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Chronic pain

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Original poster

Hip labral tear

40 replies

garlictwist · 20/08/2023 22:54

I am pretty certain I have this but am struggling to make headway on the NHS.

I would like to at least have the MRI with dye imaging. But so far my GP just says it's muscular and to come back in a few months.

I am in so much pain. I am lying in bed right now and my hip is screaming in agony. I am smashing through naproxen every day and just not being able to eat as I feel so ill.

I don't know what the answer is but how do you get taken seriously? Has anyone has labral tear treatment on the nhs? How did you manage it?

OP posts:
BostonRS · 02/09/2023 21:02

Really sorry to hear you're in so much pain. Have you seen a physio? This might need to be private, if you have the funds available, if you're struggling and need to improve pain asap. They'll be able to advise whether they think it is a hip label tear and recommend appropriate exercises and stretches to support your hip. GP might not be best placed to diagnose.

BathTangle · 02/09/2023 21:05

My sympathies. I had surgery for mine but had to get it done privately because the NHS were content to let me continue in pain.

sentinent · 02/09/2023 21:10

Had mine diagnosed with ultrasound scan which I paid for privately.

LivStanshall · 02/09/2023 21:21

I had mine diagnosed with an MRI but a new mattress and physio has really helped and it doesn’t bother me much.

MrsH497 · 02/09/2023 21:44

Sympathies I have 2 full thickness tears due to hip dysplasia (has that been ruled out for you as labral tears are a common complication of dysplasia)

I'm almost a year from my referral to ortho and not much further forward. The pain is restricting my mobility and ability to be a good mum. At the point I'd gladly take hip replacements now.

ToxicPositivity · 03/09/2023 14:06

Dh has this, it was diagnosed via ultrasound and then mri. He was referred by gp to physio who referred him for an xray, and then followed through with rheumatology(he has arthritis) to get an ultrasound and then mri. I

He needs surgery to repair it but won't do it until my ms is stable. I feel bloody awful that's the choice he's made.

Bumble84 · 03/09/2023 14:10

I paid for private physio who said very quickly that was his best guess at what it was. GP eventually referred me but specialist made me do physio first which unsurprisingly didn’t fix it and I eventually got surgery. It’s not really fixed my problem but o would say it is slightly better. NHS can be reluctant to do surgery as it does have quite a high failure rate unfortunately.

what has your GP said? I would insist on a referral to orthopaedics.

Imfeelingseasick · 03/09/2023 14:15

I had labral tears in both hips. Very painful to walk, lift my legs when sitting, pain when lying on that side. It started in one hip and then the other started. I ended up on crutches unable to walk unaided for nearly a year. Got referred to ortho consultant who requested the dye imaging, which showed the tears. He put me on his waiting list for surgery, first on one hip, then the other. When he operated he cut the labrum right back so I have very little cartilage in either hip joint, but I’m so much better than I was. It took ten months from first referral to him, to having the surgery but that was because I had a pulmonary embolism whilst I was waiting for the first surgery which delayed it by six months. You’re being given the run around if you’re being told it’s muscular. It’s clear from where the pain originates that it’s not a muscular issue. Hope you get sorted. It’s a very painful condition.

Petulanticocean · 03/09/2023 19:39

I also have a hip labral tear, resulting cysts and borderline hip dysplasia. I’ve been recommended surgery but want to give physio a good go first. I am terrified of the surgery and long recovery process as don’t know how to fit it in. @BathTangle would be really interested to hear how your surgery went? So much stuff on YouTube on how surgery hasn’t fully resolved the problem - am scared to go down this route only to have minimum relief!

BathTangle · 03/09/2023 20:43

@Petulanticocean Surgery was amazing: surgeon fixed labral tear on first hip via keyhole surgery. Was in hospital for one night, on crutches for c. 2 weeks (v little pain) with rehab physio I think for 2 months? I think no driving for 3 weeks. Had to relearn proper walking action as I had been compensating for so long, but was completely healed at 3 months.
Then 4 months later had the other hip done. Same process. 3 months post surgery was doing long walks, pilates etc. Was advised not to do running but not something I wanted to do anyway!
Surgeon was Prof. Sion Glyn-Jones who works at Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (NHS) and Manor Hospital (private) in Oxford.

BathTangle · 03/09/2023 20:45

Should add that surgeries were 2014/2015 and I continue to have no issues or pain.

Cherryana · 03/09/2023 20:50

@BathTangle he absolutely ruined my hip. He did a labrum repair when it was never ever going to work due to dysplasia. I found it out very painfully.

I am glad he helped you so much but I would never ever recommend him.

I now have had a hip replacement and am finally better.

cyclamenqueen · 03/09/2023 21:11

I had an MRI and scans . Vikas Khanduja did my surgery at the Spire in Cambridge. Mine turned out to be more complex as I had worn away the cartilage in the joint as well so I had microfracture surgery and the tear repaired. I ended up 6 weeks non weight bearing . I would recommend him.

