It is not uncommon to have problems with the hip flexor or pain in this area when living with fibromyalgia. The hips, hip flexors and lower back are correlated with areas with fibromyalgia pain due to sensitive areas around the lower back, many more areas of trigger points and other conditions affecting the surrounding areas.
The flexor muscles of the hip allow your hips to move with flexibility. You are moving these muscles when you move your legs, and that means that your hips are involved in most of the movements you perform during the average day.
A healthy person may not realize how often they use hip flexors, but anyone living with fibromyalgia who experiences pain in the hip will be aware of this more regularly.
Personally, I have dealt with the pain of hip flexion and then I have strengthened again in these areas at the same time that I developed more safe exercises for my fibro after my complete hysterectomy three years ago. Yes, I understand. I will address more of this later in the bottom of this article.
While there are some known injuries and medical conditions that can cause pain in the hip flexors, it can be difficult to identify a direct cause of this pain in someone with fibromyalgia, except for the many daily activities that I often refer to.
We could treat pain as another symptom of the diagnosed condition or take more time to determine the exact cause of the pain. Either way, fibromyalgia and hip flexor pain are often debilitating if not treated efficiently and quickly.
Understanding ibromyalgia and hip flexion pain
Flexor pain in the hip is often referred to as flexor tendinosis. The pain of this condition usually comes from one or both of the following muscles: Illicacus and Psoas. These muscles are often grouped as a unit, referred to as the iliopsoas.
The psoas is responsible for a large amount of general back and leg pain because the sitting positions that most people hold throughout the day cause the muscle to shorten for a long period of time. When you stand up and start moving again, that muscle does not want to lengthen and function properly.
For those who suffer from fibromyalgia, the pain may come from other muscles that help move the hips. This includes the quadriceps, although those muscles are lower than most of the hip flexors.
While flexor tendinosis caused by injury or a problem unrelated to fibromyalgia can focus on a particular muscle or area of the hip, patients with fibromyalgia may experience pain that extends throughout this region of the body. The cause of the pain is often unexplained, as is often the case with fibromyalgia pain.
Treatment of fibromyalgia and hip pain.
A simple way to prevent fibromyalgia and hip flexor pain is to avoid sitting in one position for a long period of time. Get up and move periodically so that your muscles do not have time to settle in one position.
You often hear me recommend safe and effective exercise and the importance of participating in some level of exercise to keep your body strong and more flexible, and this is another recommendation for hip flexor pain as well.
The more you learn to move and how angles and overcompensation matter, the easier it will be to prevent some of the causes of muscle pain. You can follow me on the Fibro Fit People page to learn more ways to work safely and smoothly in these most vulnerable areas. In the videos section, you will see exercises such as “side by side” exercises that help to gently work the hips and lower back, piriformis and more.
I also work with women after hysterectomy and other abdominal surgeries to gently strengthen these vulnerable areas. I have been there and, yes, it is possible to feel strong after a hysterectomy and while living with the complexity of fibromyalgia and the conditions.
The stretching I’m doing here is great to do at any time, especially after sitting down. We draw a leg up to the knee (without shoes) placing the foot gently on the inside of the knee or lower if necessary (this loosens the hips), then stretch the arm up on the same side and feel the light extends from the hips through its obliques
If you spend a large part of the day sitting at a desk, invest in an office chair that is highly adjustable. Place the highest chair, allowing your hips to rest on your knees. This position is healthier for your hip flexors and can eliminate the pain caused by shortening those muscles in the typical position of an office chair. You can also consider a standing desk that allows you to easily lift your workspace.
I started using a standing desk last year and I find it very useful, in fact, now I’m more standing at my desk than sitting. (note: some standing desks can be difficult to place on your shoulders, so it may be necessary to get a standing desk that uses an electrical control for moving positions)
Regular strength training and very gentle stretching (done safely) can help keep those muscles strong and flexible. Again, be sure to avoid sitting excessively or this may sabotage efforts to incorporate effective exercise.