Femeroacetabular Impingement

i'm Wakefield based and the same situation here, but Harrogate is not too far to travel. My 18 weeks clock started on 9th October - i've waited the full 18 weeks for this one. Last time though I was only waiting 7 weeks. It's worth asking his secretary to put you on a cancellation list as im sure  there are people who cancel this time of year due to illness. Works ok if you are willing to take any date offered at short notice

Great - I have asked about the cancellation date (response: lots of people are on it) hey ho, 4 weeks into the 18week wait so will get there!

Good luck and let me know how you get on! Be careful in the snow, don't want any more damage!

For those who have been through it - when does the limp go?

And also how long did you take off work and any tips for going back to work?

Thanks!

Hi, I have spent the last hour reading everything on this thread and I am now very worried. My story is this. I run 5 miles twice a week and cycle 15 miles twice a week. I have not done either for the past 9 months.... July 1st 2102 on getting out of my car I felt a very sharp pain in my right groin and another 2 or 3 sharp tears for the rest of the day. I thought it was a groin strain so rested. The pain went but I was just left with a dull ache 24 hours a day. Doctors sent me for Ultrasound to rule out hernia. Dull ache remained. Went to see a private physio who said it could be Hip Impingement as I could feel a pinch when bringing my knee up to my chest and across my body. Googled hip impingement Consultants in my area and went to see one privately. He suspected FAI and sent me for CT scan. Scan showed Cam Lesion. Consultant said if the Dull ache does not go then Hip Authscopy best option. Do not have funds for the Op so the consultant kindly referred me on to him on the NHS. Despite no running and cycling the ache/pain in the groin got worse especially after walking a short distance. Had a cortisone Injection and that helped for 3 weeks then the pain came back. Seen the consultant on the NHS and I am booked in for Surgery at the end of February. The reasons I am worried are the pain in my right Hip has more or less gone all of a sudden and my lower back and buttock on the other side is now very sore. The CT scan showed that I had Impingement on the other side as well that was a lot more obvious but it was not symptomatic. I don't understand why it has stopped hurting on the side I am having surgery on all of a sudden and started hurting lower back and buttock on the other side. I have not done any running or cycling since I first felt the pain 9 months ago. Could it be that because the right side is injured I am leaning more when walking on the other side and that's why the pain has shifted ?  The pain I have had 24 hours a day for the past 9 months has affected all areas of my life Job and marriage. 

Hi everyone - finding it hard to catch up and remember what everyone has posted!

Welcome, Moozer, and sorry to hear that you are also suffering from hip impingement. If the scan shows impingement and it has been hurting for a long time, it is probably still best to go for surgery (not that you suggested backing out of it). My left hip was the first to 'go', but by the time the op came, the pain was much worse on the right side.  I didn't want to go back to square one on the waiting list when it was going to need surgery at some point anyway.  I, too, thought that the pain had subsided, and was relieved when the surgeon told me he'd had plenty to clean up.  For the 9 months I then waited for the op on the right-hand side, I was in constant pain - probably because it also had impingement and tear, but was taking extra strain from the weak operated side.  I also had back and glute pain.  February is not too far away - I hope it brings you some relief.  Then you/they can start to look at plans for the other side. Good luck and keep us posted.

parklife - I was off work for 2 weeks with the first op, and 3 weeks with the 2nd. After the first, I didn't have any problems getting back into the working routine (secondary teacher), mainly because I didn't have anyone else's experiences to go by (and my surgeon had suggested that a week would suffice!).  2nd time round, my doctor signed me off for longer than I expected and I felt guilty about missing my classes.  I went in 'unofficially' to 'meet' exam groups in the 3rd week.  However, when I returned officially, I was quickly exhausted and didn't feel I could keep up with the demands of my role.  I didn't go off again, but I wasn't at my best.  So basically, everyone is individual and, while it's possible to return to work after a few weeks (if it's not a very physical job), it's not always wise to do so.

My limp went after a month or so, but comes back every now and again (mildly) if I do too much on it.   But I don't think my normal walking stride is yet back to normal - it's slower and shorter, hence why I probably don't limp much. 

parklife wrote (see)

Just a question for people to mull over - so we have had this bit of bone jagging into labrum/ cartilage and destroying it. The bone is now gone, the cartilage repaired. Logic would dictate that no more damage can be done to the hip in this way. 

parklife - I used to visualise this bone jagging the cartilage, hence why I didn't really try to do any running pre-op.  What you say in the quote above is one reason why I am enjoying my running again now, and don't feel that any discomfort is 'dangerous'.  Ok, the cartilage may not be as strong as it was pre-tear, but surely the lack of bony bit reduces the risk significantly.

loverunning - not long to go until you're (hopefully) finished with hip surgery (at least for the time-being) and back on your bike/ in the pool.  I hope your pre-op wasn't affected by the snow on Friday.   Thanks for asking - my recovery is going well.  I am running about 4 times a week, generally hitting around 15 miles per week.  I sometimes get discomfort if I run for 3 days in a row, so I try not to do that.  I've had my spikes on in the snow this weekend and it has been bliss - I think the soft ground was unexpectedly very good for my hips.  I probably shouldn't have taken the risk...but it was worth it.

