Guys, over the course of the last few days, my hip has been popping and clicking. First started as pain in the very outside of the leg. Now, depending on how I move, it clicks and pops and feels very uncomfortable. Basically, the hip feels unstable. I'm trying to figure out where this came from. I've been squatting for years and never had any issues with my knees or hips. About a year or so ago, I started to have a sensation of something-is-about-to-pop along the groin area in the hip region. Any time I elevated my leg and then would remove the leg from an elevated position back to the floor, it would give me a sensation of pressure/discomfort and would sometimes pop.

I continued to squat through all of this. I've never had discomfort during squats. Over the last few days, that unstable feel in my hip has moved to the outer part of the leg (where the bony mass is) and now clicks and pops all the time even when just walking or coming out of a sitting position. Is this something that can be expected to pass? Are there stretches I should be doing? Could it be more structural to where I need hip replacement?

Realize some of these questions you will not be able to answer but any insight you can provide is much appreciated.

**I'm 53 and lift 5x/week. I do legs on Tuesday/Friday and my Tuesday workout includes squats and RDLs and my Friday workout includes leg extensions and hamstring curls.

Sounds like something popping over the greater trochanter. Do you do any work on your glute medius/minimus? Suspect those are weak and causing them along with the TFL to spasm to maintain appropriate tension on the IT band and hip. And then they cause it to be tight and sublux over the greater trochanter.

Probably need to do some glute med exercises

Agree with bigtruck. add in some abduction work

This has more of a labral feel based on your description. A full exam would be warranted in this situation. Do you have a physical therapist in your area you can see?

I do decently heavy glute bridge exercises with 220 lbs or so.

We're in The Woodlands so there are plenty to choose from. is this something for which I should visit an Orthopedic or will a PT do the trick?

A good ortho PT to start should be enough. If the PT warrants further investigation then they will send you to an ortho. Start more conservative with an issue like this.

What you're describing sounds like a hip control/positioning problem. The joint isn't staying centered well during movement.

The fact that you can squat and RDL without pain tells me it's probably not a strength issue.

A good ortho PT is a solid next step, especially someone who looks at movement patterns and hip controlnot just strength.

I've gone on ahead and set up an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon on Tuesday so he can take a look at it. I woke up on Friday after a strange night of uncomfortable hip sensations (not felt before or after) and got out of bed when my hip completely collapsed and I had to hang on to the dresser to remain standing. It was weird.

Oof. I will be curious about what the ortho thinks. This is sounding more like a labrum issue based on your description.

Axiompt.com

Yeah, you and me both. I simply want to work out like I've always done. Is that too much to ask? Getting old sucks...

It really does. My patients are usually over 40 and sometimes they get injured while sleeping.

Keep me posted on what you find out. Imaging might be in order here to take a closer look at the hip.


axiompt.com

If it makes you feel any better, I had hip surgery about 5 years ago to repair a damaged labrum and some impingement. The guy who worked for my doctor in charge of my rehab told me to never squat to parallel again. But, I still do, and my back squats are currently around 400, completely pain free

I've been all over the place with squats. My heaviest lift was only 320 max, but after my hip started giving me issues, I lightened the weight and now limit it to 225-255 for 8-12 reps or so for just two sets. I do hamstring curls and leg extensions as well as RDLs etc.