Hello! If I were you - I would go to an orthopedic doctor - preferably one that specializes in hips. I had hip pain for years before being diagnosed with bilateral hip dysplasia at age 28. I had a hip scope done then to repair a torn labrum - which did not help. Since then I have had 2 children - and the hips hurt more and more. I too had to stop running. They didn't hurt while I ran - just after. I get a dull ache deep in the hip - and get sharp pains in the groin after I sit. My hips also "pop" and "crack" a lot. I am still able to walk, swim and do the elliptical - but am limping around by the end of the day.
I am now facing either replacement or resurface in both hips - or a surgery called periacetabluar osteotomy where they try to reconstruct your own hips. (and I am only 33!!!)
I now not only have the dysplasia (the hip socket is too shallow for the "ball"), I now have osteoarthritis and cysts in both hips.
Hope all goes well - I know that having hip pain is no picnic!
Beth

Thanks, I should probably go to an orthopedic. The PT really didn't help and I don't think she figured out what the real problem is. She thought it was a back injury and treated it that way. None of the online research I've done accurately describes the location and level of my hip pain. A dr would be the best bet! By the way, I am also only 38 - not old enough for hip replacements

An MRI and X-rays would tell if there was a problem with the joint itself.
Does the pain cause you to limp?

The regular family doctor didn't think it was the joint because of certain test he did (pushing, having me bear weight). The pain certainly does cause me to limp after I've run, and after I've been sitting and I get up to walk. The strange part is that it was my right hip, I rested for 6 weeks (with PT) and now it's my left hip. Of course, by the time I finally went to the PT, both hips were starting to hurt along with my knees and I couldn't even walk fast without serious pain! I went way too long before going to the dr.

I too have hip pain. It originally was only after a run, and then progressed to during a run as well. It is deep in the hip and towards the back at the top of the gluteus maximus. I took 8 weeks off running and began a series of 10 rolfing sessions. My rolfer finds points in and around my hips that shoot hot pain through my hamstrings. I have extremely tight gluteus maximus and minimus. I have been stretching and rolfing now for over 10 weeks. I began running again (5 minute walk, 10 minute run, etc. for 30 minutes). I still have hip pain after I run but not as extreme. I have been told that I am engaging my stride with the wrong muscles due to my gait. This is very difficult to change, but I am working on it. Have you seen a deep tissue massage therapist or rolfer? I do feel this helped me some. My rolfer is awesome, however I do not feel that it cured my hip pain and am exploring the orthapedic option as well. I am 35 years old...also feel too young for hip pain! I sympathize with you. This is the only injury I have had that has not gone away with rest and proper stretching. It has been going on now since June. Any advise out there is appreciated and I hope that you may find relief soon!

It could possibly be due to trochanteric bursitis-an inflammation of the bursa surrounding your hip joint. Things that can help this include injections, ultrasound, iontophoresis, and a therapist who knows how to deal with this type of injury.

I also had a hip injury about a week ago. We had finished harvesting our olives and I came into the house to do some ironing. Suddenly, the iron fell off the ironing table and onto the carpet. I made a sudden, lurching motion to try to grab the iron off the carpet, and I felt this incredible, searing pain and heard a popping sound. I almost fainted. Literally saw stars. Got the iron up and laid down. Didn't do much for a few days.

Then went out into the vineyard and was doing o.k. and then again made the movement going from left over sharply to the right and again the same pain. Barely made it back up to the house.

I don't know if there is a hairline crack there or something just out of place. Just know it really hurt.

Roberta