greater trochanter pain - any REALISTIC solution?

I am over 60, and I had been taking brisk walks (2 mi in 30 minutes)
for years and it felt really good. My heart and cardio was tip top
shape. Then my right trochanter started hurting about 2 hours AFTER a
brisk walk.

It looked a little bit like it was a teeny bit LARGER then the left
one, from which there was no pain at all. I left off walking for a
couple of weeks, waiting for the pain to completely go away. It
finally did, but it was maddening that it took so long. I resumed my
walking, and experienced NO PAIN during the walk, but, about 2 hours
later it started back in just like before, and, it got even worse the
next day and and lasted for about 2 weeks.

I noticed that, even after I waited two weeks for it to heal, I
couldn't even take my usual LONG WALK from the far edge of the parking
lot (my usual parking choice) to the store, and back out again. If I
did that, then by the time I got home and unloaded the groceries, my
right trochanter would be hurting.

My Orthopedist took xrays to make sure my hip joints were still good -
they were. He suggested that I might have a tightened ILT, but
admitted he didn't know what was causing me the pain. The xrays didn't
show any growth on the trochanter.

The PT put me through a grueling set of stretches, which hurt badly
WHILE he was doing it. He showed me how to do these myself, and I did
for a few weeks. It made no difference, and I really doubt that my ILT
is tight. If I just sit and kick my leg out and back for several
minutes, then, my trochanter will flare up about an hour later - this
exercise does not move the hip at all, but, I can feel flesh movement
over the trochanter while I perform the sitting bent-hip leg kicks
(like splashing water with your foot while sitting on the side of a
swimming pool).

What I am wondering, is, has anyone ever really gotten CURED (after 60)
when something like this sets in? I am crushed that I cannot walk,
bycycle, swim, squat, or do ANY kind of exercise that involves leg
movements for more than just a few minutes.

The only saving grace is that, if I leave it alone for a couple of
weeks, the pain all goes away and I am OK as long as I don't exert my
right leg more than very casual use (short walks only for only short
duration - never enough to get and cardio benefit).

That has caused me to be somewhat depressed because it has more or less
ended my total fitness program. I went to two different Orthos, and
neither one could say what was causing the problem, and they both
suggested PT and use naproxen when it flares up. This is worthless
information to me (and expensive, at that!).

If anyone has actually gotten CURED so that they could return to brisk
30 minute walks (where you pump the old heart up to 130 and break out
in a good sweat), then please give me some ideas about how. I am
reluctanly resigning to the unpleasantness of just getting to old for
the kind of exercise regime that I enjoyed for so many years. Blast!
What a bummer. Please help if you got a true testimonial for me.

Littleberry

I never really included a formal "warm-up" session. For many years,
what I would do is just get on the treadmill, set at 4.0 mph, and walk
for 30 minutes. My heart kicked up to 125-130 fairly quickly (within
10 minutes), and stayed until I got off. I followed this with a 2 hour
session of weight training and stretching. My last exercise would be a
slow and easy session on a twister (as in doing the chubby checker
"twist").

I never had any problems until, about 4 years ago, I suffered my 1st
tendon problem, in my right hand, which was diagnosed as Stenosyn
tenosynovitis (an inflamation of the sheathed tendons in the palm of
the hand). Later I suffered tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, and
inflamation of the tendon connecting the pects to the head of the
humerous. I managed to work around these tendon problems, because,
even after a PT regime, they simply would not heal to where I could
resume my former heavy workouts - I had to quit bench presses
altogether.

I didn't mind as long as I could walk, because that was my ONLY cardio
exercise.

So, yes, I have suspected tendons myself, but, three different Ortho's
(one specializing in sports medicine), don't see my greater trochanter
pain as being tendon related, except that they suspect ILT.

I don't. By feeling carefully around my greater trochanter as I work
my leg below the knee (not the hip), I suspect it is one or more
tendons that connect the thigh muscles to the area aound the greater
trochanter. That would be consistent with my earlier tendon problems.


I also fear that this is genetic (some gene turns on after 60), and
that I am just hot out of luck until they come up with some miracilous
treatment (like stem cells or something).

It never hurts when I am working out - even when I am recovering from a
previous workout - I suspect I got so addicted to the endorphines that
I just don't feel the pain during the workout. It is afterwards. It
is quite painful - I can't sleep without some aid. I don't want to get
up because I have to favor my right hip. It takes about a week or two
for it to go away completely.

If I just give up, and quit exercising altogether, then the pain goes
away completely and I do fine until I walk any distance.

Can they "fix" weak tendons after 65? What exactly happens? Is there
a microscopic tear in the tendon? Why is it so painful? Even with all
the pain, it is mixed in with the good feeling you get when your
muscles are recoving from a heavy workout.

I just hate to give up my workouts. I'll try your suggestion and see
if a 20 minute warmup might make a difference - I can only hope.