Hip Arthroscopy FAI Surgery Round Two—All Done!

[JusticeRider]

Hi Sammy-Am! Sorry you’re dealing with tendinitis. It is very early in your recovery, so do take heart that many different issues that are cropping up now will probably resolve with time and patience.

When I had my second FAI surgery, my surgeon warned me of the possibility of tendinitis. Apparently it’s pretty common after this surgery. She said to really go easy with straight leg raises in particular and to not do too many or with too much weight. If the hip started tightening up, back off of them completely until it settled down.

She also recommended using an upright stationary bike instead of a recumbent bike (apparently less stress on the hip flexors). And she instructed me to lay on my stomach for at least ten minutes a couple times each day (forever!). I don’t know if any of these apply to you, but I thought I’d share Hope your healing journey gets better and better!

 

[Sammy-Am]

Hi JusticeRider,

Thanks. And yes, unfortunately I’ve heard from many PT’s how common tendinitis is after this surgery. I’m sure I aggravated my hip in the early days of my recovery and did too much as I was my own primary caretaker.

I’m not doing anything at PT in terms of strengthening the hip flexors, so no straight leg raises or anything like that. And we are using the upright bike as opposed to the recumbent. I’ve really only been doing my exercises as PT and have mostly been resting at home and nurturing that hip flexor.

Admittedly, I’m having a hard time stretching this hip because it doesn’t feel “stiff.” I just feel this constant tugging where my hip flexors meet my joint/ASIS. I did try a half kneeling stretch in modified low lunge last night and it felt DIVINE. I’m hoping that some gentle stretching will also help in calming everything down for my poor hip.

Best.

 

[Sammy-Am]

Hi Friends,

It’s been a couple of weeks since I last posted—happy almost September!

I’m excited to announce that I’m FINALLY starting a new job on the 13th! I’ll be working in a school as a teacher’s aide, so no more long hours of sitting in front of a computer screen. Luckily for me, my hip has been very happy with long periods of sitting—it’s the getting up from the chair part and walking that’s a little more iffy. I was able to walk about 20 minutes at the mall comfortably this last weekend and I had a few instances of my hip “locking” this morning after sitting, but overall not too bad.

I’m approaching 12 weeks out this upcoming week and I see my surgeon on the 7th. Originally, I was supposed to see him at the end of the month, but I wanted to get in before my insurance lapses and there’s a delay. And sadly, by switching jobs I’m losing my free PT with the company I currently work at.

I know I’m still very early out, but I can feel a stark difference between where I was 12 weeks post-op with the left hip and where I am now.

I’m still struggling A LOT with my hip flexor on this side—same spot as it has been, the muscle right below the ASIS, going down a few inches. We still haven’t done any hip flexor strengthening in PT and I just finished yet another round of Meloxicam! It hurts the most walking and in the morning and at night when sleeping, which is usually when I feel the snapping (along with end range hip flexion).

My groin pain is luckily a lot better and my mobility is great! I still feel a “pulling” with end range flexion and ROM. I just have pain in the very lower portion of my groin—not labrum, but it seems to be adductor mostly and maybe proximal hamstring.

I know I complain a lot in terms of hip flexor pain, but is there an end in sight?! Could it be something else? Or maybe massage therapy or something else would help?

Lucky for me, I made a long list of questions and have a surgeon who’s a gem and tolerates them.

On that note, I’ll be happy to post after my next appointment or with any updates. In the meantime, happy healing!

 

[springs12]

@Sammy-Am Hi there! I thought I would come over to respond to a question you had on another page. Congrats on the new job! That's exciting! Sorry about the loss of free PT though. Boohoo! :-(

I had a RTHR June 22nd and you asked about what my PT had me do to try to isolate which tendon is tight. I can tell you that she had me do this, but I have no idea what indicates which. I have my own suspicions on the culprit, but my hip just went through a long so I think as times has passed, it is slowly improving. I'm careful to not overdo it, especially with my hip flexors.

The PA had me lay down flat on my back. She bent my knee up like how you sit in a chair, but I was obviously laying. . She supported me, but slowly had me extend my leg and put it back down. She asked at which points I felt the pain bc that can give info on which tendon. I don't do this at home or anything bc it would strain it all and make me worse off I am sure.

