i have snapping hip syndrome. i play soccer and noticed it 'popping' after i'd got a nasty bruise on my hip. first i was diagnosed with bursitus, got xrayed, got a cortisone shot (which oddly seemed to make it worse-- i was in severe pain for about a week), got painkiller/anti-inflammitory narcotics after awhile. i got an appointment with an orthopedic doctor, who said it was snapping hip syndrome, and went to physical therapy for awhile. over the past couple of weeks it's gotten worse-- alot of pain, especially at night and at the end of the day. this is the worst it's ever been, and even doing the stretching the physical therapist showed me can be excruciating. the pain seems to have radiated to my knee and my back as well.
it's kind of discouraging to hear that you've had it for 7 years!!! i'm 16, i've had snapping hip a little over a year, and i'm already sick of it!!
as far as things that help-- ice is always good. after soccer games i use a bag of frozen peas and just vedge on the couch and put it on my hip and that seems to make it a little better- haha. there's also this great stuff on the market called 'blue goo.' you can get it at walmart; it's a topical painkiller. it's good stuff-- a lifesaver if you have to go somewhere and your hip is hurting. it doesn't stink to high heaven like other stuff, and it doesn't stain, so that's a plus.
