Hello,

I'm 27, and my main sport is climbing - which I try to do at least 2 times a week. I started training for triathlons in December - and I try to fit in 2 swims, bikes, and runs in a week. Almost immediately after I started training, I had pain in my hips. I just woke up one morning, and could barely put weight on my right leg because my hip was so sore, and walked around with a limp.

The pain is present in both hips, just worse on the right. It is below my hip joints, and there are these swollen... somethings that starts from the outside of my hips and runs underneath my hip bone. They feels like swollen hot dogs, and hurt to the touch, for example, if I roll my thumb over it. It also hurts when I have to lift my leg - for example, to switch my foot from the gas to the brake.

I'm not sure if these are a tendon, a muscle, or what. To give you an idea of the location, they are just underneath the line of where my underwear runs, more toward the outside of my hip than by my groin. It's deep inside my hip, and the best way for me to access it is to sit on the ground with my knees on the floor with my knees tightly bent and ankles on the outside of my thighs. It never hurts when I'm actually working out or even after a workout. The pain comes the day after a bike or run, and lasts for weeks.

Okay, sorry for such a wordy description. When I've guided other people's fingers over it, they are pretty amazed and disgusted when they roll their fingers over this swollen thing in my hips, but nobody can tell me what it is or is or what to do for it. I thought I would try posting it here. Has anyone ever heard of or had a similar pain, and what can I do for it? Who should I see for this - a physical therapist? A masseuse? I don't have insurance and I'm a student, so what is the lowest cost way of taking care of this?

I've always wanted to train for a triathlon, but now I'm really bummed out because I'm beginning to think that my body is just not cut out for it. :(

Hip flexors or something? Are you stretching it all out when you workout? Before and after? If it's a persistant thing that atretching doesnt help, you really need to see a sports doc. Better safe than sorry. Some colleges have cheap access to the PT departments including workups and massages.

my coach just had a hernia removed

Wow.
I have had a chronic hip problem for 9 months so I have researched and read about a TON of hip problems trying to help diagnose what my problem was. I never came across anything that sounded like what you describe.

Where to go for help? You can't go directly to a PT. That has to be prescribed by a doctor. If you cannot afford to see a doctor right now the thing to do is what is prescribed for 75% of all hip problems: Rest, ice, stretching, NSAIDs. Ease back on the training. Many hip problems are caused by overuse. Reduce duration and intensity. Do hip stretches after you exercise and then put ice directly on painful areas (even if there is no pain). Take NSAIDs regularly until the problem is gone. Stretch your hips every morning and everynight. Here are some stretches for hips: http://www.howtostretch.com/iliotibi.htm
this too: http://www.exrx.net/Stretches/HipFlexors/KneelingHipFlexor.html

TriGuy: I don't stretch before my workout, but I warm up pretty slowly. I do strech after my workout, though, and do yoga twice a week.

Big Dog: I think I'm going to bite the bullet and pay for a visit to a Sports Med. I have a doctor friend who will refer me. He is also going to call in a prescription for anti-inflammatories. I have tried to ice, but the part that is sore is deep inside my hip, and I don't feel like the ice gets to it. I probably am overusing it . Although I only run and bike twice a week each, I am coming from doing these things twice a MONTH at most. I know that rest is what I probably really need, but it's hard to think of resting, and losing all of my newly-gained fitness!

Oh, I'm also going in to get my bike fitted properly today, just to elimate one possible factor.

I would still ice even if you don't think it is getting to the muscle, which by how you described the location would be your iliopsoas. Ice 20 min on 20 off 20 on. It will help.

Wow.
I have had a chronic hip problem for 9 months so I have researched and read about a TON of hip problems trying to help diagnose what my problem was. I never came across anything that sounded like what you describe.

Where to go for help? You can't go directly to a PT. That has to be prescribed by a doctor. If you cannot afford to see a doctor right now the thing to do is what is prescribed for 75% of all hip problems: Rest, ice, stretching, NSAIDs. Ease back on the training. Many hip problems are caused by overuse. Reduce duration and intensity. Do hip stretches after you exercise and then put ice directly on painful areas (even if there is no pain). Take NSAIDs regularly until the problem is gone. Stretch your hips every morning and everynight. Here are some stretches for hips: http://www.howtostretch.com/iliotibi.htm
this too: http://www.exrx.net/Stretches/HipFlexors/KneelingHipFlexor.html

totally depends on your insurance...With mine I can go directly to a PT- with no RX-and do when needed. I had hipflexor problems for a while, pt, stretching and massage therapy helps. The PT will help for getting you exercises for other muscle groups that could be causint the problem too (what appears to be hips could be low back for example)

totally depends on your insurance...With mine I can go directly to a PT- with no RX-and do when needed. I had hipflexor problems for a while, pt, stretching and massage therapy helps. The PT will help for getting you exercises for other muscle groups that could be causint the problem too (what appears to be hips could be low back for example)
Whether you need a prescription for physical therapy is first and foremost a matter of state law. For instance, where I live, Missouri, requires a prescription as many other states, NY, for example. I had thought that all states required a prescription, but after a bit of research, I learned that some do not require a prescription. So, that's good info Brittda, thanks.

Whether you need a prescription for physical therapy is first and foremost a matter of state law. For instance, where I live, Missouri, requires a prescription as many other states, NY, for example. I had thought that all states required a prescription, but after a bit of research, I learned that some do not require a prescription. So, that's good info Brittda, thanks.

I always thought it was insurance company related, so see, I learned something new :) I have to say it is very nice to be able to just call her up and say "coming in".

Well, here's an update on the hip thing.

I went to see a chiropractor, and the experience left me quite dissapointed. I only went to two treatments - an initual evaluation, and my first adjustment. It's not the actual adjustment that I'm down on - it's the way the office dealt with me. First, they recommend that I get 6 months of treatment. They offered me a deal that was too expensive for me, despite the fact that they were giving me a student discount. I asked if it were possible for me to pay month to month, but they said that I could only get the discount if I commited to 6 months of treatment - which would have been close to a thousand dollars! Also, they pushed very hard for me to sign up for a monthly debit out of my banking account, instead of paying month-to-month by check. Finally, when I said that I had to think about it more, they seemed annoyed at me - as if they were doing me this huge favor and I was an idiot not to jump on it!

Anyway, I think I was just being way to ambitious in my training. I've NEVER done a tri before, and I was training for International (Olympic) distances. So, I've decided to aim for some fun and casual Sprint distance tri's this summer, and have cut down my training mileage and time. This seems to have helped a little. I'm also stretching more and soaking in hot baths, which seems to help as well.