posted Sep-13-2007 12:24 AM               

After reading everyone's post's I thought I would write a positive update...

Tomorrow I am 12 weeks post-op from a labral repair and shaving of the bone spur. I can honestly say I am almost 100% (no running yet...I have done EXACTLY what the PT has said) but I am cleared to begin shallow water running. Yippee! I used to HATE the eliptical machine but I have embraced it due to swimming EVERYDAY (first with just my arms) and lots of stationary biking. I am a teacher and I realized this past Monday that I can FINALLY sit criss-cross on the floor with-out any pain and I am leg-pressing almost as much weight as I was prior to the surgery. I can tell my surgery leg is weaker, but I don't have the pain that I experienced for so long. I am ANXIOUSLY waiting for clearance to run (hopefully in November) but I am not pushing it at this point because I truly want to heal.

To all of you on crutches and going to the post-op....hang in there. I hit some rough spots around 3 weeks and again at about 8 weeks (depressed, frustrated, quite a bit of pain as scar tissue broke up). I am excited to be able to snowboard this winter and looking back the surgery was a good decision. It hasn't been easy, but it's getting better every day.

Jen

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posted Sep-13-2007 06:37 AM               

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posted Sep-13-2007 09:25 PM               

good luck with the surgery! i am typing this while in the cpm. it takes up a tremendous amount of time- between the cpm for 4 hours a day, the ice/compression, and the pt exercises i am busy for at least 6 hours a day. at least with the invention of laptops and cell phones i can get most of my work done. keep to what the doc tells you. i feel really great and seem to be healing quickly. however, my fam and friends have been kind enough to help out for the 1st two weeks so the only thing i have to concentrate on is getting healthy.

some things the first week that were super tricky that i didnt even consider were using the bathroom (i am a female), putting on pants (could NOT do that on my own until a week after surgery) and getting in and out of the shower. also, i needed someone to help lift my leg in/out of the cpm. as i mentioned in an earlier post, do yourself a favor and try to get a higher toilet seat to put on your toilet (we got one from the local rec center).

anyway, with the repair, the release and shaving the bone down i feel much better than i did before the surgery, and i'm only 2 weeks out. the pain is minimal compared to what i was feeling trying to run thru it. hope this helps

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posted Sep-13-2007 10:59 PM            

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posted Sep-14-2007 04:32 AM               

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posted Sep-14-2007 06:52 PM               

Apparently this type of repair is pretty typical, being that the MRI does not give a clear picture of all the internal damage. If I remember correctly from stuff I've read online the # was somewhere around 1/3 of the patients, but don't quote me on that! -anyone out there have the documented stats? - Now, it also must be mentioned that I chose to go to one of the top docs because he was equipped for whatever the outcome.

I am currently 15 days out. I stayed at a place with no stairs the first 2 weeks. Not a necessity at all, but certainly made things easier for me. This week I am at a 2-level house, and do not have any difficulties with stairs. They should show you how to do the stairs w/the crutches before you are discharged from the hospital. I live in a multi-floor walk up and was told that it would have been fine doing all the stairs right after the surgery, but I couldn't imagine it being easy or manageable.

Your use on the CPM depends on the procedure. With what I had done it is 4 full weeks on the machine, 4 hours/day. I don't know if you've seen it yet, but I was surprised at the size of the machine. It needs to go at a slight angle and you might have an issue using it on the couch. I have it set up on a bed right now. The brace is simple and easy to put on by yourself. I was done with that at the end of 2 weeks.

Also, I was off of the painkillers by the 3rd day- the surgery really wasn't too painful for me. Best of luck!!

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posted Sep-16-2007 12:16 AM            

Karin

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posted Sep-16-2007 06:09 PM               

Just found this site and am finding it extremely useful. I have had a "groin ache" and limited range of motion (cannot sit cross legged without severe pain) in my right hip since January '07. A "sports med" dr. ordered x-ray, PT (with no relief to pain after two months), and finally a traditional MRI (not MRI with contrast) to rule out a labral tear. The MRI findings showed "significant joint effusion of right hip" (An OR suggested the fluid build up was due to a possible tear. Anyone else been told they have "joint effusion"?) and "blunting of the free edge of the acetabular labrum on the right, with underlying labral degeneration especially anteriorly". The sports med. dr. told me that meant I do NOT have a labral tear and instructed me to find a rheumatologist. A rheumatologist then ruled out anything rheumatological and said to see an orthopedic surgeon. After taking my xray and MRI results to an OR the surgeon said unfortunately a traditional MRI (with out contrast) will not usually show a labral tear and from the symptoms I described (along with some manual tests he did on me such as moving my leg around) and the suggestive MRI findings he believes it is in fact a labral tear. He suggests getting a new MRI (with contrast) if I am interested in treating such a problem with the arthropscopic surgery. (If I dont want surgery he said don't bother having more tests.).

