Unbearable hip pain—need help ASAP!!!

Hi everyone!
I’ve been lurking on this forum and various other sites for quite a while now, searching for answers to my health issues. I finally decided to stop reading and start writing. I’m 24, no kids, and for the last five years, life has basically been on hold because of excruciating pelvic pain. To put it bluntly: I’ve been through endless gynecological, urological, and physical therapy appointments. Every single specialist I see is stumped. They throw out theories like ovarian inflammation, bladder issues, adhesions, or bacterial infections, but then they tell me my tests all come back "normal." On a doctor's recommendation, I even tried homeopathy and acupuncture. Nothing worked.

The pain hits suddenly and without warning. It doesn't care if I'm active or resting—it often wakes me right up from a deep sleep. It feels like sharp, stabbing sensations, almost as if someone is slicing from my tailbone toward my pubic bone and ovaries (though it varies). These intense stabs can happen once or twice in a matter of seconds, multiple times a day. That’s my daily reality. During bad phases, these attacks last for hours at a time over several days. One constant is that the pain flares up during my period; it’s more frequent and lasts much longer then. The intensity is so debilitating that I can't walk or even move; I just curl up and brace myself. I've tried birth control pills and various painkillers, but there hasn't been a single shred of improvement. Honestly, the constant pain has become so overwhelming that I'm afraid to even leave my house. Mentally, I'm reaching my limit. On top of everything else, sex is also painful.
I'm posting this because every "standard" medical route—doctors, advice, prescriptions—has failed me. I don't know how to keep living like this. If anyone has any advice or has dealt with something similar, please let me know.

Ugh, man... that sounds like such a hassle.

Are you dealing with any inflammation along with the pain, or maybe some other weird symptoms popping up?

To be honest, everything you're describing kind of points toward something gynecological... I don't know. Maybe. It just reminds me of a case involving endometriosis I heard about once.

But hey, who knows for sure? It's impossible to say anything definitive without more info.

First off, thanks for reaching out 🙂
Regarding inflammation, I haven’t dealt with any for quite a while now—at least two or three years. Before that, I was constantly fighting UTIs and what doctors described as ovarian inflammation. This specific pain I'm feeling? It predates all those issues. As for endometriosis, I have to admit it feels like the common thread running through everything, even if my doctors have never given me a definitive diagnosis.
Could you elaborate on what you know about it and how your experience played out?

Anyone? If you have any advice at all, please reach out!

Are you even sure you actually saw a specialist?

gentlewolf292 said:First off, thanks for reaching out. 🙂
As for inflammation, I haven’t dealt with any actual inflammation for a long time—at least two or three years now. Before that, I used to deal with frequent UTIs and what doctors claimed were ovarian inflammations. This pain I'm feeling right now? It was there even before those issues cropped up. Regarding endometriosis, I have to admit it feels like the underlying cause behind everything, even if doctors have never given me a definitive, direct diagnosis.
Can you explain more about what you know regarding this and what your experience was like?

Unfortunately, the only way to actually confirm endometriosis for sure is through laparoscopy. About ten years ago, one doctor told me I had it on my ovary, then other doctors would say, "No, that's not it," and then others would say something else entirely... until it suddenly started getting worse. Now, it's showing up much clearer on a color Doppler ultrasound. At this point, a simple laparoscopy isn't enough anymore; I need a traditional open surgery because everything has become adhered to my pelvis.
I've also spent a lot of time reading stories online from women who were basically gaslit by their doctors. They were told the pain wasn't real because their tests came back clean, treated like they were just making things up in their heads, until someone finally performed an endoscopic/laparoscopic exam and saw the endometriosis right there.
The pain isn't the same for everyone. I occasionally get that sharp, stabbing sensation through my pelvis just like you described, but for me, it's brief and doesn't happen all that often.
Obviously, before jumping into laparoscopy—since that's major surgery—you have to rule out other stuff like spinal issues or kidney stones. No matter how strongly you feel that you need to switch doctors or get a second opinion, do it. Dig into the internet too. For example:
www.endo-resolved.com
www.endometriosistreatment.org
www.endometriosisassn.org
http://forums.obgyn.net/endo/

