Hip Pain Question

[DAB]

Apologies in advance for the lengthy post.

On page 45 of SS, you discuss the consequences of letting the knees slide forward at the lower portion of the squat and you mention "...a marvelous does of the weirdest tendinitis...". I'm wondering if my condition is what you were describing in the book.

Over the past couple of years each time I started to move up in weight on the squat I got a pain in my left hip next to the head of my trochanter. It would be a dull ache most of the time, but when I tried to squat (or even get up from a seated position) it would become more intense. Additionally, I started getting pain down the lateral side of my left thigh. I initially thought it was related to the IT band and foam rolling and Alieve helped earlier last year but didn't remove it completely. In November I started a cycle of SS and the hip felt okay. As I progress in weight I noticed the pain reappearing and when I tried for a 1RM at the end of December I was struck with identical pain in not one but both hips. Based on a little WebMD research I found that the condition is eerily similar trochanteric bursitis, but maybe not quite to that great of a degree and I can't tell much regarding inflammation.

One last bit of info - I did go to a PT in '08 and found that external hip rotation on my left is much more restricted than that on my right.

Any guesses on what I might be experiencing?

[Mark Rippetoe]

The fact that you have asymmetry in your external rotational ability does not seem to have imposed itself onto your hip condition, since both sides hurt. It is indeed trochanteric bursitis, I have it myself, it is a bastard, and it is the main reason I retired from competition in 1988. I have used an IT band release in the past with varying degrees of success, and that is the first thing I'd recommend you try.

[DAB]

Thanks for the response, despite the poor news.

When you state "IT band release" are you referring to foam rolling and stretching? Something else?

Is any medical care worth pursuing? Have you tried chiropractic? I discussed my condition briefly with another forum member - Travis Russell, DC - but obviously communicating via the internet is not as effective as sitting in his office and getting a real evaluation.

[Mark Rippetoe]

The foam roller and any other technique that you do yourself will probably not work, because the intensity of an effective ITB release causes so much pain that you can't do it to yourself. And you can't apply enough force in the right direction if you wanted to.

[bryce720]

So, who does something like "IT Band Release". I have hade this same pain for about 8 months. Is this something I got to a Massage Therapist for?? Or someone like an ART practioner?? Thanks so much for the helpful info in this thread anything is better then a cortisone shot.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Either of these guys can do it. It has to be done hard, so find a bigger stronger practitioner.