Do You Suffer Endometriosis Hip Joint Pain?
Millions of women in America, and all over the world, as much as 5 to 10% of the female population, suffer endometriosis and hip joint pain can be one of the symptoms. So it is important to be aware of endometriosis signs and symptoms and the various treatment options that can help alleviate endometriosis hip joint pain.
While some women may have endometriosis and feel no different than their peers, most women with endometriosis suffer progressively worsening pain in line with their monthly periods.
The common symptoms of endometriosis are pelvic tenderness, heightened pre-menstrual syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, dysmenorrhea (pain before and during periods), painful urination, and pain during sexual intercourse, chronic fatigue and cramping among many others.
Hip pain or pain that radiates from the buttock and down the leg are common in women where endometriosis has effected the sciatic nerve. Also, endometriosis in the groin area can feel like hip pain.
On occasion endometrial adhesions can restrict the hip ligaments, causing pain and limping. Hip joint pain that worsens in a cyclical fashion in line with the menstrual cycle will usually be caused by endometriosis.
Endometriosis is characterized when endometrium cells, similar to the tissue that lines the womb or uterus, attaches itself to other organs found in the abdomen and around the hip joint. The reason behind this is still not entirely understood.
At first, it was hypothesized that endometriosis occurs due to a condition called retrograde menstruation, where menstrual blood flows backwards into the pelvic cavity instead of out of the body. This has largely been discounted however, as it has been found that most women experience retrograde menstruation without necessarily developing endometriosis.
More recent research has shown that the condition may possibly be an immune response towards the spreading of endometrial cells. Some studies have also discovered genetic links with regards to endometriosis. However all studies have been inconclusive regarding the actual cause of the disease. Further research is still being conducted to find its etiology.
Because the extent of endometriosis varies very widely among its sufferers, treatment options are also varied. The effectiveness and safety of these treatments should be subject to careful evaluation as a lot of them have side effects that you should be aware of.
Some sufferers may be given medical treatment, however these can cause premature menopause or can stop ovulation. Some women may just opt to relieve the hip and pelvic pain caused by endometriosis using pain killers either taking over-the-counter drugs or stronger prescription pain medicine.
Conservative surgery is also an option. This type of treatment aims to surgically destroy or remove endometriosis and return the effected organ systems to their original state as much as possible.
This is done in hope of relieving the hip joint paint associated with the condition as well as the infertility that can result from it. Most surgeries, especially those in the U.S., are done using a laparoscope, making the procedure minimally invasive.
Alternative treatments have also shown a lot of promise and anecdotally have been successful for a number of women. Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments like acupuncture and Chinese herbal treatments can provide relief. Also, acupressure and aromatherapy can be used to alleviate symptoms. Even you diet can make a big difference to your symptoms.
Endometriosis hip joint pain is not a laughing matter. If you experience some of the symptoms that you’ve learned about here, it’s best to consult with your gynecologist to address the matter immediately. It is also wise to go to your doctor periodically to keep your reproductive health in check.
Don’t forget if you haven’t already done so, you can sign up for the free endometriosis newsletter that uncovers effective ways to help women combat endometriosis symptoms. You’ll also find more about preventing endometriosis.
The article on Endometriosis and Hip Joint Pain was especially helpful to me in understanding and getting a better insight into what may have caused or exaserbated my back and hip pain.
I recently had laproscopic surgery to determine the cause of the severe abdominal pain and the irratic bleeding that I was experiencing. I was in fact diagnosed with Endometriosis. Many years prior to my diagnosis I have had unexlainable lower back pain which radiated down both legs and cause a chain reaction of other muscularskelatal problems (I had endometriosis removed from both the right and left ovarian cul de sacs). Since my back pain was unexplainable by many doctors, I was given the horrible diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. Though I don’t want to say that Endometriosis is what led to the Fibromyalgia as I am sure there are other variables that played into the diagnosis, however, it is comforting to see that there just may be a relationship between the two.
Thank you for todays blog.
Kristine B.
I am 31 with two children. The past two years I have been experiencing progressively worse symptoms of endometriosis. I just assumed that the joint hip pain and leg pain was inherited arthritis. My first Gyn.Dr. said there would be no connection between my joint pain and all the other problems I was having. Thank you so much for clarifying the issue for me. Even my new Dr. did not explain why I was having that pain too. I reluctantly started BC and am feeling better after 3 mos of continuous bleeding.
I am shocked to hear that this is connected. I am only 25 but I have had endometriosis diagnosed since I was 21. I have pains that ratiate in my leg and lower back but I have never thought of it coming from this. I am glad you have shed some light on my un explained pains.
OMG!!! When I read this article my jaw dropped to the floor! I have been having joint pain for years, and when the joint pain starts i know it is almost time for my cycle. I have my yearly exam coming up soon, and after reading this I am very tempted to call for an earlier appointment.
In 1997 I began having tingling in my legs which eventually progressed to almost complete numbness in my legs, esp the left one and pain in my back. Had MRI’s and CT scans but nothing was found until I finally felt a pressure in my upper back about where my bra sits. Another MRI was done and a tumor on my spine was found and removed. This was a year after I began treatment for the numbness. No one could tell me what caused it but the neurosurgeon did tell me that it was “reactive” to estrogen. At the time I didn’t know what that meant exactly.
In 2004 I began having tremendously heavy bleeding and severe pain with my periods. Uterine fibroids were found and I opted to have embolization done. It seemed successful but by 2009 I was having severe pain in abdomen and in my back and ankle pain (where I had a bad break and subsequent plates and pins inserted in 2005). It was found that the fibroids had grown back plus one on backside of uterus that pressed into spine area and again I had another embolization done. Now I have develped pain in my legs, severe pain in my hips, and lower back and ankles along with severe edema of my lower legs, fatigue and constipation right before period. In reading a report re: CT scan I found that a growth on my right ovary was noted as being edometrial.
When I began reading about this I began to believe that along with the fibroids (which have again grown back) not only do I have endometriosis, I believe that I have had it since the tumor on my spine was discovered in 1998. Yet no dr. ever connected these things for me or searched for the reason of my hormones indicating pituatary malfunction and thyroid malfunction. I found out that endometrial material can indeeed get into and travel through the Central Nervous System and I believe I have it in my spine, my ovary, hip ligaments, possibly on liver and left kidney where growths have also been found. I also believe that it is in my right ankle where I had the surgery to repair the tri-malleor fracture. I am currently seeing a Gynocologist re: possible removal of both uterus and ovaries since I am a long way from menopause even tho I am 49. He has recommended Depo Lupron to stop the production of estrogen and see if that stops my symptoms. Uterus is now border line too small to justify removal according to accepted guidelines. I can opt to have laproscopy do see what all is going on internally but then if uterus is too big will have to have another surgery with larger traditional incision to remove it anyway. My husband is patient but I know he doubts that I can be as sick as I am and now I am having 2 periods a month which pretty much wrecks my entire life. I am extremely tired all the time and the pain keeps me from enjoying the things I normally did.
My advice is do not stop questioning what is going on in your body. Keep a journal of your symptoms each month and write everything down even if it seems silly.
Good luck