walking or running

Question
Hi!  Exactly 10 years ago when I was 39 years old, I ran a marathon- and after that, I could never really run again. Even going for long walks on flat surfaces bothers me. I developed some kind of hip problem.  Today, even when I was taking a long walk, the right hip area and running along the side to mid-thigh, started to spasm- just when walking a couple of miles! I experimented with the walk and tried to ease the pain, I started walking with my legs wide (like a duck!), and no pain.  When I started walking again regularly, I started having the discomfort again.  I don't have any problem when biking, lifting weights, or playing tennis.  I only have discomfort doing forward a motion when walking a long time or running.  Is this a muscle problem? tendons? nerves?  What do you think is the problem, and can it ever be resolved?  Thank you.

Answer
While I can empathize with your problem, my expertise does not extend into the medical realm. I can speculate that the marathon started some kind of inflammatory process that led to some kind of cyst or bone spur in the hip. The exact position of the cyst or bone spur could cause discomfort when moving some ways but not others. All this does not tell you what to do to fix it and is just guesswork anyway. You probably need to see a doctor. A chiropractor might be a good first choice, as they can sometimes make things better without drugs or surgery. Because you can perform other kinds of exercise, I think there is a good chance it can be fixed with the right kind of help.