I would like to find out, definitively, what the problem is, however, since the pain does not limit my ability to bike, run, or walk (most of the time) I have a concern about the tests involved with this type of issue. Has anyone here had any concern over the amount of radiation one is subjected to with the xrays, MRI anthrogram (which I understand uses live xray), or the arthroscopic surgery itself (which I also hear uses fluoroscopic xray to guide the needles, camera, etc.). I am a 31 year old female who has not had children and am concerned about the effects of these tests involving radiation to the pelvic area (ovaries). Will this lead to fertility problems/genetic problems when I have children?

I have not seen any comments about this in this post. Maybe I am just being paranoid but any information is appreciated.

THanks!

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posted Sep-18-2007 05:07 PM            

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posted Sep-20-2007 11:47 AM            

I am 39 now, but I've had hip issues all my life. When I was a kid, I couldn't sit "Indian-style" comfortably, so I turned my legs outwards and sat in a W (or M, I guess). :-) I was very active, horseback riding and sports as a kid, weight training and stair climbing as a young adult, and in the last decade, rock climbing, belly dancing, yoga, hiking, ballroom dancing, etc. And I ache after activity half the time.

Unlike most of the people on this board, however, I was never a runner. By the first mile, one hip or the other would generally start clicking and at the end of two, I would be experiencing a great deal of dull, achy pain and the fear that I wouldn't be able to take the next step. My worst incident occurred when I was 27 (12 years ago) and I went on a 21 mile hike in the Arkansas mountains. We covered about 13 miles the first day and most of the second was downhill. The last 3 miles or so on that second day, I had to drag my leg because I couldn't swing it forward any more and I was too stubborn to be carted out of the woods...

Since then, I've noticed I'm pretty cautious about getting myself to the point where I can't continue, which really curtails that "high" you get by pushing yourself past your limits. I *hate* limiting myself and being scared... Meanwhile, like many others, I have a great deal of compensation going on, incredibly tight muscles, various levels and areas of back pain, etc. My yoga teacher told me I have the worst psoas she's ever seen...

So, the upshot is I finally visited a really good doctor (about my shoulder, actually, on which I've already had surgery) and he ordered an MRI with contrast of my hip and referred me to a guy he highly recommends, Dr. Hal Martin. I'm waiting on a call from Dr. Martin's office, but meanwhile I'm told I definitely have a serious tear in the labram and that I have a presumably genetic tilt to the hip bone, what I'm gathering is called FAI (femoral acetabular impingement). I'm thrilled to hear that there's actually something wrong in there and that it may be fixable. After all these years, knowing I wasn't experiencing what others were, and feeling like I was just a wimp or an excuse-making hypochondriac, it's validation I really needed.

I'm hoping you folks can answer a few questions for me since I want to have a good idea what to discuss with the doctor when I get there.

First, if this is genetic (I'm told people of North European descent are kind of the German Shepherds of the human species) and since I've had problems with both hips, I'm assuming both hips would need the bone shaving thing even if both aren't torn (current doctor thinks both *are* torn). However, it sounds like most people posting only had surgery on one hip. Can it be done on two? At the same time?

Also, has anyone here used or heard of Dr. Martin? He's in Oklahoma City.

Here's some questions I have prepared for the doctor. Anything I need to add?

1. How long will I be off work?
2. How long will I be on crutches?
3. What is the PT? Continuous motion? Water exercise? How many hours a day/week?
4. How long before I can do the elliptical? Rock climb? Dance?
5. How long do I need someone at home with me after the surgery?
6. Will the labrum be repaired, debrided, or removed?
7. Can this surgery help with my psoas?
8. Can this surgery help with my very sensitive femoral nerve?
9. How many hip arthoscopies have you done? With FAI?
10. What kind of success rate have you seen? For pain reduction? For resumption of a high level of activity?

