Had prostatectomy 2 years ago. All PSA's since then < 0.1 inlcuding the one in Feb 07. Have had mild, dull hip pain for last 4 weeks (right side only). only hurts when sitting. Have a new bicycle with narrow seat. Pain worse after riding so I quit riding. my doctor (GP) did a quick exam and is sending me for bone scan, supposedly suspecting a hairline crack in hip bone. Do the symptoms fit this preliminary diagnosis? by the way, had MRI bone scan before surgery in 2005 which was negative for bone cancer. should I go ahead with the bone scan for the value of it finding other things?

Whom do you trust more on medical advice? Is it your doctor or a bunch of ordinary people ?

There may be other factors your Dr is considering: If you are slender build, there is a greater chance of osteoporosis. If you are taking meds to reduce testosterone or its effects, you are at greater risk for bone loss. the scan is painless and lasts about 20 min. No big deal. Better than a broken pelvis or snapped femur head.

Your over 50 right? a little Te isotope won't hurt you. Check your body for any hot spots. good to know.

My husband had prostatectomy 2 years ago, all PSA's since then 0.0; clear bone scan before the surgery. So I know a bit about it.

I would say not to worry…sounds like you are having a problem from the bicycle seat, or as your doc says, a crack in the hip bone. go ahead with the bone scan…it never hurts to double check. Chances are it will be ok, though.

hairline crack after riding a bike….nyaah…
unless you are SWEVERELY osteopenic or porotic….i highly doubt that…
the first thing that i would look at would be disc disease and do you have a sciatica from sitting on that teeny bike seat….
i would usggest a CT or MRI of the LS spine
NOW, did you have the prostatectomy for prostate CA? If so, then maybe doing a bone scan is in order, but not for trauma (riding the bike) but for a late metastatic spread of the cancer…
if you had your prostate removed, of course your PSA would be <0.1…
so, maybe he is looking for a recurrent CA and not telling you…
good luck

Submitted by John Hur M.D. 02.14.2011

Only a doctor can determine the true source of a patient’s hip pain but there are ways that you, as the patient can assist with diagnosing the problem.

During your medical evaluation your doctor will ask you to describe the kind of pain you are experiencing. Hearing about these details can help your doctor determine the cause of your discomfort and the kind of treatment needed. Details such as the location of the pain, the activities that exacerbate the pain or information about previous hip-related injuries is information that should be considered during your medical evaluation.

Following are some common hip pain diagnoses and their corresponding signs and symptoms.

Arthritis: With arthritis-based hip pain, it hurts to move your joints. that includes walking, climbing stairs, and bending down to pick things up. Patients may also experience a limited range of motion, stiffness in the hip and a slight limp when walking. What is interesting about hip arthritis is that symptoms do not always progress steadily with time. often patients report good months and bad months or symptom changes with weather changes. This is important to understand because comparing the symptoms of hip arthritis on one particular day may not accurately represent the overall progression of the condition.

Snapping hip: a patient might describe this condition as a pop in the hip when they move their leg.Most patients do not consult a physician when they experience a snapping hip because it rarely causes pain or discomfort. However, when pain does occur a patient’s physician will need to determine the cause of the snapping. To do this a physician will ask a patient to describe the location of the pain, the kind of activities that bring on the snapping, and whether the patient has experienced any trauma to the hip area. the physician also may ask the patient to try to demonstrate the snapping during their medical evaluation.

Stress fracture of the femoral neck: If a patient experiences a dull ache in the groin area that gets progressively worse and does not improve with rest, it may be a stress fracture of the femoral neck. the pain also may feel similar to a pulled muscle but unlike a muscle it will not improve without medical treatment. the two most common causes of a stress fracture to this area include falling or a repetitive stress injury as a result of vigorous exercise.

Trochanteric bursitis: when the bursa, the fluid-filled sack on the side of the hip that overlies the bony portion that you can feel, becomes irritated or inflamed it causes pain in that area. in this situation a patient may experience pain when lying on the affected side, when pressing on the outside of the hip, getting up from a deep chair or getting out of a car, or while walking upstairs.

These are some of the most common hip conditions. However, everyone experiences pain in their own unique way, so it is possible that a patient’s hip pain does not perfectly fit within one of these categories. Orthopedic hip specialists are trained to administer diagnostic tests that can identify each individual’s condition. Once the pain has been diagnosed a physician can identify the proper treatment that works best for that patient’s unique situation.