I had hip arthroscopy / femoral neck debridement by an orthopedic at SCOI (Guanch-Van Nuys) in May '07. During my pre-op appointment, I asked about recovery and ability to run again and was told I would be back to my old routine within 6-8 months. I am no where near recovery. I was on crutches for 4 weeks. I never missed PT. Initially, I was optimistic in my recovery. I went in for my 8-10 week follow up and asked if I could start testing my hip. I was given the okay. I worked out in the sand (I live by beach) and everything felt great. I than ran for about 1/2 mile on the pavement (I used a GPS and really monitored by pace). I felt great right after the run....but later in the evening I had different pain. I rested for about 10 days and tried a slow PT regimen. I went back to see my orthopedic and initially he thought I was a new patient coming in for a consult (he didn't even know who I was--never looked at my chart prior to coming into the room??). He had a fellow with him and started to ask how I was doing once I told him who I was. To make a long story short, he basically said I might not get back to normal. After reading many posts on the topic, I realize there are a lot more patients that do not fully recover. My pain in my hip is not the same as before surgery (groin & charlie horse pain) but now a new pain that feels like it is more on my side (bone / tightness). I am VERY disappointed with my results. Had I known that the chances for failure were real, I would have delayed or done more research (maybe dr phillapon in Vail with more experience / second opinion from a hip arthroscopy specialist). I can exercise on a stationary bike, swim a bit but the activities I loved (running, surfing, tennis)--I clearly can not do anymore. My experience has been miserable. I am now 8 months post op and running, surfing, tennis seems like an eternity (at best) away. I am empathetic to your husband.

I understand your frustration. First of all-have they done an MRI with contrast yet? It's very difficult to see a tear without this test. Secondly, I had x-rays, the MRI with contrast and we still went into surgery not knowing the extent of the damage. My x-ray showed 'signs' of arthritis and my MRI showed some arthritis and it was'suspicious' for a labral tear. When my surgeon went in-he found the labrum shredded and he found extensive arthritis in that hip joint. Because the joint is so deep, it is difficult to see clearly on x-ray or MRI......I am now over 4 months post-op and unfortunately I am still having a lot of pain. I am still going to PT but I am realistic to know that this may be as good as it gets. I am grateful that I had the surgery--it gave me the chance to know exactly what was going on inside instead of speculating. I do have some improvements but there is nothing you can do about the bone on bone pain of arthritis......Make sure you are going to a reputable doctor. I think you said you are near Boston--I was pleased with my surgeon, Dr. Asnis-have you tried seeing him? Good luck. Sue

How did you surgery go? How are you feeling?

I just had my other hip done by Dr. Kelly. I'm feeling better then after the first surgery. I'm not sure how successful the first surgery or recovery was. I hope it will be better the second time around.

Kristina

I am doing pretty well. I ended up having my labral tear debrieded, my psoas released, and I had a really severe case of synivitious. My surgery was on January 15th and I am still on crutches. I was doing pretty well pain wise until I started going to PT at week two and all of the banding and stretching my pt did to my leg and hip has caused the pain to creep up. We are keeping an eye on that cause we don't want the synivitous to come back. I am not having two many problems with the psoas, just mild tightness. Most of my pain is in my butt and lateral hip (side pain). How are you doing? When did Dr. Kelly do your second hip?

Be warned: I would not advise you to undertake any running, much less the ambitious course you describe. The most common theme on virtually all theads I have read on labral tears is the extent to which athletes like you and me, especially runners, ruin themselves continuing to pound and grind away after their tear(s) get started. I know it's gut-wrenching. I had to go through it myself January a year ago but if you don't stop you stand a good chance of winding up bed-ridden in considerable pain; even if you do stop working out the tear may still progress.

What more do you know about the extent of your injury?

Brownie028

Thanks,

AMadrona

bruceandandra@comcast.net

I am a special case when it comes to this injury and have had recurrent issues. I have not re-torn the labrum at this point I don't think, but I had a severe case of synovitis in the joint during surgery and unfortunately even though I had a synovectomy done the synovitis has come back. Right now we are not sure why it has come back and we are doing all kinds of things to figure it out. I have contiued to have pretty bad pain and I cannot progress very far in PT cause I cannot do any strengthening exersises until I have no pain. I just had another steroid injection last week to help with the pain and so far it is helping somewhat. Unfortunately I cannot answer as to when I will be back to doing regular activities cause it seems a long way off for me. I am not unhappy that I did the surgery, I definitely needed it and we would have never found the synovitis without it, but now we have to find out why it keeps coming back. Dr. Kelly is a great doctor and he is doing all he can to figure out my condition. I wouldn't have it any other way or any other doctor at the head of my case. I actually have a few that he has included in this hunt for answers.

Carrie