I have had a problem with my hip for the last 5 years that has progressively gotten worse. I can not do my squat routine without pain during and after the workout. The squat itself does not really hurt but when I rack the bar and unload the weight off my back, woo it pulls across my lower back and hip.
History on this; went to my local Dr., he sent me for a hip x-ray, went to a M.D. who said the hip was fine. The M.D. was thinking it was a hip bursa so gave me a cortisone shot that did nothing. Back in 1 week to the M.D.; he ordered an MRI and now said it’s an inflamed SI joint. He recommended me to a specialist to have cortisone shot done under imaging. HAS ANYONE BEEN THROUGH THIS?!
Here are some personal stats if it helps;
46 Years old
5’9" 210 lbs.
Weight lift 3x a week
Each body part is hit only once a week
Squat: 535x6
Bench: 320x6
D.L.: 500x6
I also run 4 miles 3x a week.
This cortisone under imaging is the new fad right now. It should absolutely give you relief…for a while at least. You may be lucky in that, they resolve the inflammation with this shot and you have no further issues. It’s likely, however, that there is some underlying problem with alignment or function that preceded the “inflammation”. Consider seeing some form of physical practitioner to assess these things and try to improve whatever underlying thing caused this.
[quote]Dr J wrote:
This cortisone under imaging is the new fad right now. It should absolutely give you relief…for a while at least. You may be lucky in that, they resolve the inflammation with this shot and you have no further issues. It’s likely, however, that there is some underlying problem with alignment or function that preceded the “inflammation”. Consider seeing some form of physical practitioner to assess these things and try to improve whatever underlying thing caused this.[/quote]
I agree that there has to be some underlying cause to my problem and I will need to address that in the future. But for now, if this inflammation doesnâ??t go down, I can’t see any real healing taking place. Have you had or known anyone who went through this procedure in the SI joint?
I have been going through the same issue for over a year and a half. I am 45 and know your pain. My right hip will get really tight at night and after sitting for long periods. I have not been able to sleep on my right side for over a year. There is a dull ache and sharper pain if I sit directly on it. I have tried physical therapy, extensive stretching and mobility work, dry needling, and a cortisone shot. No of them have provided more than temporary relief.
I have tried single leg pistol squats to a bench, avoiding back squats, doing only front squats, doing only trap bar deadlifts. The result was that the pain stayed and my glutes just got weaker. Now I am focused on strengthening my glutes and my hip flexors. I am doing heavier bulgarian split squats, back extensions, side planks, suitcase carries. (I thimk my golfswing hurts my hip as well. I had too much hip action in the downswing which tightened my hip. So I am changing that as well.)
I have not noticed an enormous impact yet, but my lower back is feeling better, hopefully that will lead to some improvement in my hip. Let me know how your cortisone shot directly into the joint works? Good luck!
SI joint inflammation tends to be diagnostic of ankylosing spondylitis or related spondyloarthropathies. These are chronic rheumatic conditions that can and should be treated if diagnosed, but you would have to see a rheumatologist to get that evaluated.
I agree that there has to be some underlying cause to my problem and I will need to address that in the future. But for now, if this inflammation doesnâ??t go down, I can’t see any real healing taking place. Have you had or known anyone who went through this procedure in the SI joint?
[/quote]
I haven’t actually had any personal experience with this specific technique, but I have had a couple patients get cortisone injections into the S-I joint without imaging…going in “blind” I guess. The experience has been a little mixed. To one, it was a huge improvement; to another, not much change. I personally believe the success was tied to the accuracy of the diagnosis. Yours has been visualized on MRI, so I believe it really is the correct diagnosis, and you will likely get improvement from the procedure. It also sounds like you are likely to look for the underlying cause after it improves some, so I would feel pretty comfortable going forward.
[quote]ATLRGC wrote:
I have been going through the same issue for over a year and a half. I am 45 and know your pain.[quote]
I have a consultation tomorrow with the specialist and if “I am a candidate for the procedure”, I will have it done on Wednesday. I suffered way to long and my squats are in the basement now. (I really hate being mortal, lol!)
I will keep you posted; if this helps me and can help someone else, I will feel better twice.
[quote]ATLRGC wrote:
I have been going through the same issue for over a year and a half. I am 45 and know your pain.[quote]
I have a consultation tomorrow with the specialist and if “I am a candidate for the procedure”, I will have it done on Wednesday. I suffered way to long and my squats are in the basement now. (I really hate being mortal, lol!)
I will keep you posted; if this helps me and can help someone else, I will feel better twice.
According to the Dr. who gave me the cortisone shot in my hip bursa, the SI joint is not as easy to “feel” when ejecting, and the room for error is greater.