Olivia Clark22 said:Pain isn't universal. I get those sharp stabs too—like someone’s driving a knife straight through my pelvis—but for me, it’s brief and doesn't happen nearly as often as yours.
Obviously, before jumping into laparoscopy (since we're talking surgery here), you have to rule out other culprits like spinal issues or kidney stones. Honestly? If you feel like you need a second opinion or a new doctor, go for it. Dig deep. Research everything online. For example:

Look, I totally get it. Pain hits everyone differently. But I am honestly losing my mind after all these failed doctor visits and endless exams. I feel like I've been through every single gynecological test under the sun! Could you tell me if you ever feel that pain in your lower back too? Because I’m getting stabs there as well. And does it happen outside of your period at all?

gentlewolf292 said:Look, I get it—pain isn't one-size-fits-all. But honestly? I’m losing my mind. I’ve spent endless hours cycling through doctors, tests, and conflicting opinions. It feels like I’ve had every single gynecological exam imaginable. Can you tell me if you feel pain in your lower back too? It’s this sharp, stabbing sensation. And does it happen outside of your period?

A relative of mine dealt with symptoms just like yours. After years of jumping through hoops and dealing with medical runarounds, she was finally diagnosed with endometriosis. In her case, that was actually why she couldn't conceive.
She ended up having laparoscopic surgery, and today, she’s a mother to a young boy.
P.S. Just a reminder: they never said endometriosis can't come back.
Good luck.

gentlewolf292 said:Look, I get that everyone experiences pain differently, but I am honestly losing my mind. I’ve wasted so much time running to doctors and getting endless exams and conflicting opinions—I feel like I've had every single gynecological test under the sun! Can you tell me if you also get pain in your lower back? It feels like sharp stabbing pains right there. And does it hurt at any other time besides during your period?

During my period, it’s this long, dull ache that keeps switching back and forth with intense cramps. It feels like my entire lower half is just falling apart, and my legs go numb.
Otherwise, I get these sudden, sharp stabs at any point in my cycle—like someone is literally driving a spear through my pelvis. It feels like they're cutting straight through my pelvic bone and into my ovaries. With endometriosis, the pain probably depends on where that tissue is growing—whether it's pressing against nerves, blood vessels, or whatever else.

Olivia Clark22 said:Then there’s my period—but that's just a long, dull ache mixed with cramps. It feels like my entire lower half and legs are just going numb and falling apart.
And normally, I get these sudden, sharp stabs at any point in my cycle. It feels like someone is driving a spear through my pelvis—like they're cutting right through my pelvic bone and straight into my ovaries. With endometriosis, the pain probably depends on where that tissue is growing—whether it's pressing against nerves, blood vessels, or whatever else is nearby...

Yeah, I deal with something very similar. Can you tell me which doctor you're seeing and what the game plan is to fix this? Have they put you on any specific meds yet? How are you managing the pain day-to-day?

gentlewolf292 said:Yeah, same here.... Can you tell me where you go for treatment and how they plan to fix it!? Did you get any medication (painkillers)? How are you managing the pain?

I just pop some Voltaren during my period—otherwise, it’s just these sudden, sharp stabs of pain that last maybe ten seconds, so I don't really need pills. I'm actually heading in for surgery next week because it looks like things have already progressed. I'm going to Canada.
Most people try to handle this with hormone therapy. But honestly? That's just treating the symptoms, not the actual cause. They still don't even know what the root cause is.

luckychild said:I just take some Aleve during my period—it’s mostly just quick, sharp bursts of pain lasting maybe ten seconds, so I don't need heavy meds. I’m actually heading in for surgery next week since it seems to have progressed already. Going to a clinic in Canada.
Usually, they try to manage this with hormone therapy. But that’s just treating the symptoms, not the root cause. They still don't know what's actually causing it.

If you don't mind, please check back in once you're done with your treatment in Canada and let us know how it went!