I was reading your hip flexors are not being kind. I can tell you that my hip flexors going into my surgery were a mess so I don't expect them to be happy for awhile. My PT does soft tissue work and no hip flexor strengthening. I am 44 and both hips have/had some mild OA, mild dysplasia, cam impingements, and labral tears. I'm still healing but I can see the benefits although I'm still in denial being 44. I scheduled to do my left hip Nov. 16, and I am still in denial about this. Lots of questioning myself. Is the pain that bad? Blah blah blah. Haha.

I hope you continue to recover well. Where is you scar? Curious where they went in. I have have feeling my pulling tendon is my rectus femurs, and my scar tissue has pulled on that a good bit. Every once in awhile I would take a muscle relaxant at bed, and that seemed to help because spasms weren't pulling. I don't like to take a ton of meds, but that did help, and once soft tissue work started at PT, that seemed to help a lot as well to where I no longer have really needed the muscle relaxant.

 

[Sammy-Am]

@Sammy-Am Hi there! I thought I would come over to respond to a question you had on another page. Congrats on the new job! That's exciting! Sorry about the loss of free PT though. Boohoo! :-(

I had a RTHR June 22nd and you asked about what my PT had me do to try to isolate which tendon is tight. I can tell you that she had me do this, but I have no idea what indicates which. I have my own suspicions on the culprit, but my hip just went through a long so I think as times has passed, it is slowly improving. I'm careful to not overdo it, especially with my hip flexors.

The PA had me lay down flat on my back. She bent my knee up like how you sit in a chair, but I was obviously laying. . She supported me, but slowly had me extend my leg and put it back down. She asked at which points I felt the pain bc that can give info on which tendon. I don't do this at home or anything bc it would strain it all and make me worse off I am sure.

I was reading your hip flexors are not being kind. I can tell you that my hip flexors going into my surgery were a mess so I don't expect them to be happy for awhile. My PT does soft tissue work and no hip flexor strengthening. I am 44 and both hips have/had some mild OA, mild dysplasia, cam impingements, and labral tears. I'm still healing but I can see the benefits although I'm still in denial being 44. I scheduled to do my left hip Nov. 16, and I am still in denial about this. Lots of questioning myself. Is the pain that bad? Blah blah blah. Haha.

I hope you continue to recover well. Where is you scar? Curious where they went in. I have have feeling my pulling tendon is my rectus femurs, and my scar tissue has pulled on that a good bit. Every once in awhile I would take a muscle relaxant at bed, and that seemed to help because spasms weren't pulling. I don't like to take a ton of meds, but that did help, and once soft tissue work started at PT, that seemed to help a lot as well to where I no longer have really needed the muscle relaxant.

Thank you! I’m curious to see how my hip will hold up being on my feet all day. My recovery last year was as “sitting intensive,” so hopefully my hip will love me more as I say a well-deserved goodbye to my desk job.

Thank you for trying to explain the tests—I think I can get a general visualize of what you were describing.

If my fellow hippies on this thread haven’t noticed already, I have an incredibly tendency to overthink my symptoms. I worked as a physical therapy aide and am a certified yoga teacher, so I’m hyper aware of my body, sometimes to a fault. It actually took me working in a PT office for a doctor (DPT) to FINALLY believe my intuition and tell me that my in-toeing (being pigeon toed) wasn’t foot related. And finally at 30, almost 31, I found out I had femoral anteversion.

My surgeon could clearly see the version when I was walking so we never did a CT scan to look at the exact degrees of where my hips were sitting. I knew from the PT’s that I worked with that a periacetabular osteotomy COULD be an option, but given my age and the fact that I’ll probably need a hip replacement in 10 years, I didn’t seek out a hip specialist to inquire about de-rotation. My surgeon is a phenomenal sports medicine doctor (one of VERY few in the area who does hip arthroscopy’s) and so far, I’m THRILLED with the result on the left side.

My hip flexors were also a mess before both surgeries. I’m not the best with anatomy, but with my surgery last year (left hip) I think Mott of my pain was in the psoas. The right side just feels “different” like it’s not the same issue and I can’t explain why.

I have two scars for my scope. Hard to explain their exact positioning, but one is one the front of the thigh and the other is more lateral towards the side of the hip. And I will say they have been VERY sensitive this go around, so I’m wondering how much scar tissue is playing a role in my discomfort. And I’m also curious if that makes sense in regards to my “pulling sensations.”

Alas, I’m still in shock that I had two hip surgeries in 11 months—both before age 32!

I can definitely feel the benefits from each surgery and I know I’ll feel better seeing the surgeon on Thursday. I guess it’s just one issue/day at a time sort of deal.

Best

 

[JusticeRider]

I'm still in denial being 44. I scheduled to do my left hip Nov. 16, and I am

I’m still in shock that I had two hip surgeries in 11 months—both before age 32!

If I had a dollar for every time someone found out I had hip surgery and said, “but you’re so young!” I’d be a rich woman It’s hard enough to have to get used to the idea yourself, isn’t it?

 

[myglasshalffull]

Sammy Ann,
Sure is a lot to experience at such a young age, my best wishes to you.

 

[Sammy-Am]

Sammy Ann,
Sure is a lot to experience at such a young age, my best wishes to you.

Thank you @myglasshalffull! I needed this today

 

[myglasshalffull]

Virtual hug heading your way!
Hang in there, easy for me to say but we've all had days we were down, hopefully next day will be better.

 

[Sammy-Am]

Virtual hug heading your way!
Hang in there, easy for me to say but we've all had days we were down, hopefully next day will be better.

Thank you again.

Today is turning out to be a little rough. I’m in a lot of pain today, about a 5 out of 10.

I went to my yoga studio last night for our monthly women’s circle and I think how I was sitting really aggravated my hip.

We were sitting on yoga bolsters, which are relatively low to the ground for about 2 hours. I shifted as needed between having my legs straight and having a gentle bend and hugging my knees. But before the circle started, I went from sitting really low to standing to greet a couple of friends and I had a very loud audible POP in the front of my hip. And it wasn’t agony, it just kind of shook me both times because the pop pulled on my hip joint and was uncomfortable in an angry sort of way—not a happy pop. I hope I’m making some sense here.

I’m wondering if anyone has experience with snapping hip here. I can’t think what else this could be. I just had a lot of discomfort sleeping last night and coming into today. I don’t feel like I messed the surgery up, it just feels like a different issue.

Anyhow, I’m off to join a friend at a barbecue on this gorgeous day. Happy holiday weekend!

 

[springs12]

@Sammy-Am Sorry to hear it's been a rough day, but I'm glad you are getting out to enjoy the sunshine! I think you and I are similar in that we are very aware of our bodies. I too am hyperaware of everything.

I hope you are feeling a little better and getting some rest in even with the BBQ.

 

[Sammy-Am]

@Sammy-Am Sorry to hear it's been a rough day, but I'm glad you are getting out to enjoy the sunshine! I think you and I are similar in that we are very aware of our bodies. I too am hyperaware of everything.

I hope you are feeling a little better and getting some rest in even with the BBQ.

@springs12 me too! I like to say that being detail oriented and observant are both my blessings and my curses. I feel very deeply and love my natural intuition, but having a major surgery definitely puts those traits into perspective

The barbecue was great! A friend of a friend hosted, so I got to meet a lot of new people, enjoy the beautiful weather, have a drink, and just socialize. I’m realizing that human connection (something I’ve always personally struggled with) really helps when you need that support away from the pain.

I had a lot of pain during the barbecue, but my hip is graciously giving me some relief. I’m settling down for the night with my heating pad about to watch Netflix, comfortably aware that I still have two more days of my weekend—thank God!

 

[springs12]

@Sammy-Am May I ask what area of the country you are in? I'm doing the same thing! I just got my kids to bed and poured myself my first glass of wine since my surgery. My husband traveled 12 days ago and 4 days ago when arriving home, came down with Covid. So I locked him away. My 5 year old turns six this week, and I have to get ready for a birthday party next Saturday. I also had 10,000 steps for the first time since surgery because I was on my own for all grocery shopping for the first time. My hip awaiting replacement and back are ANGRY. Surprisingly, my right side is tired, esp in the hip flexors and low back, but the joint itself feels fine. It's so wild. I am okay with not getting 10k steps again for awhile. Haha. But, a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do.

Anything in particular you like to watch? I'm so sick of TV, but I keep on going. Glad you are feeling a little better.

 

[Sammy-Am]

@Sammy-Am May I ask what area of the country you are in? I'm doing the same thing! I just got my kids to bed and poured myself my first glass of wine since my surgery. My husband traveled 12 days ago and 4 days ago when arriving home, came down with Covid. So I locked him away. My 5 year old turns six this week, and I have to get ready for a birthday party next Saturday. I also had 10,000 steps for the first time since surgery because I was on my own for all grocery shopping for the first time. My hip awaiting replacement and back are ANGRY. Surprisingly, my right side is tired, esp in the hip flexors and low back, but the joint itself feels fine. It's so wild. I am okay with not getting 10k steps again for awhile. Haha. But, a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do.

Anything in particular you like to watch? I'm so sick of TV, but I keep on going. Glad you are feeling a little better.

I’m in NY—the suburbs, about an hour or two outside of NYC.

Remind me again, have you had surgery ok either hip or are you just waiting to be in the double hippy club?

I know the healing journey is never linear, pre- or post-surgery. I don’t mind an angry hip, but I want to know WHY—and of course, my poor brain always anticipates the worst.

I hope your husband feels better soon! I’m starting work in a school system next week and am just thinking to myself how sick I’m going to get! CVS here I come for my first ever flu shot LOL!

I’m watching Poisoned on Netflix now—very eye opening! I’m actually looking for a new TV series to start binge watching. I hate that Netflix has become my new norm, but what’s a girl to do with a healing hip? And besides football starts next week, and is that REALLY tv? I think not LOL.

 

[springs12]

@Sammy-Am Nice! I'm in Ohio. I like NYC and the state itself. It's been awhile, but one day I'd love to go back.

I had my right hip done on June 22 of this year. I scheduled the left for Nov. 16th so I am just awaiting to be a double hippy. I don't think the right is quite ready, but in 10 more weeks, I'm hoping all is good to go. I'm totally a WHY person too. I used to anticipate the worst, but therapy and various life experiences has helped tame that beast in my head.

I didn't used to get the flu shot until I had kids. I used to be a primary school teacher, and somehow I steered clear. It wasn't until I had my own small children coughing in my face that I caught the flu. It was awful, so I always get the flu shot now. My hubs is doing much better. One more day of being locked away, and then I told him he has to wear a mask around the house until he tests negative on an at home test or until it's later in the week.

I'm excited for football season. Pre-kids we always watched, but once they were born and I went into nursing school, life got a little more hectic. I even joined a fantasy league this year bc I thought to myself that I'm going to have a pretty chill Fall with the exception of a birthday and a hip replacement. Yay! Haha.

 

[Sammy-Am]

@springs12 Oh nice! I’m hoping to travel soon once things get better financially for me. It’s been a rough several years. But, I’m looking to travel all over and am even contemplating moving down south—somewhere in the Carolina region. Who knows where life will take me though?

Even though I’m still in pain AGAIN today, I’m SO HAPPY I’m now apart of the double hippy club! I’m not sure what the doc will say about the right hip on Thursday, but it’s such a relief that I was able to get both done in such a short timeframe. I miss teaching yoga, going to various fitness classes, and just being able to enjoy the outdoors which I have always wanted to begin appreciating.

I actually put my right hip surgery off a couple of months after my Mom died, but I couldn’t imagine waiting the full year and a half (FAI recovery) to start the process all over again. It’s been rough, but I’m really trying to find my strength and now the doc and my body will work everything out.

I hope you and your family continue to stay well! I’m very excited for the Fall this year! My hips don’t love the rain and I loved summer this year more than ever, but I’m ready for a change. I’m ready for the cozy season LOL—and football too!

Have a great Sunday!

 

[Sammy-Am]

Hi All,

Gosh what a stressful two days it has been. I’m really feeling defeated these days and am hoping that things will start looking up for me soon.

I saw the hip surgeon yesterday morning and that appointment seemed to go pretty well. I told him that I was still having issues with my hip flexors. We decided to switch from the anti-inflammatory to a more aggressive steroid treatment, which I started today, I think it’s Methylprednisone which I’ve taken before, right before my left hip surgery last year.

The doctor thinks that my hip flexor tightness and tendinitis are what’s causing my persistent pain. He said generally the tendinitis works itself out within 4-6 months from the date of surgery, so if things aren’t looking up when I see him next month, we might have to continue to take a more aggressive approach.

I have one more PT appointment on Monday and then there will be a lapse until my new insurance kicks in. The doctor did give me the option of foregoing physical therapy all together if I felt it was causing me more pain. We also think that not sitting as much with this new job will put less pressure on the hip flexors and could alleviate some persistent pain.

Short post for tonight. I’m having a lot of nerve pain in the hip and have no motivation to go to the car to get my Tylenol. Hopefully, I can watch some Netflix and relax some before bed.

Best

 

[Hippielife]

I had the same issue with all three of my thr surgeries. This surgery is a trauma to the body and part joint replaced implant thru femur is a lot .It took 8-10 months to finally stretch the tightness out . There is always persistent pain after thr surgeries . I’m not gonna sugar coat it. Most surgeons lack the ability to explain the many phases of healing after surgery. And there are many.Pt helped teach simple exercises to help slowly stretch out tightness which is normal.
Walking is really the best exercise once you’re out on level ground working on a solid heel to toe gate. It takes up to a full year or longer in some cases to heal . It takes time and no rushing .

It’s only been 3 months give it time….short term healing 12-16 weeks when generally released to drive and the bone has healed enough to hold the implants in place securely. The brain has also adjusted to new pathway signals to the brain .

Long term healing is when most of the discomfort and pain has left and soft tissue heals much slower . THR surgery is worth it as we gain back mobility and our lifestyles are dramatically improved.

You are in charge of your healing by taking one day at a time. Cannot rush healing. There are a lot of ups and downs along the way that needs to be discussed ahead of surgery for better understanding for recovery as well and the many phases along the way . Most surgeons don’t take the time. This is as much a metal process as it is physical.

 

[Sammy-Am]

I had the same issue with all three of my thr surgeries. This surgery is a trauma to the body and part joint replaced implant thru femur is a lot .It took 8-10 months to finally stretch the tightness out . There is always persistent pain after thr surgeries . I’m not gonna sugar coat it. Most surgeons lack the ability to explain the many phases of healing after surgery. And there are many.Pt helped teach simple exercises to help slowly stretch out tightness which is normal.
Walking is really the best exercise once you’re out on level ground working on a solid heel to toe gate. It takes up to a full year or longer in some cases to heal . It takes time and no rushing .

It’s only been 3 months give it time….short term healing 12-16 weeks when generally released to drive and the bone has healed enough to hold the implants in place securely. The brain has also adjusted to new pathway signals to the brain .

Long term healing is when most of the discomfort and pain has left and soft tissue heals much slower . THR surgery is worth it as we gain back mobility and our lifestyles are dramatically improved.

You are in charge of your healing by taking one day at a time. Cannot rush healing. There are a lot of ups and downs along the way that needs to be discussed ahead of surgery for better understanding for recovery as well and the many phases along the way . Most surgeons don’t take the time. This is as much a metal process as it is physical.

Thanks for the perspective. I had FAI surgery which I recognize parallels the recovery of a THR.

 

[Sammy-Am]

Hi All,

Thanks for bearing with me with my last post. I was struggling A LOT this weekend. I’ve had a lot of major change and transitions this year and sometimes it just feels like one thing after the other.

I’m home now resting on my heating pad and will massage my hip before settling in for the night. I start my new job tomorrow which entails a lot more standing, so I’m hoping that that will help my hip settle.

I had my last PT appointment on Monday, at least for the time being. The therapist and I were discussing my hip and both of us agreed that it doesn’t seem to be a labrum issue. We were more gentle this past session and he gave me a few exercises for at home until I can return to PT. Those are:

Hamstring Stretch
Thomas Stretch
Piriformis Stretch

Standing Hip Flexion (3 sets of 10)
Straight Leg Raises (3 sets of 10) and
Straight Leg Raise + (3 for 30secs)

Ideally, he wants me doing all of those exercises once a day. Once I have the insurance from my new job, he recommended we do PT once a week, maybe twice if I’m feeling particularly tight, and that’s all dependent on how the hip’s progressing. He also recommended asking my surgeon for imaging when I see him in October.

We’ll see how everything goes over the next few weeks. I have one more day left of the steroid pill which hasn’t seemed to be helping much. I might call my surgeon in the next few days to see what recommendations he has between now and my next appointment.

As always, I thank all you folks for reading.