So after almost 2 years of discomfort, 4 months of physio, 2 months of no running/cycling etc. i finally went to the doctor about my back/hip, was sent for x-ray which came back with a passing comment regarding arthritis which was enough for me to be sent to a orthopaedic consultant to discuss the x-ray, i wasn't really prepared for his prognosis, he had obviously read my notes because he said, you have arthritis of both hips so your days for running a 100 miles a week, sorry i mean 100 miles at a time are over, in fact your running days are over, you will need a hip replacement in a couple of years time, so it's not a pulled muscle then!!!
So what now, well I've got a 100miles race in May!! there were many thoughts in my head, just give up and take up extreme knitting, become a gym bunny again or just drink beer and eat chips, but i have for the time being decided to train for the 100 miles, apparently i can't make it any worse by continuing to run it's just a case of can i put up with the pain, and managing that pain, strangely it hurts less while actually out running but i put this down to just being outside and doing something you like hides the pain a bit, you really notice it doing day to day stuff like getting up out of the chair or standing doing the washing up etc....
As far as treatment I've got a MRI scan in March to assess the joint and see if any other options are available to me, i have some great medical contacts that tell me all is not lost there are plenty of medical options, so for the time being i have to do pretty much what I've been doing for the last 2 years and grin and bear it....