Rebecca Stanley 2 - it was ages before I got my first surgery date - had the consultant appointement late April and got surgery late December (after cancellations in October and November).  The second time, it was much better as they put me down as an 'urgent' case - appointment in June, surgery in September.  I think other people have had better waiting experiences than me.  Hope your op date comes soon, as it's always easier when you have a specific time to focus on.

Hi to Dav0 and Bumble1. Interested to hear your suspected illiopsoas tendonitis story as well Bumble1.  Your new physio sounds clued up - how's it going now? Have you had to avoid glute exercises?  I really hope you don't have to go through any further surgery with this issue.

Hello to anyone I've missed.  Would love to hear from mrmoosehead, who has his ops just before mine and was doing some running last time he was on here.  

Thanks for the Advice Pipes. I have my Surgery in 5 weeks time for the Cam Impingement. Please could I have some advice about what to do prior to Surgery to improve my chances of a good recovery.  The other thing I am struggling massively to understand is how my other hip could have become symptomatic even though I have done nothing apart from walking since symptoms first started with my right hip. I am really hoping it is a muscle imbalance causing the pain that was started from my right hip. It did show on the CT scan that I had a impingement but the Consultant told me lots of people have them and they never become symptomatic.

I really hope everybody out there that has had the operation or are waiting for it are managing. Every thing I read seems to be negative. 

Moozer, welcome in, though being an impingement victim not an easy ride.

As regards your 'prehab' its good to have a strong core and glutes. A lot of the pilates based stuff can be good including working to strengthen your transversus abdominus.

Glute squeezes, bridges, i use 'tabletop' pilates move. I think a few planks do no harm.

After the injury which i eventually had diagnosed as FAI, I was not able to run as pain quickly increased but was able to exercise bike - i used a lot of this up to 2 weeks before op as i figured i wanted to keep weight down as wouldnt be doing any serious exercise for several months. Wasnt told to do this by anyone  just did it myself. I stopped 2 weeks prior to op to minimize risk of colds/chest infections which might have postponed op - to this end i looked after myself well in the weeks running up to op didn't drink, ate well, drank vit C supplement to avoid colds etc.

Several months into having right hip pain which stopped me from running, i noticed some discomfort on my left. Like yourself, I was susequently diagnosed with both right and left FAI. The left is not quite asymptomatic but largely feels fairly normal, some twinges and sensations etc. This might change and get worse if i were to start running again in future. It might be that your good left was at brecking point, and overcompensation after the right 'went' has been the straw that breaks the camels back. I know that it is not uncommon for one hip to go first, followed relatively quickly by the other, as Pipes said. I also think that the pain is often quite vague, hard to pinpoint, and can even move between one hip and the other as one hip takes the strain, then the other, in a hip balancing act of stress and weight.

Well quick update about me, I will be 5 weeks post op in 2 days time.Last week wasn't great, I felt sore and inflamed along the right pubic line, i guess where the adductor longus and magnus joins the bone. 5 days it lasted until it calmed about 2 days ago. I think the combination of all the exercises i was doing and how often i was doing them was the main factor. So i increased anti-inflams to 3x400mg ibprofen, scaled back my exercises quite alot, and iced.

It has calmed a good bit. Saw physio today told her the story she agrees with scaling back to basics, she ultrasounds, massages, muscles in area were not tight apart from my quad a liitle, and she told me to take a day off from exercise here and there. Says its my body going 'enough for now'.

Improvements to my limp has stagnated. Physio says its difficult for me to build muscle strength to improve limp without inflaming everything else. Hey ho, a fine balancing act. I think a little bit less is more for me right now. She also said something about getting an MRI before she considers increasing rehab, i get reviewed by surgeon on 8 feb.

I am bored bored bored. GP gave me another week off work, in fact she told me to take 3! Too much. I miss going for long walks into town and jumping about to CDs in the house.

Hi Parklife, Thanks for the reply. Please keep posting about your recovery from the operation. Did you Fly back to Nothern Ireland the day after your operation ?

cheers moozer, will do, posting on here is therapy! And good to get advice from those who've gone before me. Yup i flew back on 4pm flight, having been operated on at 12 noon day previous-hospital gave me an anti-clot injection in the morning and gave me tight socks to wear on plane to minimize clot risk. It was good to have a pal there to help.

Parklife, Pipes, Anyone ? Hows the recovery going ?

Good luck loverunning may the force be with you! Hope it goes well and as you say you will be all the wiser second time round.

Moozer, well now about 7 weeks post op and due to have my review with the surgeon's assistant tomorrow. Fly in the early morn, looking forward to an amble round Cambridge.

