Foot, Knee, and hip pain

Question
I am an active 49-year-old woman who has been running for over 30 years; recently I have been experiencing pain during the the night and this is affecting my sleep. As a consequence, I am fatigued all day. I have had pain in my hip for years and cortisone shots have not helped (pain is not present when I run, but when I lie down at night and I cannot lie on the left side). Now the top of my right foot hurts so badly it wakes me up during the night (moving around does not help); also my right knee has been stiff and painful when I lie down and if I try to do a hamstring stretch (my foot and my knee have been in pain for about 2 weeks). Needless to say, I am really frustrated with my lack of sleep and inability to rid myself of these pains with Advil. I would like some advice on what to do; I have some good running shoes (Asics), but I have not been running for a week. Thanks in advance for your help!

Answer
Carol, this is likely regular musculoskeletal pain (i.e. treatable by a physical therapist doctor). However, you need to see your physician. The fact that changing positions doesn't help and cortisone doesn't help are indications that you need to see a physician very soon. Those combined with the rest of your history indicate you need to see a physician. If he or she rules out anything more than musculoskeletal pain then write me again and I'll help you.

With what I know I would refer you back to your physician even if you were sitting in front of me. Again, everything may be alright, but we don't want to be wrong.

Make sure to express that you're concerned that it is not musculoskeletal. They should consider this, but I always advocate being an active patient.