Groin/hip pain

[mmb50]

I’ve had really painful groin pain for 3 months now, finally spoke to my RA nurse today who tells me it’s not a rheumatoid problem because I’m zero positive rheumatoid. Just wondering if anyone has been told the same thing. I find the site helpful and hopefully will be again for this.

[medway-lady]

I don know sorry but what does your GP say and could an Oestopath help?

[mmb50 in reply to medway-lady]

GP didn’t say but physio thought it was RA 🤷‍♀️

[Amnesiac3637]

As a retired orthopaedic sister I suggest you go to your GP and ask for a referral to an orthopaedic team who will assess the pain in your groin and hip for osteoarthritis and advise you accordingly. You don’t say how old you are but as you age and have any inflammatory disease your likelihood of secondary osteoarthritis affecting your large joints increases.

If you are properly diagnosed initially you can then, if necessary, be treated by physios or osteopaths who should not be treating you unless you do have a diagnosis although many do.

Groin pain almost always indicates hip problems unless you have unfortunately twisted or injured your groin muscles or tendons. If you are limping, finding it difficult to rise from a chair or walk any distance with this pain you’ll need x-rays and/or a scan to determine what’s going on. Hope you can get some relief from the pain soon and find out what’s causing it.

[mmb50 in reply to Amnesiac3637]

Thanks for your reply, I am 74 I have had my hip X-ray by local nhs who showed me the space in the joint suggests it’s not osteoarthritis. I have had right hip replacement (2015) due to osteoarthritis and both knees apparently caused by rheumatoid arthritis (2019). Interestingly I had an X-ray done by chiropractor who showed me X-ray and same joint space but also cysts at either end of the joint…… but nhs ignored that when I told them. I’m being referred to physio but who knows when that will be.

[OSTEOARTHRITISRA]

Hi id maybe see if or when your next appointment with your rumatologist see wot they say I'd tend to listen to them and take it from there rumatologist can refer or diagnose instead going back and forward and you have seen physio

I've had the zero positive a few times in past

But it effected not getting the meds

To the gps disbelief

[mmb50 in reply to OSTEOARTHRITISRA]

Thanks for replying. I have been at gp and gone through the process but won’t get to see rheumatologist as it’s apparently not rheumatoid.

[OSTEOARTHRITISRA in reply to mmb50]

Understand just thought you where maybe under a rumatologist and had a follow up appointment

I'd go back to gp and ask for diagnosis and referals

[Madmusiclover in reply to mmb50]

Rheumatology is there to look after OA and other causes too!!

[cyberbarn in reply to Madmusiclover]

Not so for OA. The British Society for Rheumatology referral guidelines says that osteoarthritis should be treated in primary care, "Refer to local pathways, making the best use of MSK expertise in Primary and Community Care. This will include use of clinical pharmacists, social prescribers, First Contact Practitioners, Advanced Practitioners as well as MSK interface services and local orthopaedic, spinal and pain management services. Consider the use of Specialist Advice (A&G) for any diagnostic/ management uncertainty"

rheumatology.org.uk/Portals...

Although there may be variations in local pathways, generally rheumatologists no longer accept referrals for OA as there is nothing that they can do (under NICE guidance) for OA.

So the GP is right, if it isn't rheumatoid, then no referral to rheumatology.

[Madmusiclover in reply to cyberbarn]

Ok. My rheumy always helpful. Treats me as a whole person; as he often reminds me. Perhaps I’m fortunate. And as RA often leads to OA….but I fully accept your point.

[mmb50 in reply to cyberbarn]

Thanks for reply

[Purple_peace]

I also experience hip and groin pain. I am postmenopausal and I have had steroid injections done by my pain management doctor because I have fibromyalgia to help with my growing pain. It did help for at least three months.

[mmb50 in reply to Purple_peace]

Thanks for replying. Interesting you mention injection. I have recently had that done in my foot…. Ongoing for a number of years, it does work but only around 3 months. I’m not sure if they would inject again so soon. I will mention it to physio when I see her.

[arvine in reply to Purple_peace]

I have had severe groin pain radiating to hip, front of upper thigh and right buttocks, now for over 4 weeks, having MRI for both hops this Sat, initially had gone for MRI on left hip about 5 weeks ago, ordered by ortho dr because of tears to gluteus muscle and hamstring in Jan this year, on left side, they had to stop test at clinic as pain in right groin excrutiating, couldnt tolerate, so now ortho sent req for both hips, Im wondering if you have had MRI for your recent groin pain, to diagnose problem, and if ortho suggested injection and not invasive procedure, I am 76 and reluctant to have any surgery if other option

[mmb50 in reply to arvine]

Thanks! This sounds similar to what I am experiencing. I haven’t had MRI but will speak to GP about it.

[pammi2]

sounds like Oestho?

