Labral tear/detachment in rt hip

[Hip2bcool]

Well I'm freaking out cos I'm 41 and after a year of trying to figure what the pain was in my butt and later on in hip flexor region I've finally been told Ive got a probable labral detachment anterosuperiorly (MRI scan). I did'nt even know what that meant 10 minutes ago, than I came across this forum. It all started a year and a half ago. I had always been a keen tramper and runner and had been training for my first marathon, when after about 8 months of training the butt pain started. I eased off the running then gave it up all together.
I don't seem to be able to run much without paying for it the next day. Some days the pain is non-existence, other days it is a curse. Any suggestions on what to do. My surgeon reckons nothing can be done for it in little old New Zealand. Does physio help? Will it get better or am I doomed?

[Queen of the Twist]

Hi Hip2bcool!
I'm no expert, I self diagnosed about a week ago. I'm still working on getting MDs to confirm what seems obvious to me. In some ways, you're lucky you GOT diagnosed! I can tell you that I have had these symptoms and crippling 'events' for over 4 years now. The only time my hip goes out (and it feels like it's out of socket to me) is after vigorous weight bearing activites. So, I don't do them!

I learned about deep water aquatics. If you have a pool I highly recommend the book "Heal Your Hips" by Klapper. Doing pool therapy does even MORE than relieve hip pain and increase your ROM. It helps heal your head. It reduces tension from your mind. You can hop, jump and play in the water and we NEED to do that since we can't on land.

I also went to a great physical therapist who gave me a few vital streches. If I don't stretch out the hip flexors, I end up with more pain. It's so easy to do too. My right hip is where the tear is. I put my left foot up on a bench/chair. I keep my right foot flat on the floor and lean backwards, kind of making a bow backwards with my body so that those anterior muscles stretch (I have NO idea about your butt though).

Physio can help alot but I would look into aquatics if you can too.

[Hip2bcool]

Thanks QOTT,
All the best with your investigations. It took me 15 months to nail down the problem. Went through the whole shabang; xrays, ultrasound, CT scan, which all showed zero. It was the MRI that gave the oil in the end. Mine doesn't sound anywhere as bad as yours. My hip doesnt pop out or anything, its just in constant low-med grade pain, and seems to cause tightening/pain of all my stabilisers (e.g. medius, anterior flexor). When its real bad the pain radiates down the front of my quad. On the MRI scan you can clearly see a cyst/lump. The MIR report calls this a dysplastic bump and it is causing hip impingment and the detachment of the anterior glenoid labrum (superior margin). I don't really know what any of that means! all the best, Hip2bcool

[Happygirl]

Any suggestions on what to do. My surgeon reckons nothing can be done for it in little old New Zealand.

Fisrtly I want to say Yay for getting a diagnosis! and the above statement is TOTALLY WRONG!!!!!!! Little old New Zealand my foot- we have some pretty great surgeons here (mine is absolutely amazing)!

There are a few of us here who are from NZ, (you are not alone) and been/being treated-I think I may be the only one who is basically recovered from surgery so feel free to ask me loads of questions. I think the most important job of all us hip sufferers is to edcucate as much as possible so there is more knowledge of this condition and less people have to struggle with getting a diagnosis (I spent almost 3 years).

Tell me where in NZ you are situated and I'm sure we can give you lots of useful information. Traveling to see a surgeon who knows what they are doing is no big deal (I had to) are you under ACC? or Health Insurance?

[Hip2bcool]

Hi Happygirl

Thanks for your support. Man do I feel sorry for you, only 21 and having this problem, good on ya for keeping your chin up! I guess I was a bit hard on my surgeon (Dr Hardie). His exact words were more like he didn't have confidnce that the full monty operation (like you had) would be successful. He said that this was a relatively new type of surgery and in his view had not proven itself as yet (to some extent this is supported by other posts here). Personally, I am still trying to digest exactly what I've got, how serious or advanced it is in my case, and what I should do about it. I had absolutely no hip problems at all until about 18 months ago when I was half way through a marathon (my first) training progam. It started out as a slight pain in my right buttock, after about three months of further training the pain had got worse with a lot of tight muscles about the hip region. I also had the same symtoms, but much less noticable on the left hip. I'm trying to figure out how I got the tear, and if it was due to FAI why did the problem not arise earlier? I gave up running 6 months ago, I since then the pain sometimes disappears for a week or two then returns. My surgeon said to see what happens over the next few months , and if things don't improve or get better we should reassess our direction. So, how far out of your op are you, and whats the improvement.
Stay Happy happygirl cheers Hip2bcool (I wish it was!)

[Hip2bcool]

...oh yeah, I live in Hamilton.

[focus_911]

It can be fixed!!! Labral detachment is one of the few things that can be fixed. 5 months ago I had a scope done on my right hip due to a lot of problems I was having (butt pain, catching etc), your typical symptoms. I have a thread that I have been updating for the last year.

One of the things they took care of that I had was labral detachment. They place sutures into your labral and re-attach it to your hip socket. I am located in Canada. I think the problem might lay where you are located its just not something they have learned to fix yet, but it can be done. I would recommend getting a second opinion mate.

Good Luck.

[Hip2bcool]

Hi Kelly

Just read your story. Hang in there buddy , and stay positive. At this stage my hip doesn't seem to be as bad as yours or others I've read about. Still reading up on everything and deciding which way to go.. At this stage I can tolerate the pain without any meds, and have weeks without any pain or very low grade pain. If I have the op I need to time it right as I have a buisness to run and a wife and 5 children (plus one on the way), to support .