One thing my physio said though is that women routinely present in a worse state than men because they get redirected more whereas men are not going to put up with it and insist on earlier surgery. I had had to endure 6months of physio which was never going to help because the joint needed surgery . The surgeon said that he was amazed I was still able to walk! At the time he estimated I would need a replacement in less than 10 years but it’s still good 12 years later.

cyclamenqueen · 03/09/2023 21:17

He also practices in London I believe.sadly I am pretty sure that the microfracture surgery isn’t available on the NHS

BathTangle · 03/09/2023 21:18

@Cherryana I am so sorry to hear this: what a horrible experience. I am glad that you were able to get it sorted out in the end but it's awful that you had to go through that. Perhaps I was fortunate to have a smooth experience?

Maddy70 · 03/09/2023 21:30

Look up bursitis. I have it. A steroid injection and a knee pillow in bed have sorted it

handmademitlove · 03/09/2023 21:32

I have etoricoxib instead of naproxen while waiting for scan results. It seems to work much better. Perhaps ask the GP to try a different NSAID while you are waiting?

Cherryana · 03/09/2023 21:38

@BathTangle It sounds like the treatment he gave you was exactly what you needed, and that is a very good thing.

What I learnt from the whole thing is get at least two opinions.

cfmtb · 03/09/2023 21:42

I've also had this surgery. Twice in the same hip due to a recurrence.
I was only young at the time (20s) but am now years on and back to pretty much full activity. Run half marathons, weightlift etc.
Also had it done privately though. Had lots of physio before operation as I didn't activate my glutes atall. The best think I've done is strength training to stabilise my hip joint (but understand that can't be done when in the excruciating pain prior to surgery)!
I had Prof Damien Griffin who operated out of Coventry and London

CoQ10 · 03/09/2023 21:45

I tore my left labrum severely after running downhill too quickly and after having twins.
It got worse and worse, and I had to have surgery to repair. It was agony. I put up with it for ages, but the tear was too severe for any other option.
Was on crutches for 6 weeks and used one of those leg moving contraptions after the op to keep leg stable.

Highly recommend my surgeon

Mr Gurdeep Singh Biring
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

I also had extensive physio afterwards at Elite Physical Medicine in Aylesbury- specialist physios for sports and elite injuries (I hasten to add I am not an elite sportswoman!). Mr Biring referred me after the op.

annahay · 03/09/2023 21:50

cyclamenqueen · 03/09/2023 21:11

I had an MRI and scans . Vikas Khanduja did my surgery at the Spire in Cambridge. Mine turned out to be more complex as I had worn away the cartilage in the joint as well so I had microfracture surgery and the tear repaired. I ended up 6 weeks non weight bearing . I would recommend him.

One thing my physio said though is that women routinely present in a worse state than men because they get redirected more whereas men are not going to put up with it and insist on earlier surgery. I had had to endure 6months of physio which was never going to help because the joint needed surgery . The surgeon said that he was amazed I was still able to walk! At the time he estimated I would need a replacement in less than 10 years but it’s still good 12 years later.

He did my surgery too. I have FAI bilaterally and had a labral tear on the left. They reshaped the femur and acetabulum and repeated the tear. It was a long recovery due to the work on the bones- I was on crutches for around 8 weeks and had to have quite a lot of physio. 5 years on and I haven't had any issues since.

Petulanticocean · 04/09/2023 15:15

Some really positive stories. Thank you for sharing. That’s really good to hear as was very sceptical about the surgery. I’m in constant pain, worse some days than others. Will try the physio for a while. May I ask how old people were when you had the surgery? I’m 43 (feel a lot older with this injury!) Also, how was life post op - were you able to go to the loo ok, get in bath, have showers etc?! Would you recommend getting a loo seat, avoiding stairs? Really hoping for a smooth recovery. Thank you!!

CoQ10 · 04/09/2023 20:32

Petulanticocean · 04/09/2023 15:15

Some really positive stories. Thank you for sharing. That’s really good to hear as was very sceptical about the surgery. I’m in constant pain, worse some days than others. Will try the physio for a while. May I ask how old people were when you had the surgery? I’m 43 (feel a lot older with this injury!) Also, how was life post op - were you able to go to the loo ok, get in bath, have showers etc?! Would you recommend getting a loo seat, avoiding stairs? Really hoping for a smooth recovery. Thank you!!

I was 43 very coincidentally!
Recovery took a while but good physio was critical.
Showers not baths
Stairs were OK. I sat down and pulled myself up by my bottom
Loo was fine.

Petulanticocean · 06/09/2023 11:01

Great to hear. Thank you! Will go through the physio but am likely to have to opt for the surgery I think.

Original poster
garlictwist · 28/12/2023 12:05

@Petulanticocean just wondering how you're getting on with your injury? (I am the OP). I'm paying to see a consultant privately in January, I can't afford to do any treatment privately but I feel like it's something. I am also really unsure of the surgery and scared off by so many horror stories. I just wonder whether I should live with it. I just want to get back to sport though.

OP posts: