FAI

[Fatcat]

Hello,

I've had a sore hip for at least a couple of years - nothing too serious, but something I wanted to get checked and sorted. Stretching, physio and yoga have done nothing to improve it and I've always felt that it isn't a muscular problem anyway.

An x-ray yesterday showed that I've probably got a femoral impingement, a lump of bone on the neck of my femur that prevents the joint moving properly and can lead to early arthritis. For me, this kind of explains why I've never been able to throw my leg of the saddle of my bikes like other people do. It probably affects both sides as well, although the left side isn't showing significant symptoms yet. It's a problem that affects young active people, I understand.

The treatments range from non-operative hip strengthening techniques, to keyhole surgery to repair any damage, right up to open-hip surgery, breaking the pelvis to realign the joints on both sides. The last option would, of course, mean a long period of inactivity and recovery, which is a bit pants for a keen cyclist/snowboarder who wanted to teach snowboarding for a living within a couple of years. However, when the consultant started talking about hip replacements , it scared the hell out of me. I'm only 35 and consider myself to be fitter than I've ever been.

I've done some research online and found plenty of information - some encouraging, some worrying. Interestingly, stretching and yoga are thought to make the problem worse, which is something I noticed. Does anyone have any first-hand experience of this problem? I'd be really interested to hear from you.

[stevewiz]

Don't let them even consider a hip replacement!! A replacement has a limited life and can only be done twice, so the first replacement needs to be done as late as possible.

[Fatcat]

Sorry, the consultant wasn't suggesting it as an option now, I don't think. He was warning that it might be necessary within 15 years, which I thought was very scary.

I'm seeing a specialist next. I'll be trying to find out how to protect the hip to make it last as long as possible.

Didn't realise you could only have a replacement twice though!

[stevewiz]

Each replacement weakens the bone where they join metal work to it. It can only take that damage twice. I know a 40 year old who needs a replacement and they are trying to stretch it out for as long as possible. With a 10-15 year life for these replacements, you don't want to get to age 70-75 and be unable to walk!

I would have thought they could just take the excess bone off. They do it for cricketers in their ankles - Freddie Flintoff had bone spurs removed last year.

[Fatcat]

Oh, ok. I should know that really - my partner's a physio.

I think the consultant has scared me a bit. He was looking at the x-ray saying that he was worried the joint was likely to fail. On reflection, he admitted it wasn't his specialist field and I think he probably said far too much about something he knows not that much about. I'll try not to worry for now.

Yes, I thought he was just going to say that they shave off the excess bone. It think this is part of the procedure, but you normally expect to see labral tears as well - it all has to be repaired. And to work on the hip, you need traction, which can cause other problems.

Still, from what I read, it wasn't a well understood condition until recently and the progress they've made with treatments seems encouraging.

[fredmundo]

It's a problem that affects young active people, I understand.

I'm only 35..

Firstly, what's with the 'only', secondly according to you you need to be young and active, so how come you have it?

Seriously though, I think the initial treatment will be quite low impact to you . The whole keyhole surgery thing is amazing.

As A bit of encouragement for you, I had a friend who had 5cm taken out of her femur (yup, a bone shortened by 5cm!!) and a steel rod inserted to hold the bone together, she only had a couple of small entry wounds top and bottom of her leg, was out of hossie without a week and was back on an exercise bike within a couple of months (maybe 3).
I know it's not the same op or the same bone/joint but I thought that I'd let you know that the recovery times for keyhole surgery are really quick so you may as well do better to the bit nicked off now rather than later, while you're fit and health your recovery time will be smaller still.

[Fatcat]

Firstly, what's with the 'only', secondly according to you you need to be young and active, so how come you have it?

LOL. You're only as old a the woman you feel, so the saying goes. Mine just happens to be 36

Thanks for the encouragement. I was just saying something similar to my boss. I'm glad it's been spotted now while I'm still fully mobile. Hopefully I can act to protect the joint and keep it going for as long as possible. Just don't want to have to stop riding boards and bikes.

[fredmundo]

You should probably think about getting some sort of armour for that side of your hip, it should hopefully act a bit to protect you of you suffer a fall...

[Fatcat]

I never fall off

[Tango]

I never fall off

then you need to try harder

good luck with the hip