From my internet research, everyone has said this joint has little movement and very little connective tendons and muscles. If thatâ??s the case, why the bone crushing pain?
[quote]doublelung84 wrote:
From my internet research, everyone has said this joint has little movement and very little connective tendons and muscles. If thatâ??s the case, why the bone crushing pain?
[/quote]
It can be “bone crushing” if the inflammation is actually in the bone around the joint, as is the case in ankylosing spondylitis. You really should be evaluated by a rheumatologist.
I have had problems in my SIJ for about three years now. My underlying cause was due to an accident. I have started doing single leg RDL’s they do really help in stabilizing and strengthening the SIJ. I have a minor leg length discrepancy as well due to the lax SIJ. My right hip usually locks up when the SIJ is out - after RDL’s the SIJ seems stable and the hips loosen up as well.
In the thick of all this, I really miss running - Any advice anyone?
According to the Dr. who gave me the cortisone shot in my hip bursa, the SI joint is not as easy to “feel” when ejecting, and the room for error is greater.
From my internet research, everyone has said this joint has little movement and very little connective tendons and muscles. If thatâ??s the case, why the bone crushing pain?
[/quote]
Good question, and, to be honest, I may not know the answer. But, I think it may come down to the definition of “little” movement. While the amount of movement may be open for debate, I “think” most would agree that the S-I joint does move. Specifically, there is nutation and counter-nutation while walking, and the joints are “rumored” to open some while seated. Keep in mind, that these joints transfer the entire weight of the upper body to the legs. It doesn’t surprise me that problems here would be quite painful.
I went to the specialist yesterday and he felt that my pain could be from the SI joint or a lower faset joint. That’s a new one! Now I have another thing to research on line. Anyway, he said the only way to really know is to do a bone scan, so I have that on Tuesday. he also didn’t rule out a stress fracture.
I did run 4 miles today with very little pain but if I don’t get the steel back on my shoulders, I’m going to go crazy. Four weeks without doing squats sucks.
BBB,
Once I figure this out, I will take your advice. Something got me here, I need to address it as soon as I feel it again. Thanks everyone!
“your leg length is off”
“SI joint out of alignment”
“subluxation causing pain”
“you have a pelvic tilt/rotated sacrum/made up pathoanatomical lesion”
read a some literature demonstrating these statements are infact non-sensical. If these statements did have some validity (they don’t) your PT/Chiro/Osteopath/functional myokinesioarthrokinemechanical therapist cannot change it anyway.
Look for yourself. It’s free full text on pubmed. I suggest reading the reference list as well.
After going to the orthopedic specialist about 3 weeks ago, got the bone scan and the results are in. There is no fracture but the bone scan showed some inflammation in the T4-T5 area. Now the doctor has me scheduled for an epidural.
He also mentioned that I do some research on ?Bertolotti’s Syndrome?. I did some online research but I have no idea what this is the symptoms don?t seem to apply to me. If anyone has info on this, PLEASE let me know.
Inflammation of what area? Did you mean L4-5, instead of T4-5. So what did they say is inflammed? Also, bertolotti’s has to do with a transitional segment and sometimes sacralization. So if they didn’t see anything like a that on the xray or bone scan then I’d say that isn’t your issue.
[quote]jimmyiosis wrote:
Inflammation of what area? Did you mean L4-5, instead of T4-5. So what did they say is inflammed? Also, bertolotti’s has to do with a transitional segment and sometimes sacralization. So if they didn’t see anything like a that on the xray or bone scan then I’d say that isn’t your issue. [/quote]
My bad: l4-l5.
Thanks for clearing that up jimmyiosis!
It sounds like my problem is this Bertolotti syndrome. I had my epidural today and all went well. I think the doctor really “Hit the spot” with the cortisone since I felt the pressure where I have the pain. I feel a little better but until I can get back to heavy squats, the jury will still be out.
NOTE: There is a stretch I do that really pulls like hell on my hip. I lay on a table with my hips hanging over the end. I pull my one leg up to my chest and drop the other leg down. This really pulls and grinds along with a “Clicking” over the inside of my knee. I’m still not sure why the knee clicks and it my be unrelated. Today when I tried this stretch, it did feel somewhat better.
I got a second opinion on the Bertolotti syndrome. This doctor said after reviewing my MRIs and bone scan he does see some evidence of Bertolotti syndrome but in no way could that be where I was getting my pain.
The doctor ordered a SI joint injection which I received 5 days ago. I do feel better but not sure if its from the injections or the 4 month layoff from squats. Regardless, I’m hittin the squats this weekend. 10 reps with 135 lbs. here I come! Lol!