[Haz58]

I had this to the point I couldn't walk without crying as in do much pain. I have seropositive RA. My GP referred me to an orthopaedic surgeon and the x-ray showed moderate osteoarthritis of my right hip, bursitis and osteophytes plus more. He offered an x-ray guided steroid injection. Of course the wait for this was 6 to 8 months. In between I had an appointment with my Rheumatologist and told her about it. She put me on a high course if steroids and said if that helped it was also to do with RA. Also put me on etanercept. Low and behold with the steroid tablets the pain got a lot better. It's not fully better as I still have the osteoarthritis in my hip but the groin pain went and I could walk again without absolute agony. She told me to wait until I got the hip injection appointment to see if I still needed it and I didn't. A year later no groin pain but still some pain in my hip and buttock, well the top of my femor and buttock. I may eventually request a hip injection as in time the osteoarthritis will probably get worse. But I think the steroids showed that it was the RA causing most of the pain. That my situation anyway. I'm 65 66 in August.

[arvine in reply to Haz58]

i have posted few times recent had groin pain over 4 weeks, had RA blood test rheumy said was negative, and increasing pred(at 4 mgs now) of course woul take any pain away, so reluctant to increase as tapered twice now in last almost 8 years from 40 mgs of pred, he said pred is painkiller, and truthfully I believe being on pred for so many years has caused many side affects in last couple years

[Haz58 in reply to arvine]

Yes true. I was on it for 6 weeks tapering from 30mg to zero. It worked but I wouldn't want to take them unless I really had to.

[mmb50 in reply to Haz58]

Thanks for sharing. Sounds similar to what I’m experiencing. I have been on etanercept for 6 years plus Methotrexate and Hydroxychloroquine for 7 yrs. I’m a bit older at 74.

[VS1955]

I have groin pain but mine is comes from my Sacroiliac joint.

[Floridalover]

Go and see your Doctor. It's more likely to be osteo arthritis. I had the same pain and eventually had my hip replaced in March. I am now pain free. Hope you get sorted soon..

[mmb50 in reply to Floridalover]

X-ray showed slight osteoarthritis but not enough to be referred to Orthopaedics.

Thanks for replying

[CB13]

hi I had this it was excruciating my rheumatologist diagnosed it as bursitis and gave me a steroid injection which thankfully worked. Bursitis is common in RA sufferers

[mmb50 in reply to CB13]

The chiropractor I saw thought there was some evidence of bursitis and cysts on the joint. I’ve an appointment with her on 12th. I wasn’t aware it was common in RA sufferers…… another reason this site is helpful. Thanks for sharing

[dancersize2]

I have a niggly left hip that caused me to limp. A friend advised Voltaren tablets. tried them this week. Miracle. Pain went and I had lots more energy. Could only take for five days because I'm on MTX . I have a phone appt with rheumy on Friday so will discuss. These worked better than any other meds I've tried including pred.

[Pooch22]

frustrating for you, I have hip issue but they keep saying normal X-rays but it slips out and sticks that I can’t walk, but have given up asking. I would persevere with trying to resolve as it never goes away good luck

[mmb50 in reply to Pooch22]

That sounds awful!!! Hopefully you get some help soon.

[Evie3]

my daughter is seeing Rheumatologist on Saturday . I am positive…she has been told negative….she certainly has the symptoms. I am going with her…as back up!!

[mmb50 in reply to Evie3]

Hopefully your daughter gets a diagnosis so she can get treatment.

[Green230461]

Go back to your doctor and seek help. You should not have to live with pain 👍

[mmb50 in reply to Green230461]

I plan on going back. Thanks

[TexasKelly]

Hi - I've had the same problem and I thought I was going to need hip replacement surgery very soon my pain was so bad. Then I found this guy on YouTube -

El Paso Manual Physical Therapy.

One of the easiest things to do - was believe it or not - clinch your glute muscle on whichever leg you are walking forward with. I did it a day and it decreased my pain astronomically. I try to do it frequently to keep the pain away. He has other excercises that I always think I'll do (but I never find the time).

Hope it helps you!

[mmb50 in reply to TexasKelly]

Thanks I will check this out

[VS1955 in reply to TexasKelly]

This guy is brilliant, I follow him on YT as well... 👍

[LadyJan]

I had the same - on investigation it was a new hip!! One of the symptons is groin pain.

Ladyjan

[mmb50 in reply to LadyJan]

I had other hip replaced 9 years ago but this does seem different. keep going till I get a result. Thanks for replying

[Shadow35]

I had pain in my groin an it can be spondyloarthritis. Your blood test need to be negative for ra. It's less common in women but i think its because a lot of doctor think it's normal for women to have pain at this place. I had pain in my hip and side of the leg for a long time.

[mmb50 in reply to Shadow35]

I do have rheumatoid but it is zeronegative rheumatoid and according to the RA nurse that doesn’t affect the hip 🤷🏼‍♀️. Thanks for replying

[Ttibbett]

I am zero negative too and find when my ra played up it did not show up in the blood test. Had scan an ultra scan of feet and it showed as ra. Have you had an ultrasound scan?

[mmb50 in reply to Ttibbett]

Haven’t had a scan and doubt whether I will get one. It’s not rheumatoid problem and seems it’s not orthopaedic problem either. I have an appointment with the chiropractor who took the first X-ray (nhs doctor, radiographer and physiotherapist won’t accept her opinion or view the X-ray) and said there was cysts on hip joint and some bursitis around the joint. Thanks for replying

[Ttibbett in reply to mmb50]

What are they going to do about the cysts?

[mmb50 in reply to Ttibbett]

I’ve no idea. I’ll post again hopefully with something more positive. Thanks for your help.