frozen / locking hip - iliospoas tendon/bursa pain ?

[awells83]

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!!!

[UKgirl]

Has your OS ordered the appropriate x-rays and imaging (MRI arthrogram) of your hip to rule out dysplasia, FAI, and/or labral tear? It sounds to me like your groin pain accompanied by the lack of internal rotation would be pretty spot on for a torn labrum. My hip popped & clicked internally as well as externally prior to surgery, however, releasing/lengthening was not needed. Please try to get in to see a hip preservation specialist or sports med specialist that understands hip pathology before you agree to any surgery. It sucks having to be in so much pain and I really do hope you figure things out soon. Best of luck!

[megannjoroge]

Hi Awells83
I think I have a very similar condition to you although less severe. These days it is most often triggered by sitting at the computer then standing up. A horrendous pain triggers in my hip and I can't move, stand on it or do anything. I have found that wiggling my pelvis the tiniest amount from side to side seems to gradually ease it until I can take a few steps (that takes anywhere up to 20mns in my case).
An MRI showed that I have a 'frozen hip' ie the capsule surrounding the hip joint has thickened (a lot) in response to some prior injury. Have you had an MRI show anything? The sports physician I saw said he had never seen it before (in 20 years of practice) so it may be that it takes a few goes before you find someone who can identify it properly.

This week I am off to have a cortisone injection and then in a couple of months to see an orthopaedic surgeon. I will let you know what happens if you like.

[steph_C]

I have the same problem as you, only mine is always in my right hip. The locking problem can occur any time of the day anywhere I am.

I hurt my lower back about 5 years ago and went to see a couple different doctors/physical therapist and had x-rays and a MRI done. They told me a disk was out of place. During my last PT session by hip started to lock on me. It was only for short periods of time, 1-15 minutes. I didn't think much of it at first and figured it was just related to my lower back problems. After a few months the locking started to get a lot worse and more frequent. Even though my back was getting better, it now felt like the problem "moved" to my hip.

The first time it happened really bad I was at work. I bent down to get a pen off the ground and when i went to stand up my hip locked on me. It had happened enough time at this point that I thought I would be able to work it out and start walking again in a few minutes. I was wrong, I ended up in the ER and they gave me pain killers and muscle relaxers. The ER doctor told me to fallow up with a ortho. I went for the fallow up appointment, the ortho thought I had a rip or tear in my cartilage around the hip joint, he sent me from and arthrogram fallowed by an MRI. I was really hopeful that this would give me some answers. When all the test came back normal, the ortho told me he didn't know what was wrong. I went home very let down.

At this same time I had also started to see a chiropractor for my lower back. I told him what was going on with my hip and he recommended using the ultra sound machine around my hip. This seemed to really help! My hip wasn't locking up as much and when it did it wasn't nearly as bad. I knew this wasn't a solution to my problem though. I couldn't spend the rest of my life going to a chiropractor twice a week to get ultra sounds. Plus the problem was still there, just not as bad. I stopped getting the ultra sounds due to the cost and time it took from my schedule.

Shortly after my hip started locking up again. And getting worse and worse. I was missing school and work because of it. It happened at work again, i was sitting in my chair and went to stand up and couldn't. My hip was locked for about 11 hours that time. Again, i took pain killers and muscle relaxers to help. Then about 3 weeks later it happened again. I was sleeping this time. I woke up screaming in pain. I was locked in fetal position and couldn't move at all. Not an inch. It was the most painful it's ever been. Again i ended up in the ER. Pain killers and muscle relaxers weren't even seeming to help this time. They gave me morphine. Finally I has more range of motion and was released. That time it was about 17 hours.

I also hadn't found anyone with the same problem, until i read your post. Just like you, i have found no solutions and haven't found a doctor that knows what's going on. I am going to see another ortho tomorrow, he is supposed to be the best in my area when it comes to hips. I'll keep you posted on what he thinks it might be.

I don't know about you but i've been dealing with this for about 3 years now and i'm more then frustrated. I'd love some answers!

[Lashez]

I'm so sad to hear other people have this problem but I'm relieved at the same time. We can at least try and share treatments!!

The symptoms you describe above are exactly what I suffer from, I've woken many times during the night and not been able to do anything but remain in the fetus position and just try and breath. Walking hurts it, sitting on the floor with crossed legs is ok, until I try and stand up, many things bring on the locking.

Some of you mentioned having appointments shortly after your posts, what was the outcome? Are you all still having these issues?

I've had MRI's, Ultra sounds, cortisone injections and lots of physio. The physio agrees that there is something not right but none of the professionals can tell me what. I almost started thinking I was imagining it until I read your posts.

Tonight I had to leave my favorite sport early due to my hip locking up. I'm frustrated beyond belief right now, please tell me your stories, how are you all going?