Is there a connection between Misalligned Hips and a Hernaited disk?

[thename1000]

Hey,

My girlfriend injured herself during last summer moving (we think this is the cause) and has pain starting about last Septeraber. After a few physical therapists, the newest one DOESNT exactly know the problem and has provided treatemnt by realigning her hips. (according to him the hip problem could be the source of everything or just a symptom and this neeRAB to be done to find out). The PT did mention (when he saw that she basically had bad to no reflexes in one of her legs) that it could be a herniated disk. He said bulged disk but what i can find those names are used interchangeably.

From what I can find online the symptoms of a herniated disk match what she has perfectly. (I'm not sure if she has bladder problems or not). She is going back to that physical therapist tomorrow to get another realignment if it is needed.

I found a story online about a guy that had herniated disk surgery a few years ago and now has unaligned hips....do you think this is whats happening here? She hasnt had surgery but it has been awhile. She hasnt gotten an MRI yet and I am trying to get her to get one. But it depenRAB on what her PT says tommorow i guess. I do feel like she shouldnt keep on geting the hip procedures until she knows what the problem really is though.

One more question: she is in really bad pain since the hip procedure Monday. Before this she was in pain but it wasnt constant or nowhere near as bad. She didn't ask the PT if he can prescribe pain medication for her. Can physical therapists do this? It seems like they should if they cause the pain this one caused.

Thanks for reading all this and any advice is helpful to me.

 

[Baybreeze]

Hi, as far as I know, PT's cannot prescribe any medications. I do think your friend should probably get an MRI done. One has to find out what the problem is before you can even start treating something. I am not a doctor, but I really doubt that a disc herniation would put the hips out of actual alignment. What can happen, though..is if the dics is pressing into a nerve and causing pain, one might start limping and favoring one side of the body, away from where the pain is. Do you know if your friend walks differenty b/c of their pain?

When you start walking differently, the surrounding muscles and such can start getting fatigued & overworked and even spasm. I know, as that has happened to me many times.

Another thing, though, does your friend know if they have any leg length discrepancy? That definitely can end up causing pain and other problems. I have developed this over the years due to a severe ankle problem which had caused my ankle to collape inwarRAB, which makes my right leg a little shorter while standing/walking. I have been told by my PT and spine surgeon that since i had this for so long, it might have contributed some to my spine degeneration.

Do you know if she has seen any kind of regular doctor at all? If not, she could start with a Family doctor/ general practioner. They would probably take x-rays first, but she still might need an MRI.

Also, might your friend want to come and post on this board? Everyone here is extremly helpful and full of advice and support. You might want to ask her to come here..