quote:<HR>Originally posted by warrantyexpired:
Anyone know of a doctor in Portland,OR area? Dr. Ellis at OHSU was recommended to me, but during the 1.5 years I've been trying to convince my insurance company's clinicians to order an MRI arthrogram, he has moved on to Ohio.
I am so frustrated by the never-ending process of being given stretches, orthotics, heel lifts, etc,etc. A physical therapist told me months ago that he thought it was FAI, but I can't get any clinicians to listen (and I work in the field of pain management for this same company!). From my symptoms and all I read - a labral tear/FAI sure seem to fit. Meanwhile I keep being stupid and trying to keep active - I find there really is no aerobic activity that is not painful, so I just keep trying to run anyway. thanks!!<HR>

Hello warrantyexpired ,

Re: hip surgeons in Portland

I had a labral repair performed by Dr. Ellis last April -- just before Dr. Ellis left. I have received follow-up care from Dr. Mark Wagner -- a former student of Dr. Ellis. He is practicing at Orthopedic Specialists, PC., has specialties in hip, knee and shoulder arthroscopy and has hospital priviledges through Providence Portland. It is my understanding that Dr. Wagner intends to start performing FAI surgeries through his practice. If your insurance allows, it might be worth scheduling a consultation with Dr. Wagner.

Aside from receiving specialty training from Dr. Ellis, I do not know the extent of Dr. Wagner's direct experience with this particular procedure -- so if you meet with him it would certainly be worth asking how many of the arthroscopic hip procedures he has performed outside of his OHSU training, complication rates, and to the ability to speak with some of his arthroscopic hip patients.

I know on a personal level how frustrating this particular injury can be and how challenging it is to receive both a diagnosis and treatment. I wish you the best of luck.

Gabi6 - -

I haven't heard of Dr. Clark. My original doc that found the tear was Dr. Charles Creasman at Arizona Fracture Surgeons (downtown Phx). He actually recommend Lederman and Martin. But, when I called Martin's office, he is apparently no longer doing hips. That is who referred me to Waslewski. My procedure was out-patient at Scottsdale-Shea.

I would definitely get a second opinion if it makes you feel comfortable. Since I had already gotten Creasman's opinion, I just marched forward with Waslewski's opinion. I felt that he was very honest. I just went back in yesterday for my first post-op appointment. I'm still stuck on crutches for another 4 weeks, but I can put more weight on the leg/hip. He also cleared me for exercising on a stationary bike so long as the resistance is very low and my seat height is a little higher than usual.

Funny, but my doc warned me about the pain that everyone here talks about around week 3 or so post-op. He said it's common to feel good with little or no pain until around 3 or 4 weeks. Then, because everything is tightening up as the inflammation goes down, things get painful. He told me to stay on top of my stretching everyday (3 - 4 times/day) so that I can nip the pain in the bud.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by kristina:
I had surgery with Dr. Kelly. He didn?t push the surgery on me but I felt that it was the only option I had if I wanted to get back to running. I had dealt with a bad hip for years before it was diagnosed as a labral tear. I?ve a hard time communicating with doctors and am always unsure. I?m happy with Dr. Kelly. The surgery went very well. It?s 2 months ago and he seems to think that I?m doing well. Time can only tell if I will be able to run again at the level I want to. Dr. Kelly also works with really good therapists. I?ve seen them a few times and I stay in contact with them with e-mails and phone calls. I didn?t have any problems with my insurance. The only thing right now that I?m waiting approval on is the rental of the CPM and ice machine.

Good Luck!<HR>

Sue -
Just some cardio ideas (I can TOTALLY, TOTALLY, TOTALLY relate). It's the whole "runner mentatlity". Running is our drug

I too have a bad back (L5 herniation) and prior to the hip surgery I couldn't run and I obviously can't now. I did three things:

Pre-surgery and 6 weeks post op: deep water jogging
It's not the same and the cardio effect isn't great, but it is low impact and you do get to use all muscles. Water belts are around 30 bucks and I also bought water-proof headphones and holder for my i-pod off otterbox.com

Recumbant bike - very boring, doesn't get the heart rate up very high, but you aren't putting any stress on your back.

2 weeks post op I swam with my arms only. I did this everyday until I received clearance to do the to above activities. I used a pully between my legs and swam using only my arms.

