What could a bad pain around hip be?

Can anyone tell me what could be the cause of my hip pain?

• 2 months ago while on my morning jog, I felt a pop in my left hip and pain. I had to walk the 3 miles back home.I have not been able to jog sense that day. at first the pain was really bad and I had hard time walking very, and it was worse going up stairs ( coming down wasn't bad) about a week later a fairly large bruise developed just below my hip joint on my outer leg, I did the ice / heat thing and have been taking anti inflammatory and have been doing stretches, the pain is better but still there when I walk any distance further than say 1/4 mile its not a severe pain more of a nagging pain, my hip constantly feels like it needs to be stretched sometimes its my whole leg sometimes it is just down to my knee, if i walk very far I get the sensation that my leg is waking up from being asleep ( I hope I am making sense, its hard to explain) anyway. yesterday I went on a short run ( 1.25 mile) to see how my hip would do. I had no pain while running, however it hurts ( slightly worse than before my run) when I walk. oh yeah also it dose not now nor has it ever hurt while laying or sitting only while walking. I realize this is a long and probably confusing post I just hope someone can tell me what it could be, I really dont want to go to a DR. and I can live with the pain if I have to but I just really want to be able to start running again. thanks for any help =+)

• Answer:

  I forget the name of the band but there is a band that runs in your hips and flexors. Running improper or not stretching before and after can cause this band to get tight and wear and tear against something in your hip. Im sorry I dont remember the details but my friend just had this and she had to have physical therapy. It would hurt in her hip and go down her thigh. and if she moved a certain way it was very painful. The doc said it was improper shoes and running and most likely not stretching good enough. So I would get it looked at before it gets worse and you have to have surgery. Physical therapy and exercises can really help it. It may not hurt while running but it will be killer after wards. She was my workout partner and took her out for 6 weeks and all she wes allowed to do was walk on flat surface. So get checked out.