Hip Arthroscopy

Just had my results through from an MRI I had last week for a hip impingement ...as expected the consultant has recommended I have an arthroscopy to sort this problem ...I have to book an appointment to speak with the consultant about this but would like to go with a bit more knowledge of success rates/recovery times etc ...forearmed is forewarned and all that!

I have done a bit of research on the internet and found lots of info with regards the operation itself which looks a lot more involved/invasive than the knee arthroscopy I had a few years ago ...can't seem to find much about the after effects of the op ...success stories/how long it takes to get running again afterwards?

My husband had one several years back (before I met him). Not sure how long it took to recover, he mentions being on crutches for a couple of weeks. I'll ask him tonight, can't imagine it was too long though, he's a man who lives to do sporty stuff.  He runs now without any problems.

Update - he says he was back running and playing sport after 10 weeks or so.

Denise I had a hip arthroscopy in September. I was initially told 2 weeks on crutches and 4 weeks to total recovery.  After the op it was 4 weeks on crutches and 3 months recovery.  This was my surgeon told me due to the quantities of bone they had to remove.  Now I am at the 3 months stage my physio saying it will be 5-6 months from the op date until I am totally recovered and back to normal. The boundaries keep on changing.  My physio was recommended by my surgeon and they have a set schedule of recovery i.e. at 3 months you do x etc. which I think is a good idea as so many physios I have been to are a bit clueless.  It is a slow process and you will have to be very patient.  From what I understand from the hospital knee surgery is much easier a hip arthroscopy is more difficult because the cavity is so deep. I could do upper body work within 2 weeks but only a week or so ago was allowed to run and then only on the treddie and for short distances slowly building.  Lots of leg strengthening exercises though..Where are you getting it done?

Cheers Noel interesting reading ...my limited internet research led me to suspect that the goalposts could move quite a bit on this compared to a knee arthroscopy ...if I get it done it will be at The Royal Berkshire in Reading.

Out of interest how long did you need off work and driving etc.

Dennis - I was off work for two weeks as I had initially thought before the op thats all I would need. My mate  at work had booked her hols so I had to go in for the third week to look after both her and my work (no pressure ) - I really was not ready - was allowed one week on slightly later times - week 4 back to normal rush hour.  My GP signed me off for 4 weeks but I managed to get in on double crutches on the London tube system for weeks 3-4.  It was not easy and if you can get 4 weeks off if they are planning to shave any bone then go for it.  Presumably as they describe it as an impingement you will need this have they given you any guidance?  

Agree having had someone else on my usual thread who went through the knee arthroscopy slightly after I had my hip done doesnt seem like the same thing at all... 

Was v.hard for me as I do a martial art, run and exercise every day that had to be modified a bit..  

Driving - they normally say that when you can do an emergency stop you can drive again.  They also say you should be off crutches so for me that was in week 4.  I went out with Mr NGUJ initially just to make sure I was okay - I was fine...

One thing you will notice is that you will need a seat on the tubes/trains so I have actually got quite brave and just approach people for one.. initially the physio said to carry your crutches bit like a badge telling people you need to sit down.. how else would they know?

My real recommendation is to get your surgeon to recommend a physio that I think has been so important to have someone who know what they are doing.. 

I dont think with this sort of surgery that you would actually attempt anything too early but really listen to how your body feels.  There is quite a bit of pain but it is finite in that you know that after its done thats it.  After the surgery the joint forms scar tissue so its a bit like having the impingement again i.e. a tear but is slightly different so you have to be careful..  

Personally I would still go for the op despite the discomfort.. who wants to limit what they can do - certainly I didnt want to... 

Thanks for the insight NGUJ this is the sort of honest info you don't really find ...driving will be my main concern as I have a 1 hour drive to work and I shouldn't think my boss will sign me off for 4 weeks.

Looks like I've got a bit of a decision to make as with the knee op it was a no brainer as i couldn't physically run whereas I'm still able to run at the moment ...just feels like I have a permanent groin strain especially when sitting at work all day ...funnily enough it doesn't hurt when I'm running! ...although I have terrible trouble putting my shoes on!

Good luck with the rehab and like you said don't push too hard ...i did with my knee and put myself 2 weeks behind schedule.

Dennis - that is precisely what I had.  I ran my first two marathons back to back Paris and London within a v.short time and it was some time after that that I first had symptoms - but only when I sat down for long periods of time - in fact a six hour train journey triggered it off.  First year I had some physio for six or so weeks and it seemed to sort itself.  I was running fine again until this year when I went to Paris and I sat on the Eurostar which was delayed for four hours and it started to flare up.   There had been no real problems during my training it was bizarre as if I was being punished for sitting down!!

The second year with it - was much worse and made me decide that I really didnt want to live with the constant pain of it - it felt swollen and throbbing - very wearing.  I was told that as the bone was constantly cutting into the cartiledge I would just get more and more tears and as the cartiledge was good it was worth sorting it now getting rid of the extra bone - problem solved and permanently.  Unless I had the op I was told that I should not do any high impact work which meant no running and I had to stop my martial art.  Doing nothing and continuing high impact work would have ultimately lead to arthritus. 

I suspect from what they said that I might have been unlucky and had more bone off than usual.  I have a leaflet from my surgeon that I would be happy to email through to you direct if you like which gives even more info if that would help.

Thanks re rehab  Do let me know if there is anything else you need info. on this - feel like an expert having been through it all!!

Today arthroscopy is popular technique, lots of people take advantage from this. So the success rate of arthroscopy is high. And you want to concern the recovery time in arthroscopy so i tell you that it takes normally 6 months. hip arthroscopy

 

You want the FAI thread...