Hip Labral Tear

[ArW-729]

After almost two years of searching for a reason as to why my right knee, hip, and back hurt constantly, I was finally diagnosed this morning with a labral tear in my hip. It only took 2 MRIs , 2 orthopedic specialists, two rounds of PT, a chiropractor, and a neurologist for me to think that I was crazy when they all told me nothing was wrong with me.

A few months ago I started seeing another doctor who thought it was muscular and did some trigger point injections, but finally came to the conclusion that it was irritation in my hip joint and ordered an MRI arthrogram with contrast dye. She told me the results this morning and said that since the pain isn’t as severe as it used to be, if I can live with it then not to take any action. If the pain progresses or continues to flare up then I should consider surgery.

Has anyone ever dealt with this? I wasn’t able to ride for a good 6 months without pain and just this past week (after resting for 2 months) am able to ride with out serious pain. If I do need surgery, how long am I out of commission? I want to be able to ride! I miss it and desperately need my horsey time!

Of course I am going to ask the surgeon all of my questions when I meet with him, but since I just found out today my head is spinning with questions and I think it will be a while before I can get an appointment for a consult.

[Gideon]

I had a labral tear, due to an arthritic hip.
I ended up with a total hip replacement and was back riding after 3 months.
If you need surgery, have it done. It’s been 7 months for me and I’m back jumping and showing.

[GallopHer]

I had a labral tear, bone spurs (FAI) and severe hip pain when I rode. I had arthroscopic surgery in Aug '09. The surgery helped, but I will still need THR replacement in a few years. I was only able to ride for about 15 minutes prior to the surgery. Now, I can ride for 2 - 2.5 hours. Still not enough, but much better than before.

Few surgeons have mastered the arthroscopic procedure. If you go that route, do your homework. The rehab is much harder than THR. I was on 2 crutches for 8 weeks and one crutch for an additional 2 weeks. I was out of the saddle for about 5 months. Recovery is usually estimated to be 4-6 months. No exaggeration…

Best of luck…

[ArW-729]

@GallopHer;5557725

Few surgeons have mastered the arthroscopic procedure. If you go that route, do your homework. The rehab is much harder than THR. I was on 2 crutches for 8 weeks and one crutch for an additional 2 weeks. I was out of the saddle for about 5 months. Recovery is usually estimated to be 4-6 months. No exaggeration…

Best of luck…

Really? I thought that arthroscopic would have an easier recovery than a more invasive procedure… Shows what I know!

Luckily I am close to Boston and have access to a handful of surgeons that do this regularly and I can pick and chose which one is best for me. No one mentioned a total hip replacement, but I haven’t talk to the surgeon yet (earliest appointment is in June). My worry about hip replacement is that I am only 24 and wonder how long it will last. Will I need to keep having hips replaced as I age?

I am hoping to do surgery in October or November. After horse show season and my wedding in September. I figure that will give me the winter to recover and hopefully I will be back to riding on the spring of 2012.

[GallopHer]

As my surgeon explained - arthroscopic surgery refers to smaller incisions, but he did a TON of work on the inside of my hip.

[foxhavenfarm]

Been there, done that in 2008. I had a bone spur with a severely “bruised” labrum. When they went in (arthroscopic, 3 small incisions) they took pictures and the labrum which was supposed to be white was nasty purple and red.

They had to completely resurface the femoral head which left me at risk for fracturing it until it strengthened again.

I had 8 weeks of crutches and PT and was allowed to ride 12 weeks post surgery. The surgery helped tremendously, although I do still have occasional achiness.