Progress is slowish. Not much to report really. I still have a fairly pronounced limp but can walk/limp fairly good distances - walked into town 2 miles and back out again today, and walking doesnt seem to add to discomfort if anything it helps it.

My physio has been cautious since flair up of symptoms 2-3 weeks ago, and walks is the main thing ive been doing. Just this week ive started doing small sets of little exercises. Theres usually a discomfort feeling deep in the groin a fair amount of the time, though it is not horrendous, it varies and to that extent its annoying as one minute you think your'e getting better then it comes back. Sometimes it disappears completely for a wee while. Its strange, but any progress is now imperceptibly slow. Id love to get rid of the limp.

All the best to everyone

Hello again to everyone.

Pipes glad you managed to get your second op sorted although it sounds more troublesome than the last I hope you are the road to a real recovery. Lots of stories of surgery to read but it doesn't seem as though I will ever get near that stage. I have been told I am a long way from surgery. The first cortisone shot has lasted 4 months but is wearing off considerably now. Think I will have to go back and ask to be put on waiting list for another. Was almost pain free for about 6 weeks so that was great. Have a 6 month open appointment to see consultant before I have to start from GP level again. Have only run short diatances as just aggravates everything bummer. Thanks for you all posting, although I dont write much I do read everyones posts and take it all in. I know I should be relieved that doc feels I don't need surgery but it would be nice to feel normal again!!

Good Luck to all waiting for and recovering from ops and keep taking the pills!!!

Hope you make a speedy recovery loverunning.

I have my pre op on Tuesday and the operation 2 weeks later. My symptoms started on the 1st July and I have not run since then. I'm really hoping because of that then there is not much cartilage damage. Bought a exercise bike yesterday so Im going to do half hour a day until my surgery. Funny thing is that everybody seems to have had a MRA scan. I haven't I only had a 3d CT scan ? The dull ache in my hip had started to get better for the last 3 weeks so I got a bit skeptical and went out for a fast 3 mile walk and lucky enough it returned with a vengeance within the hour. So surgery it is!  

Good luck with the recovery loverunning.

Moozer i think in a lot of cases not much shows up on an MRI in terms of FAI/labral tears. An Arthrogram showed some tear to the cartilage for me, but the diagnosis was really made with a straight forward Xray which the consultant had done that morning. I had to wait months for MRI and arthrogram on NHS, and yet he sent me for the definitive xray that morning while i waited and then diagnosed. Makes you wonder would they not ne better going for an Xray as first port of call. And i understand a ct scan is really an advanced XRay which shows the pelvis in 3D, rather than a 2D Xray, so i think youre fine.

And in any case, its really only during the course of the operation when they stick the camera in can they really tell whats wrong and whats damaged and what needs fixing. Google 'kevin kyle hip' and you will get a number of stories about this Scottish footballers history of misdiagnosis, giving up football, subsequent diagnosis of fai through a CT scan and eventual return to football albeit down the leagues. Might give a few pointers

Had my 7 week review a couple of days ago. They were happy enough. The main thing I took out of it was that the pasin i felt at 4 weeks was likely due to the durolane injection i had at the op wearing off, and that i should to some extent push on through with rehab exercises. This I will do.

The jury seems to be out on whether i csn return to running in future, and if i do it will be way in future and long distance running likely a thing of past. But i can cycle and swim so hopefully alls not lost

Hello everyone. I've had a chesty virus for a couple of weeks so no running. The hips haven't been happy with the total lack of exercise, but I'll be back on it soon.  I have my injection on my left hip on Friday week. I can't really decide what I think about that yet as things weren't too bad on that side when running...but the dilemma is not as significant as the whole 'op or no op' decision, so I'll go ahead as planned.

How are you doing now, loverunning? Are you home? Hope the pain is manageable.  The news seems to have been relatively good.  I hope the right hip copes ok with being the main side - I found it a bit tougher than I'd expected on the side that had been operated earlier, especially when I went back to work. Take care.

Hope the pre-op goes smoothly, Moozer, and nothing stands in your way of surgery in 2 weeks. Fingers crossed the damage is minimal and dealt with during surgery.  As parklife says, they can't really tell the extent of the damage until they get in there. But at least you know you've done your best to keep it minimal. I couldn't run while waiting for my 2nd op as I kept visualising the cartilage being torn with every stride! It wasn't like that before my first op, so I kept running (a bit) and probably caused a bit of damage to side that develops symptoms later and much more quickly.

Hi Linz Wragg - must be frustrating for you to feel that pain again. How do you feel about having surgery if the injections don't give longer term relief? 

parklife - I hadn't heard of an injection during surgery that wears off after 4 weeks.  I guess they know what they put in and how it's likely to affect you. And at least it gives you an answer for that pain and allows you to carry on with the exercises. Stay positive about the future prospects for running, even if you may have to reassess the type of running you do. It may just take a while.

Have you got a date yet, Rebecca Stanley 2?