I don't know if you have tried any of this...best of luck

Heal up my friend!!
Jen

Gabi6 --

I'm going to PT twice a week right now. Lots and lots of stretching, some resistance training with ankle weights. Now that I can ride the stationary bike, I get to do that, too. I was cleared for anything "non-impact", so swimming falls into that. The caveat is nothing hard on the hips like a breast stroke or a butterfly stroke. Freestyle is good. I'm sure non-impact running in the pool with a flotation belt like jentherunner mentioned is OK, too.

I haven't tried the pool yet, though. All of you who are post-op and using the pool . . . isn't it a bit tough getting in and out of the pool? I'm still on crutches so??????

Hi Michelle,

How are you feeling after your surgery? Is your nerve pain getting better?

I have had a terrible 5 months or so. It started with my getting terrible pelvic floor spasms. I was sent to a physical therapist who said that the spasms were up inside near my obterator and hip socket and that my hip was very tight and started having me do hip opening stretches. I then threw my back out and went to an orthopedist who did an MRI, found I had a herniated disc and said that that everything was probably stemming from my back. I had an epidural steroid injection 2 days after which I developed deblitating nerve pain down my leg. The spasms in my hip also turned to pain and I had a 2nd epidural to try to calm down any nerve inflammation caused by the 1st needle. Nothing changed and I started to be able to walk less and less. I developed terrible spasms in my butt and hip and had to stop walking.

The pain in my hip became worse and I had an MRI of my hip which showed a small labral tear. My ortho. also said that he probably bruised a nerve doing the epidural but seemed confused after alsmost 2 months as to why I wasn't getting better. He thought the labral tear was probably not the source of my pain but wanted to do another shot to try to diagnosed whether the pain was coming from my hip or my back but I was afraid of another needle after the first one left me inccapaciated. I also figured that since the leg pain started 2 days after the epidural it must have been from that.

I started PT for the leg pain (one PT said it was piriformis syndrome caused by the epidural - the doc. nicked a nerve and the muscles went into spasm). My leg pain seemed to get better, but the hip did not. I still couldn't walk or stand for more than a few minutes but felt better that the leg pain was subsiding.

I then wen tto an acupuncurist to help me with back spasms. He put a needle in my hip which immediately caused pain in my back where I had herniated a disc a few months ago. The pain then spread back down my leg and since then (3 weeks) I have been bedridden due to nerve pain down into my foot. Needless to say I am beyond furious. One doctor sends me to another and that doctor back to the first. No one seems to be able to figure out what's going on.

I have an appt. with a pain doc. tomorrow and a doc. who does hip arthroscopy on Fri. I have done this all already, but feel that after 3 week s of doing nothing but lying in bed I need to try again. I have had to cancel several jobs offered to me and have no life at the moment. The only thing that help sthe pain is lying in bed, but even when the pain dyes down a little, when I move or do anything, it flares up again. I am also concerned because my range of motion in my hip/leg are severly restricted. Could the nerve pain be related to a labral tear or is the tear a red herring? Am I just injured from teh epidural and need to just lie in bed til the nerve heals? I have no idea and am wondering what is going on with you since your story is the only one I've read that vaguely sounds like mine.

Insight from anyone else is welcome.

I hope you're recovering!

suzanne

Kristina,
Thank you so much again. I'm finally feeling like I can go through with this surgery! I'm happy to hear that you are up and about and can run again.
I used to run long distance a long time ago and was considering getting back into it when this injury occurred. I was never a hardcore runner, but I understand runner's very well, my mother-in-law is constantly training for marathons!
Wish you the best of luck and thank you again for the information. You have really helped ease my mind about going through with this!
Forever grateful, Carrie

quote:<HR>Originally posted by kristina:
Carrie
It took about 6 or 8 weeks to get the surgery scheduled. I never asked how many of these surgeries he has performed (I probably should have). From what I read about him, I assumed that he has done a great amount. I had the labral tear debride, a pincer shaved off and the psoas partially released. He feels like I should recover and be able to run again. I?m doing a lot of strengthening and mobility exercises. I?ve been biking since the day after surgery but very easy. I could probably bike a little harder now. I?ve walked in the pool since week 2. I started elliptical last week. I did 6 minutes the first time and I?m now at 13 minutes. I was told I could swim some but to stay with the breaststroke for now. I?ve not yet done it. It sounds like it?s most important to get the strength and joint mobility back so I?m focusing on that. The rehab is time consuming. I?ve already lost so much cardio so I?m not worried about it anymore. Once I?m strong enough, I will eventually get it back. I?ve a 4-year old so I stay pretty busy and I?m on the go a lot. I?m at a point where I almost forget that I had surgery but yet there is a lot to do before I can run again.<HR>