Pelvic Bone Pain

redkitty

Hi,

I was diagnosed with oa in my right hip in Spring 2014. It was mild and hadn't caused me many problems.

Over the past 2-3 months I have been in alot of pain in my pelvic bone and lower back area, as well as the hip. Honestly, it drives me mad. I can't sleep on my back, sit upright for long or walk very far without their being this horrible pain, mostly in both sides of my pelvis.

I recently went to my doctor (over another matter) and mentioned it to her. She looked at my x-ray result and said she would expect to see everybodys x-ray aged 40+ (i'm 41) with my results, and offered me no expanation to the increase in pain. This was news to me , I didn't realise everybody in the world aged over 40 had oa?

Is the pelvic and back pain linked to the hip oa? Does oa spread to other areas? I don't know whether to put up with it, or ask to see another doctor to get another opinion.

[Deleted User]

Hi redkitty

Welcome to the forum and sorry you had to find us to ask for help. Its a little quiet at the moment but I'm sure you will get lots of advice and support from all the lovely people here.

We are here to help with forum problems, so do let us know if you need any support.

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stickywicket

Hello redkitty and welcome from me too. I'm surprised if your doc thinks that OA is normal after the age of 40 as we all know many people who are hale and hearty well into their 70s. However, I guess some deterioration in the bone structure does happen.

OA is a tricky beast. It certainly can spread. As to whether or not yours has done, I think the only answer is 'not necessarily'. When we are in pain we move differently. We try to 'spare' the affected area and, as a result, often create pain elsewhere. This is known as 'referred pain'.

I wonder what medication you've been given. Usually it's anti-inflammatories and / or pain relief for OA. They should help both the OA and (if that's what you're getting elsewhere) any referred pain.

But we are not docs. I suggest you see a different doc in your practice and tell him or her what you've written here. It might be a simple matter of a change of medication. Or they might feel you'd benefit from some physio. Some docs seem to feel awkward about OA because they can't cure it and can only suggest methods of relieving the pain. But relieving the pain is important. Do all you can – eat healthily, lose weight, if necessary, exercise the joints, use hot or cold pads, ensure you have a decent supportive mattress etc. It can't be cured but it can be helped

dreamdaisy

Hello, it's nice to meet you but I am sorry you have had to find us. Your GP is right in one respect, OA is very common in those over forty, but it can happen at any age. There are between eight to ten million arthritics in the UK (depending on what articles you read) but it's not the case to say that everyone is affected. I began with an auto-immune arthritis in 1997 , when I was 36, and the joint damage caused by that has led to OA in both ankles, both knees and both hips. Any form of arthritis is degenerative and progressive but the rate at which that happens is as individual as us. Although my hips hurt the sharper pain is in my sacro-iliac joints (the 'bones' in your buttocks, they are the ones that join the pelvic bone to the spine) - my auto-immune arthritis hit them years ago and don't I know it! Whether I'm sitting, standing or lying they hurt, 24/7.

OA does 'spread' in that as soon as one joint is out of kilter we alter how we move etc. thus placing strain on other joints. Heat can help to relieve the worst of the symptoms but nothing will totally eradicate the pain; has your GP suggested any form of pain relief and / or an anti-inflammatory medication? DD

barbara12

Hello redkitty

The back and hips are a very complex one, I had my hip replaced, and was warned it might not ease all the pain, they were right I still have a lot of pain radiating into my hip from the disc in my back,even though the hip feels much stronger..and needed doing.
Have you had scans done or X rays,,the scan will show much more up, and they should have explained the results to you not just brush you off with what they expected to see ..not sure about over 40s though.. :shock:

theresak

Hello Redkitty and welcome.

I don't have OA, I have the auto-immune variety, RA, but pain is pain, and it's difficult to live with it whatever the cause. I think in your shoes I would see another doctor for a second opinion. Anti-inflammatories may help to alleviate the pain, though not a good idea to use long-term.

I get hip/buttock pain on my left side due to trochanteric bursitis, but again, the advice is anti-inflammatories or steroid injection. Physio didn't work for me.

Hope you get some answers.

Tezz x

mamajules

Hi Redkitty,

I am new to this forum and had a similar experience to you with GPs just fobbing me off with 'you probably have wear and tear to your spine' even though I had severe pelvic, back pain and fatigue. Some of the pelvic pain and pressure turned out to be endometriosis so after pushing and pushing to see a specialist I opted for a hysterectomy. This did ease some pain and fatigue but the back pain persisted. It then took me a year of being fobbed off by GPs to get a referral to a rheumatologist who did an MRI and diagnosed OA in my spine, knees and sacrum. I only got the referral as I experienced inflammation of the eye which is linked to RA and insisted on being referred.

It does frustrate me that GPs do not investigate further, I did have to fund some of the specialist appointments myself to get answers and you shouldn't have to do that. I would book an appointment with another GP and keep telling them until they investigate properly.

I am now 54 and managing (just about) to live with OA. I try not to go to the doctors as they don't seem to offer much support. I am pleased to find a forum instead.

Hope this helps?

Mamajules