My left hip occassionally locks or freezes on me and causes EXTREME pain. This occurs when I attempt to extend my leg (never hurts when I bend...only when I try to extend or stand back up). If I had to point to the location of the pain, I'd say it's in the front side, near the inner groin area. When this occurs (happens randomly - once every few weeks/months), I cannot extend my left leg, stand on it, or put any pressure on it at all. The duration of this pain can span from a few hours to it's longest occurance of 23 hrs! It's totally dibilitating when it happens, and I can't even get out of bed. If I get up, I have to crawl and keep my leg (hip) bent at least 90 degrees to keep the pain as managed as possible. If I try to force it straight, I get really hot and nauseous and it's a 10 on a 1-10 scale. (I've had my ACL replaced and gall bladder removed, and this hip pain is MUCH worse!) When I'm in pain, I can usually rotate my hip outwards with tolerable discomfort, but if I attempt to rotate in inward or straighten, it's unbearable.

I've been referred from my primary care to an ortho. surgeon who put me through physical therapy and then did a steroid injection near the iliopsoas bursa/tendon. This didn't help, and my worst 23 hr hip locking occurance happened about 2 weeks after the injection. This ortho. referred me to another, who evaluated me and thinks my iliopsoas tendon is too short and needs lengthened. He also recommends doing PT again, then possible another injection if necessary, and lastly he would consider surgical "release/lengthening" of the tendon. Both orthos have said they think this is snapping hip syndrom. My hip does make an audible "popping" noise sometimes, but I usually don't have any pain associated with the popping. Usually, my pain happens if I squat down and then try to stand back up, or if I'm sitting for a while and then try to stand up, I experience the locking/frozen problem (and I usually don't even hear the audible "pop" when my hip gets stuck.

I have read TONS of threads on different sites, and haven't heard anyone with the locking/frozen hip issue. Most people just experience the popping an mild/moderate discomfort, but I haven't found anyone with the paralyzing pain I'm having. I'm not even convinced that this is actually snapping hip or iliospoas related since I can't find anyone with similar problems.

If you have had similar issues, I'd love to hear what helped you!! If anyone has recommendations for therapies or treatments, PLEASE SHARE!!!