my senility! Ha, ha. Soft hugs. Joyfully

apologize! I am learning so much here. When it is my time, I'll be a pro!

I tried sleeping on my back last night and it was definitely less pressure on that area. I just have to get past the memory of an experience I had 36 years ago.....I had rolled on my back to start to fall asleep and remarked to myself how comfortable it felt to be on my back. Then a spider landed on my face! He must have cruised down on a web string and used my face as a landing pad.

Anyway, thanks again Bionicmom and Joyfully. I am learning a lot from you and others on this board! :)

When I was like that back in 93 before I knew I had RA the Doctor put a shot in my hip and that helped me. I haven't had any problem with my hips since then.The Orthapedic Surgeon's office is the one who put the shot in my hip. Sorry I can't spell today.Hope this helps you. also I sit in a wheel chair at my pc an it helps everything,the whole family sits in it. My daughter got it for me at the Goodwill store for 10 dollars. she did good.
[This Message was Edited on 03/05/2008]

People are telling me to avoid cortisone at all costs.

I wonder why people are telling you to avoid cortizone shots? I've had many shots in my knees over the years, not in my hips though. I have to say those shots have helped me through many bad flares. Is it the actual shot that makes them tell you to avoid it?

Who are these people who are telling you to avoid the cortisone shots? is it a nurse or doctor????

Cortisone shots in joints. OK, it does leach some of the (calcium???) out of the surrounding bone. However, it also can stop a flare up in the joint.

You don't just decide to get these shots every couple of months because that would do joint damage, but these cortisone shots are used to help get a flaring joint under control.

I've had cortisone shots in various joints over the years. They are a God send to me. You get the shots when the other RA meds can't get the flare to be under control.

If you only have a couple joints that are really acting up, the rheumy may suggest the cortisone shots. if you have a bunch of joints acting up, the rheumy will probably order the med pack of pills.
[This Message was Edited on 03/06/2008]

I've been trying to remember who told me that (more than one person did) so that I could ask them exactly what they meant.

All I remember is how emphatic they were. Can't remember who it was and it wasn't long ago! Where is my mind going? :(

I will check back as soon as I solve this mystery.....

Have you looked up stem cell treatments? There are great procedures in the United States using stem cells instead of hip and knee pain.

Have you looked up stem cell treatments? There are great procedures in the United States using stem cells instead of hip and knee pain.

I recommend trying a support for the lower back. I think it's called lumbar support ad you can buy pads especially for chairs forthis. It might really help you. I need lumbar support if Im driving any length of time. Deb

Have you researched hip pain and stem cells?

Have you heard about the new stem cell therapy, using your own stem cells to heal?

I think that by definition, OA is worse when inactive. I can try and relax in the recliner and my right hip begins with a dull pain. This goes into my leg.

Just as with you, I feel better when moving.

When this gets bad, I know it is time to go into remission. I do this and am free of pain for several months, and start to notice the pain creeping back.

It does take longer to go into remission than when I was younger. I recommend going into remission as soon as you first feel pain. It sure helps

How do you go into remission from this pain?

down and/or sleeping...but when I get up to walk and move around my knee is paining me and my hip/pelvic area hurt so much.

I'm actually thinking knee replacement...the last thing I ever wanted to do. Talked to a lot of friends lately who know many who have had great results with a new knee. But oh the down time....yikes..and, of course, never know how things will turn out.

Now, going to give LDN a try. It would great if it helped.

[This Message was Edited on 10/10/2009]

I been haven pain in my hip when I sit and I was diagnosed with tendonitis.

I would be interested to learn more about the stem cell therapy. How does it work?

My first pain began in my hips many years ago. I now sleep in a recliner so I can not lay on my sides and I do use a lot of pillows to prop with.

I don't think the pain ever completely goes away do you?

Stinker

I have it in my spine and the bone is degenerating, I have had 2 fusions the last one with rods. Have you had yours checked out?

i have such pain in my rt hip that i can't walk more than 1/2 block without stopping, resting, then go a little further, etc-blah. almost always aching but feels much better in bed. i am a fan of lots of pillows as well. my xrays don't call for hip replacement, i guess, must ask again. i've had my great toe fused- a lot less pain. need a knuckle done -any one have experience with that? faye

I feel on an ice patch last January, slammed the outside of my left knee into the pavement. I was diagnosed with a bone bruise. It hurt badly so my doctor gave me a cortisone shot. It did nothing.

I went to an orthopedic surgeon four months later for the pain - figuring I'd developed arthritis. Was given another cortisone shot. It did nothing.

Went back three months later, was given a cortisone shot. It did nothing. Wait, yes, it did something - it took all the cartilage left on my leg bones. I went from a bone bruise to a bone-on-bone joint that hurts twice as bad as the original bone bruise did.

In January I wasn't even thinking of a knee replacement. Nine months later that's the only thing that will help me. What brought about this change? Three cortisone shots.

I do very very little coritsone shots. I think I've had 2 in my life for that reason; deplets the bone. My doc who keeps me going won't give them to me and I really don't want them.

You'll never know, but things could have healed on their own. The body can do that often. Unfortunately, many of these injuries leave us with arthritic conditions. Sorry about this.

refief with very low dose naltrexone and it's just been a month. I plan to stay on it and see how it goes. I don't want any joint replacement surgeries.