Hi there,
not only do I empathize with you and your hips (I know this is a site for hip chicks and all that - but this is taking it to the extreme - LOL) but my hips and I share your stuggles.
I too do yoga and find it is invaluable.
have you had any expert instriuction for your issues. Yoga can be used therapeutically. I often find myself doing the poses I know keep me balances and kinda low in pain etc but sometimes it is good to have someone super skilled take a look.
I have done a lot of exploring on this front and what I have found to be super helpful:
osteopathy especially with an osteopath skilled in craniosacral work - this can get to very deep levels of stuckness - I have had tremendous breakthrus with it - but you need to stick with it and find someone good - I had lots of epxeriences with chiropractors and osteopahths who made no differrence
an alternative is Network Chiropractic - this is a super light and non invasive form that also focuses on cconsciounsess. It is spectactular and there are many skilled practitioners now.
In chinese medicine terms there are many meridians which flow thru that area - spleen, kidney and liver seem to be the ones that cause a lot of issues as well as Gall bladder.
sometimes blood deficiency or other issues can make the joints react - I have found that - maybe a chines herbalist would help
It may be a good idea to have someone check out your spine and especially your sacrum and coccyx. I found that mine had been damaged in a fall ice skating - first and last time - when I was 16. I have been told that my uterus is tipped but that was not the case before. I had somoene work with it just recently and noticed a difference in the whole pelvis area.
the osteopathic work also affects organs and in the pelvis all the digestive and repordcutive bits and pieces...
I have found great changes from practising a simple technique I learnt when studying in England. Here are some basic insturctions.
Soon there will be a device and a book based on it available for self help and home use - I am sure you will see the details here when it is available or email me
ilanit@littletree.com.au
I learnt this little trick as part of a course I did in the UK and it has helped a lot lately - I am waiting on the instructor's new book but at the time he taught this new method which he will devlop in this book.
it is simple
lie on your back on the floor if you can
and put a foam block or a box or a small (like a local district) phone book rolled up and secured with rubber bands between your raised knees so feet are off the floor and in the air and the legs are about shoulder width or a bit wider apart and you are holding the foam thing (Clarke rubber may have something or a yoga prop ir use a box or a polystyrene esky)
then inhale and hold your breath while pushing on the box - so you are pushing your legs in and the box is pushing out
repeat 3-6 times.
then get a belt or a yoga strap and place around your two knees. with your feet raised again. This time push out and the belt is resiting - do this while holding your breath in. repeat 3-6 times
to check if your legs are even which means you pelvis and whole spine is balanced - place your legs out straight in front of you - iike you were going to stretch your hamstrings - and check the alignment of the knees and at the ankles - they should be exactly even.
you can pull your buttocks out under you to make it more accurate. Check before you start and when you finish.
sometimes it takes a while for it to hold. If it doesn't hold then you may need to do the stabilisation excercises. Which is just holding the webbing of the hand - between thumb and index finger - in your sides above the hip and press into the lower back with your thumbs for about 5 minutes with slow breathing - which affects kindney chi.