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Hip pain in middle of the night; dull ache that wakes me up. What could it be?

By Anonymous April 28, 2009 - 1:11pm
 
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I am in my mid-30s, and have recently been having pain in my hips in the middle of the night. It reminds me of the RLS (restless leg syndrome) commercials, although I do not have any of these symptoms (no needle-sensation, no crawling-sensation). It is a dull ache, and I try to move my hips and legs around to get rid of the pain (it feels like it is deep inside, not a muscle or bone), but moving it seems to irritate it a little more. It is actually not on my hip bone, but closer to the middle of my "gluteus maximus" on each side. It's been happening the past few weeks, always around 2am or 3am and wakes me up.

I've been taking some ibuprofen, and eventually falling back asleep, but would rather not have to keep taking medication.

When I was pregnant with my child 3 years ago, I had a real problem with my sciatic (spelling?) nerve in my hips. Feels similar, but not the same.

Any suggestions?

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Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

I have had repairs of labral tears in both hips, as well as impingements "sanded" down. Unfortunately, I still suffer from acute hip pain if I try to sleep on either side (the hip joint seems to "jam" into the socket). I've lost 45 lbs. since the last surgery, but have not experienced any improvement in the pain. I have about 30% bone loss in the left (worse) hip, and am facing a hip replacement. I'm trying to put that off due to my age (53). Now I'm experiencing sever thigh and foot muscle spasms, chronic insomnia, joint pain in the right knee, and can barely walk when I get up in the morning due to severe pain. I know my T3 is low, and recently my estrogen and testosterone levels are hardly detectable in my blood work. I've just started hot flashes, and am considering pellets under the skin.

Suggestions? I'm miserable.

July 13, 2014 - 10:00pm

If I sleep too long in the same position, I wake up in horrible, horrific hip joint pain. (It has happened to me with my arm/shoulder when I sleep too long with my arm over my head. But it is far more prevalent with my right hip.) I've had an x-ray done in the past but no issues. After researching and talking to my doctor, I believe it's just what I said: sleeping too long in 1 position + age + all the activity I have done over my lifetime that my body is now "complaining" about. LOL. So far I've found no magical fix for it, other than moving around and stretching my hip joint as much as I can stand. Good luck, ladies!

March 16, 2014 - 8:40am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

age 50, both at night and when walking for any length of time hips ache. also knees seem stiff. occasional lower back pain and sleep starts. insomnia and nocturia. main bread winner and work varies between sitting, standig bending, squatting and pushing /pulling large items. lack of sleep leaves me tired and am afraid of causing a car accident while driving. no other exercisr though seem to work harder at home than work currently clearing two rooms of hoarded junk some of which is awkward in shape or heavy.vegetarian so fish oil/green lipped mussel out and eat nuts 4days a week so doubt lack magnesium.stiffness and deep aches not sharp pain.also sleep starts can be quite violent spasms of head/neck shakes. any ideas? sunny.

November 17, 2013 - 10:19pm

Thanks for all the comments...they are helpful. I am 71 and just recently started waking around 4:00 am with hip and leg pain. I have osteoarthritis in my hands which has worsened lately. Two Ibuprofen help within half an hour, but I'm worried about taking too much. Wonder why the hip pain only shows up at night. During the day I have what I think may be sacroiliac pain on my left side...not nerve pain like sciatica but constant dull ache that worsens the longer I'm on my feet.
Again, thanks for the info.

November 4, 2013 - 9:03pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

The hip information and comments sound very much like my issues. So far I do not have a diagnosis.

September 22, 2013 - 12:05am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Hello.I'm 43 and have had severe hip pain going on 8 years now. I've seen every kind of Dr. you can think of. Neuro, ortho, gyno, GP, Psych, PT, and no one can come up with an answer. My pain started like yours, a dull ache that was manageable with Motrin. But over the years it has become so severe I'm incapacatated (sp) till the pain meds kick in. 26 minutes it takes. Yea, when your in that much pain all you can do is stare at the clock and pray. My Gyno wants to put me on Lupron depot for 'possible' Endo, but I've done tons of research on it , and even for the people who claim it has helped them, they admit the side effects are a total nightmare. The stuff is poison. A last resort option for people with cysts or fibroids on organs, where no other option is available, or women who are in danger of losing their reproductive system and still want children. I can understand their decision to use this drug, but I'm not in either catagory, I havent even been diagnosed. Its just a 'lets see if this helps' . No way. I'm sorry, didnt mean to turn this into a rant. But is anyone else suffering from bilateral deep muscurlar pain that no one can find a reason for? I have been searching the internet for years. Come up with the same things. I've even had Dr's tell me, "sometimes we just don't know what causes things" Well thanks. Like most of you, it hits me early in the morn, around 4, probably 15 out of 30 days of the month, starts in my hips, and on really bad days radiates down my legs. Baths, heating pads, ice, nothing works. I've always slept with a pillow between my legs, so thats not it. I'm at the end of my rope. Muscle relaxers help some but give up after a couple hours, and I've been on hydrocodone for awhile. Usually one when the pain hits will suffice. Very seldom do I need to take another that day. But you cant live in pain and on pain meds forever. Any advive? Oh, The pain started out of nowhere, just one day, I had some mild pain deep in my hip area, and as time went by it got worse and worse, it seems to have reached its peak, which is good because I don't see how it could get worse (knock on wood) . Thanks for listening. tmb

August 25, 2013 - 11:10am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Have you found any solution yet? I have been suffering years too, with no explanation and have not been able to work for the last year. Nobody can see why its happening but I also wake with my shoulders and elbows aching really badly now, and my knees have started too, but this hip pain is the worst. It is just dreadful to the point I wanna take all my pain killers! I keep getting fobbed off with co-codamol and tramadol and unless I take more than I should I get very little or no pain relief.

August 19, 2014 - 1:32pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Hello I am 47 and I have exactly the same issues...doctors are saying they just don't know...sometimes the pain gets so bad that goes down to my legs and feet. I am in big pain and I don't even know what to do. I have been sleeping with pillows between my legs and it's jot helping. Thank you for listening .

July 21, 2014 - 10:42pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I am 19 and have the same issues. Since I was 14 I complained of "growing pains" and turns out I have endometriosis that has adhered to my hip. Not to scare you just another option to check up on. Also... your body knows when something is wrong. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise

February 2, 2013 - 12:26am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Was there any treatment for your endo? I have it but think its gotten worse. Pain in hips and legs every night and starting to have it during day.

June 9, 2013 - 9:08pm
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