Gluteus min/med pain w. running

[cstickel]

I believe I pulled a muscle last July while cycling. (Gluteus min. and med.) Now, whenever I run I get a painful sensation like muscle pulling at the attachments along the hip bone (below the illiac crest about 2 inches and it does not inclued the piriformes) I also get this same sensation from longer walks (a mile or more) I only notice the pain after the initial run is over, not while running. I'm a wildland fire fighter and cannot afford to be out of shape this way.
I tried resting - not running for a couple months. I've also tried lots of stretching and massage. While I'm not running everything is fine. Swimming doesn't bother me a bit but, I need to run. As soon as I begin running the pain returns and takes almost a week to disipate. When the area is sore I notice it on standing after sitting and/or sleeping.
I have a sports med doc who I saw (I don't like his ideas) and wants to do trigger point injections w. lidocaine, a sports chiropracter who says its because my opposite ankle is out of alignment (her adjustments haven't worked at all) and I'm getting another point of view today from a physical therapist. (I really hate needles....so I'm looking for another option that will fix this.)
Any thoughts?

[Heidi]

Hi

If you did damge these muscles previously, chances are they are weak. This is a common problem in runners. If the Glut med particularly is weak it cannot support the weight of the pelvis when standing on that side and this causes the other hip to drop.

I have had a very similar problem and have found strengthening this group has worked wonders. The easiest way of doing this is by the side lying clam exercise:

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/strengthening/body_weight/hip_abduction.php