Hip labral tear

[garlictwist]

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?

Hi OP @garlictwist happy new year! I started physio in September to strengthen glutes etc - was going well although I haven’t done any significant amount of cardio. I think running is a no for me now sadly. I then got v busy at work, life etc so was slack with exercises and pain has come back. My issue is that I really miss running - but there’s no guarantee the op will help and that I could return to it. So I need to resume exercises and try power walking at the same time. How have you been for you?

If things are still bad, I will consider op in the summer. It’s impossible for me to do it now as need to drive, very active with work and school runs etc

@Petulanticocean things are getting worse for me too. I am diligent with the exercises my physio gave me and trying to trust the process but they seem quite small and pointless and I wonder how effective they are.

I've developed a lot of popping sounds in both sides. I've been trying to walk more just so I am doing some kind of exercise but not sure it's helping.

I tried a ten minute swim yesterday using a pull buoy and whilst it didn't hurt whilst I was doing it, it did after.

I'm feeling pretty shit to be honest! The waiting list is so long but I am kind of glad of that as I'm scared of surgery. I just want someone to decide for me.

I really wish I wasn't in this position.

I hope you're doing ok.

Really sorry to hear that @garlictwist . Sounds eerily similar to my position. I’m also getting the popping sounds but I must admit that they bizarrely go if I’m doing the exercises. I’m also trying to walk more but then have pain afterwards. Do you have access to a gym? Apparently the cross trainer: elliptical is meant to help a bit? But I suspect there might be the ache afterwards.

It’s so rubbish isn’t it. And I’m worried I’m making things worse by delaying the surgery - so if I do end up having it, it won’t be as effective.

how old are you? I’m 43 so worried that the longer I leave it, the harder it will be. I was hoping to wait it out so that I could eventually have a hip replacement as they seem to be very successful operations.

I don't have a labral tear on my hip, but had similar issues with hip pain and nobody taking me seriously. It took a referral to a pain management clinic to get somewhere with dealing with the pain, and their subsequent referrals led to the cause being identified. I still have pain, and my activities are limited, but I am not in constant agony. So perhaps that could be a route for you? GL

@Petulanticocean I'm 43 this year so also have the same thoughts about hip replacement. I keep reading that surgical outcomes for a scope aren't as good for over 40s and worried I'll just leave myself in a worse state.

I'm struggling mentally a bit because I really don't know how or why this happened, it literally came out of nowhere. How did yours happen? I wonder if I've done something wrong.

@DRS1970 - thank you. I have seen the GP for my pain and he was actually really kind (for once!). What did you hip issue turn out to be?

@garlictwist My hip pain is referred pain from a back injury I have. I have two damaged lumbar discs, with osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, and nerve impingement in the same area. Hip pain is one of the symptoms oddly enough. It is weird being told your hip pain is actually back pain, but it didn't stop my hip hurting, it even causes me to limp. 😃 I currently take Gabapentin, and Zapain, although their effectiveness is waning a little of late.

@garlictwist my pain came on gradually. I used to run 3-4 times a week - just 5k. I’m by no means a natural runner but it really helped with mental health and general fitness. Was running for around 11 years and also doing a lot of walking as well. Gradually, I started to have pain around right hip, buttock and groin. Sometimes it’s worse, other days not so bad but has definitely got worse overall. Doctor diagnosed slight hip dysplasia which means more likely to get labral tears - which were identified in the MRI. But no arthritis identified as yet. I wonder if that has changed since though as am definitely in a worse state. Today, I’m in quite a lot of pain and can’t quite work out why as haven’t really been too active. It’s all quite depressing. Even if I do opt to go for surgery, I know recovery time is significant and that just doesn’t work with my commitments. did you have an x ray and mri too?

@DRS1970 sorry to hear that you’re in pain but good that’s it’s not agony. Is there a long term solution to help you? Or physio / meds good for now? I’m wondering if I should just accept this as I can’t exactly hope to be in same shape as in my 20s again!

Omg get the surgery!!!
I had it in may 2022 and it's changed my entire life.
I'm only 31, had done physio, pain management team, all the meds in the world, self medicating, my treatment, osteopath, chiropractor. Everything.

I had ongoing chronic back pain, steroid injections in sacroiliac joints etc ongoing for a couple of years.

Took seeing a young new registrar, who twigged that it was my hip causing the problem, couple of x-rays and MRI later, had keyhole surgery in a couple of months to fix a tear.

This was about 8 years ago, still had trouble with it on and off, til I dislocated the same hip 4 years ago (I was a source of amusement in the hospital, as apparently this was an injury seen in 'little old ladies' - I was in my 30's!!) since then, very little trouble with it.

@Petulanticocean yes, my pain seems to have no rhyme or reason to it either. I try doing stuff, not doing stuff etc and it just comes on at will. My pain likes to jump around - some days it's my groin, some my glute, at the moment it's my hamstrings bizarrely.

I am on the waiting list to see a consultant to get the MRI etc (not sure how you seem to have been seen so quickly, @Hails1701 ?) The waiting list is a year but the GP and physio are both certain that I have tears due to how I present and I agree. I've had an xray but all they said was "nothing was broken", I don't think they knew what they were meant to be looking for....

@Petulanticocean did you have a regular MRI or the MRA (with contrast dye?)

My issues are now deemed degenerative. So they can only worsen, but the speed at which they do so can be managed to an extent. These actions are mainly surgical in my case, and very invasive in my opinion. But I am not near the stage where these will be considered. I feel I am a fair way off that point, so things are not all bad. I have adjusted my life quite a bit, but mainly for mental health reasons - I have Bipolar - but slowing down has been very helpful. It has allowed me to do physical activities on my good days, rather than trying to soldier on through my bad days.

I did work with someone back around 2010 who had a labral tear, and they were waiting for surgery. But they had moved on before that happened, so no idea what was done and how effective it was.

@ithoughtitmihtbenicetochat what was your recovery like? I'm so much older than you I fear it wouldn't be so smooth.

I had my surgery about 8 years ago - things have probably changed since then! From seeing the new registrar in August I had x-rays the same day, then surgery at the beginning of October.

@garlictwist did you have an mri how did it go