Hip preservation surgery, this is what my doctor calls it, and that is what I’ll have at the end of the month. I have FAI of mixed type in my right hip. What’s that you ask? Femoroacetabular Impingement is a rubbing of the hip bones which then tear the hip cartilage. Because of this I have torn cartilage and limited range of motion in my right hip.
I’ve had this for over 3 years now. It took a lot of persistence on my part and visits to 5 different doctors before I found a doctor who really listened to me, ordered an MRI, and finally diagnosed me properly. Dr. Nelson however is a physiatrist specializing in backs, so he doesn’t work on hips – but referred me on to a specialist. So doctor number 6 will perform the surgery, he is a sports orthopedic doctor specializing in only soft tissue problems with hips and other joints, he doesn’t do hip replacements.
Persistence is the key. I have had unneeded steroid injections in my back and have been taking anti-inflammatory medication nonstop for too many years. I got rid of my car and bought a minivan thinking the seat angle was a contributing factor. I stopped walking a year ago. I love to walk and generally walk miles every week. But I’ve not walked regularly for over a year now. Walking just became too painful, the after effects of the walk forced me to stop. I’ve paid doctor bills and had sleepless nights. But through it all I kept trying different remedies and seeing different doctors. Good thing I didn’t believe any of them.
So here I sit, waiting for surgery. Now that my FAI has been identified and properly diagnosed it is time to get into surgery, off the meds, and start walking again. Let the healing begin!
Related articles
- New study finds arthroscopic hip surgery may fully restore function in athletes (eurekalert.org)
- FAI Surgery – Hip Impingement (mywonderfulchaos.com)
