Can't Shift This Ache

[Richie]

I have no diagnosable injury, but I have an ache in my hip. I have been blood tested for arthritis, have had x-rays and am just beginning a period of physiotherapy to try and help with the pain. It hurts whether I train or rest for a few days, and the only thing that helps is ibuprofen and heat packs.

Has anyone suffered a persistent joint pain? It doesn't stop me training because it doesn't feel worse when I train-in fact there is no change at all, it's absolutely constant. Only the weather makes it worse.

Has anyone tried old wives remedies like cod liver oil for joint pain? Did you have any luck?

[mudskipper]

I haven't had any problems with joint pain, at least not general joint pain. I know there are tons of supplements for it (one called Joint Juice comes to mind) but don't know anyone who uses them. I would think gloucosamine would be useful to start taking. I'm not even sure how cod liver oil would help with pain. If you've got a bottle it wouldn't hurt to try it, although you might not make many friends that week.

[George]

There are capsule versions of it that are odorless so I wouldn't worry about offending people. Could it be that the omega fatty acids in the oil are good for joint health? Just a thought.

For some people the weather causes joint pain. I never understood how this happens but it does. Are you as bad in all weathers, or in all places-like if you go to another city far away is it as bad?

[Richie]

It's not constantly as bad no, but I never exactly tracked it to a particular weather condition. I have been investigated for a couple of conditions parculiar to the hip, and they all came up negative. The physio feels good, and relieves the pain for a few hours to a few days. The period seems to be getting longer, but all the physio does is basically is over extending the joint. I am afraid that it will all return when I stop treatment.

[purple]

Normally the baromoetric pressure effects the fluid in the joints during bad weather. You will notice before a storm hits the barometric pressure drops really low which causes the pain and discomfort for those with joint issues.

It could just be that the joint isn't formed perfectly or the socket is wearing or any one of a number of problems, some fo which I'm sure they've already looked into. One of the issues with joint problems is getting to see what could be wrong. You don't want to use invasive techniques unless truly necessary.

[Richie]

Yes, the x-rays were in part to check for wear, or malformation, or problems with the cartlidge. I agree that I am in no way ready for invasive testing, keyhole cameras or anything because I am coping just fine and don't want to risk the side effects or down time.

So for now I guess I map the pains out against the barometric pressures.

[purple]

I know alot of people with such issues normally just keep warm to help with the pain, so perhaps a hotpack or something of the sort would help? most people I know with such issues are advanced in age and have had an injury for many years so it came on gradually and was expected. I'm not sure if some of the joint supplements they sell would help or not.

[Richie]

Heat is wonderful and takes the pain completely away within seconds. If the pain gets bad enough that I have to take pain relievers then I take the pills and then put a heat pack on to deal with it till the pills kick in.

But for the hip socket joints, there is just no practical way that I can continue heat treatment when I am out and about, and especially no way that I can see of training with it.