Thanks for any help you can provide and sorry for the long post. And best wishes to everybody out there going through this....

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posted Sep-21-2007 04:45 PM               

do those of you who have gone back need to rest during the day and/or ice?

Just trying to set my expectations appropriately.

thanks!!

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posted Sep-21-2007 10:35 PM               

Has anyone had both hips repaired?
I must travel by airplane one hour on the return by myself. Is the CPM machine always used after surgery? How long? Is getting on a plane alone, based on past experience, going to be too difficult?
Also, what about pain afterward for the first two days?
Any help with info is appreciated!

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posted Sep-22-2007 12:46 PM               

[This message has been edited by jentheroadrunner (edited Sep-22-2007).]

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posted Sep-22-2007 12:55 PM               

i returned back to work 4 1/2 days post-op. crazy looking back now but i was sitting all day and i was determined. i did not use any machines, just a lot of ice and aleeve. I was allowed NO WEIGHT on my hip for 3 weeks and then i was allowed to basically put my big two down (20% of my weight) for 2.5 weeks and then about 45% of my weight for the last 2.5 weeks making it a great 7 weeks on crutches total. i didn't have a hard time getting around on the crutches (it was very tiring though) but getting in and out of the shower was difficult as well as just daily routines (getting dressed, trying to make coffee, take my dogs out if my fiance wasn't home, grocery shop, etc.). at the time it seems like forever but it does go quickly. for 2 weeks - not a lot of movement allowed. about 10 days out i could swim w/arms only and began pt/pool woorkouts shortly after with very limited movement. last week (i am about 3.5 months post-op) they let me start jogging in the pool and i get very sore from it - lots of scar tissue involved. it's muscle soreness in the upper/outer theigh opposed to a searing hip pain.

i guess to answer some questions - airplane ride after...take the pain meds and hope you can sleep. sitting will NOT be comfortable right away...5 days out i could handle it but it's not great. everyone's pt is different depending on the tear...just do whatever the doc and pt says...that's my best advice!!!

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posted Sep-22-2007 01:54 PM               

In terms of recovery, I am still taking the percocet but the pain is starting to subside--I still do get sharp pains in the inner thigh. I am in a hip brace that the doctor wants met to wear for the next 10 days until I have my post-op visit with him. I am also supposed to use a CPM machine for 4-6 hours a day. He wants me on crutches for 2-3 weeks. I feel better today but I am so tired. Maybe a little of it is depression from what I heard! I start PT on Tuesday. Sue

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posted Sep-24-2007 01:23 PM            

I used two crutches for the first week and then went down to one crutch for about a week. I have been happily walking about without crutches for the past five days at home, and have started going for walks outside without crutches for up to 30 minutes. I have also been doing prescribed physiotherapy exercises every day. Although during the first week I suffered from a bit of bruising and tenderness, other than that I have not suffered much pain at all. If I do too much in a day I get a little pain, but my surgeon says this is perfectly normal and it is nothing that an over the counter pain killer/anti inflammatory can't fix.

I have been told that I will be able to start proper exercise again in just less than one month. The surgery went well and although I will have to go slowly at first, within 4 - 6 months I am expected to make a 100% recovery.

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posted Sep-25-2007 11:49 AM            

I also realized I should ask about the open vs arthoscropic thing and the scar I'll be left with. Yes, it's vain...

Still excited, since I've lived with a low level of pain ( 2 on 10 scale) for so many years...

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posted Sep-25-2007 04:47 PM               

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posted Sep-28-2007 08:43 PM            

As many others have stated, I am happy to have found this thread, but sorry to have been looking for it. The thread over in Runners World seems to have died about a month ago. I have had a great time reading the many inspirational and heartbreaking stories in this thread. I would encourage Cool Running to keep this one as an archive somewhere since this is the best forum I have seen devoted specifically to runners on this particular problem.

This will likely be a long post since it is my introduction. For those of you who want "Just the facts," I am about 11 weeks out from a surgical consult after 3 years of left medial groin pain.

About me:
I am 47, male, and living outside Chicago. My running has all been recreational (i.e. no team running in high school or college), but I have been running pretty frequently over the last 25 years or so. Many 5K & 10K races, half marathons and two Chicago marathons.

