I am experiencing moderate to severe pain in my left hip (front and back) and lower back... it started about a week ago while I was looking after a couple of large dogs - I had been taking them out on a leash and they were pulling in different directions so I thought it may be a muscle strain or tear. I ve been to my regular physician who prescribed ice packs and pain killers/muscle relaxers however the pain seems to be remaining and it appears to be coming from the joint itself as opposed to the muscles. I have difficulty getting up from my chair and am walking with a limp. I ve used topical pain relievers (icy hot, etc) and while they seem to work temporarily, the pain comes back after an hour or so. The pain is especially bad first thing in the morning and has caused me to experience difficulty in getting out of bed.I m unsure if it is relevant however I will mention anyway, that since December of 2013, I have suffered 2 Transient Ischemic Attacks, been diagnosed as Type 2 Diabetic and have also been hospitalized with a 3+ MRSA infection. I m sure these are unrelated but I thought I d mention them just in case.