Cheers John

[Happygirl]

Hi Happygirl

Thanks for your support. Man do I feel sorry for you, only 21 and having this problem, good on ya for keeping your chin up! I guess I was a bit hard on my surgeon (Dr Hardie). His exact words were more like he didn't have confidnce that the full monty operation (like you had) would be successful. He said that this was a relatively new type of surgery and in his view had not proven itself as yet (to some extent this is supported by other posts here). Personally, I am still trying to digest exactly what I've got, how serious or advanced it is in my case, and what I should do about it. I had absolutely no hip problems at all until about 18 months ago when I was half way through a marathon (my first) training progam. It started out as a slight pain in my right buttock, after about three months of further training the pain had got worse with a lot of tight muscles about the hip region. I also had the same symtoms, but much less noticable on the left hip. I'm trying to figure out how I got the tear, and if it was due to FAI why did the problem not arise earlier? I gave up running 6 months ago, I since then the pain sometimes disappears for a week or two then returns. My surgeon said to see what happens over the next few months , and if things don't improve or get better we should reassess our direction. So, how far out of your op are you, and whats the improvement.
Stay Happy happygirl cheers Hip2bcool (I wish it was!)

Sorry I took a while to reply - I had an exam yesterday I spent all week studying!

Please don't feel sorry for me-I certainly dont. In fact I think I am very lucky to have had a great surgeon and each day brings excitement at each new thing I am able to do!

I live in Dunedin, studying at Otago uni but come from Chch, it took coming down to Dunedin to be diagnosed and then ended having to go to Chch for surgery!

As far as confidence in the operation I think it depends on your surgeon, mine trained with Dr Ganz in Switzerland and has lots of experience with the surgery and explained eveything for me. How much experience has your surgeon had with this surgery? I think it makes a big difference to the outcome. I don't think there are many on this board who have had the open technique, I think most have had the arthroscopic surgery and from what I have found out it is more muddy as to whether that approach is successful or not. Again I stress the experience of the surgeon and honesty too, maybe you should get your films veiwed by another surgeon with experience and see what they have to say about your case? Granted It is a new procedure but everything has to start as new! and this has been going on for about 10 years now.

Symptoms seem to start after excess activity, your marathon training probably didn't help! So many things can cause a slight change that start the domino effect causing a hidden problem to show its head.

As for me I am almost 6 months post op now and enjoying the freedom of movement!
I walk with no limp!
I can Run for over 5 minutes
Cycle
Dance
Swim
Stand with my weight through both legs (amazing thought)
Sit normally
Tie my own shoe laces (this is even more amazing!)
Climb stairs two at a time
I dont have to constantly think about whether what I'm about to do will hurt my hip or not
I can almost sit on the floor cross-legged again
I can walk around campus like any other student and walk into town to go shopping
Keep up with my friends
bounce around when I'm excited about something
Chase my 4 y.o god daughter and tickle her to the ground
And a million other things that were impossible before.

The 9 months before surgery I could hardly walk on a good day so this is amazing progress as far as I'm concerned.

I still have muscle fatigue but I have been a bit slow on that front, I'm still in physio but we are going advanced rehab here(more than just the getting to walk stage), I dont mind being slow as everytime we try to speed things up I seem to strain a muscle somewhere so slow and steady will win the race. I really dont think it will be long before I reach potential though.
Except just now I am sporting a sprained ankle, possible stress fracture in my foot after falling on the mini tramp!

It sounds like your symptoms are not quite so bad as mine were so now is the time to get all the information you can and really understand what its all about and find out what your options are. You have a big responsibility on your shoulders with your family and having to be able to provide for them so its really important that you get the right advice.

How long since you saw your surgeon? When do you plan on going back to reassess the situation?

Keep in touch and feel free to ask me any questions - I promise to reply just make take a little while because of my busy study timetable.

Happygirl

[MaryC]

Hi Hip2bcool,
I'm another NZ'er and live on the North Shore in Auckland. I spent 3years before I finally got a decent diagnosis ( labral tear) and arthroscopy. My surgeon is Bill Farrington at North Shore Hospital and is excellent....I can't thank him enough.( he's British trained from St. Mary's in London and spent time in UK, Aussie & South Africa before coming here). I got my GP to put me on a public waiting list to get a second opinion but it was surprisingly quick and a great result. He has a similarly trained collegue, Mr. Rob Sharp who also operates there and privately at Southern Cross, North Harbour ph (09) 4409409

The private surgeon I went to first kept recommending a hip replacement ( actually he was swinging between an osteotomy and a full hip replacement) - turns out he hasn't seen an arthroscopy done so no wonder he didn't recommend it.
I'm 5 weeks post surgery now and doing pretty good. Much of the buttock pain has gone and I can swim properly now and walk about 1.5km....rarely need painkillers and my leg has stopped giving way under me.. Still get some pain in the groin especially if I have been sitting for a while.
Start physio tomorrow as I think I need to strengthen the muscles in my left leg ( the side with the problem) as have been favouring it so long. Finally ACC will pay for this because this started as a result of a skiing accident ...must have cost me a fortune in diffferent specialists and pain medication.
I too was an avid tramper, swimmer, skier....you name it I've tried it so it has been so hard not to even be able to walk properly. Hope you get quicker action than I had....this 'come back in 6mths' caper is all very well but living in pain so long is very wearing.
cheers,
MaryC