The problem:
About 3 years ago I pulled up from a normal training run with what I thought at the time was a simple groin pull on the left side. After about two weeks of rest and stretching there was no improvement, so I went to my favorite sports clinic to see an ortho.

Early diagnosis:
Unlike so many stories here, I got the "hip labral tear" diagnosis pretty much right away. In fact, the doc at that point said there would be no recovery without surgery. I was unwilling to hear that surgery was required - both mentally and emotionally unprepared - so I beat feet out of there hoping to stay out from under the knife.

A second opinion visit (different doc, same practice) yielded plain X-rays and and MRI to rule out femoral neck fracture and avascular necrosis of the hip (negative on both).

Conservative treatment:
Went through 12 weeks of PT to work on strengthening the hip musculature and loosening up the IT band. This helped some, but not a complete resolution to the pain. So, I pretty much quit running totally for a year to see if the problem would resolve on its own. No dice.

Returning to the same doc who prescribed the PT, we decided to try the next most conservative thing, a corticosteriod injection into the hip capsule. Fortunately for me, after reading some of the bad outcomes from this, I had a good response from the injection - pain free after about 5 days and back to training. This lasted about 6 months, then it started to wear off over the next couple of months. So now I'm pretty much back to the same point as a year ago when I had the shot - not running and in pain.

Current situation:
I can't cross my left knee over my right because of the sharp pain that results; and I'm using my arm to lift my left leg into the car when I drive, because I can't lift it using those muscles. I still have some muscular stiffness on the left side and my IT band need work regularly. I'm assuming this is from the muscles compensating for the hip.

I had a follow-up last week and got the following 3 options - live with it (hardly), another injection (not expected to yield even as good a result as the first one), or surgery to correct the problem. So, I got a referral to an arthroscopic OS - Charles Bush-Joseph at Rush Medical. Seems to have a good resume (50-60 hip arthros a year) and works with both the White Sox and the Bulls. I see him in late Dec - first appt I could get.

I'm glad to know that there are others out there struggling with this injury. Thanks to all who posted so far and to Laura for starting this thread. Strength to all and good outcomes.

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posted Sep-28-2007 10:56 PM               

[This message has been edited by jentheroadrunner (edited Sep-28-2007).]

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posted Sep-28-2007 11:03 PM               

My advice, get the surgery. It's not going anywhere and it's not getting better. I got the diagnosis my my back doc the first time I mentioned hip pain and put it off for a year and that year was filled with miserable runs, major back pain from altering my running/walking (I have 2 disc issues and I'm only 27), and just overall frustration.

I just received clearance from my doc to run yesturday with no necessary follow-up unless something happens. Wooo hooo!!! I DID NOT expect to be running by October with the location of my tear and the large bone spur. I have to start out w/treadmill jogging but it is worth it!

I had a big smile on my face and the doc said to me "Remember 80% of people get 80% better, you may fall into that 20% range".

She's right, I may be the 20% but I do know I don't regret having the surgery and I wish I would have just done it earlier. I don't have the back pain anymore (knock on wood) although the post-op time was challenging (mostly mental) I am very happy with my recovery. I can also say I did EVERY SINGLE THING my PT and doc told me to do from crutches, weight training, and pool work outs to how to sleep.

SUE - HANG IN THERE...your post was very difficult to read...I will put the healing thoughts out there for you and I am wishing for the best for you.

Jen

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posted Sep-30-2007 09:25 AM               

Stay strong. Perhaps you could start another thread for those who just found out news similar to yours? sounds like you might want support over the next few weeks/months to help cope. It must be so hard to find out the news esp with going into the surgery so optimistically. Has the doc told you what you will be able to do comfortably after you're healed up? Though running might be put to the side, if you know what's out there it might help refocus the energy (kayaking? aquajogging? swimming? rollerblading? I bet there are some fun things can help take the emphasis off not running.) I know once I was out of commission I needed to find a new hobby so I could stop thinking about running as much. I can only image how difficult this must be for you- please post if you need support.

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posted Sep-30-2007 09:54 PM            

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posted Oct-01-2007 06:42 PM               

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posted Oct-01-2007 08:31 PM            

Thanks again everyone for your post-op info, it truely is helpful.

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