Labrum tear /Cam FAI + dysplasia - surgery options?
Hi everyone. I’m new to the sub but so glad I found it. I am 41, moderately active now, but former competitive runner and dancer for many years. I had an initial diagnosis of a labrum tear and cam type hip impingement. Really significant pain rather suddenly after having mild to moderate periodic pain for about five years, which I either ignored or doctors told me I needed to work out more. Insert eye roll here.
When the pain became super intense (right side, no inciting incident though I’d started lifting a bit more recently), I started down the path of a sports medicine doctor, imaging, seeing a physiatrist for injection into my lumbar spine (did nothing), and finally back to the sports medicine doctor and referred to a surgeon. The surgeon I was referred to specializes in the same type of surgery I see many of you having - arthroscopic. I saw her this morning for the first time and we did the usual going over my symptoms and exam and the imaging. She showed me the tear and hip impingement, which were obvious on the MRI. Then, the unfortunate part began. She showed me on the x-ray that I have somewhat significant hip dysplasia in both hips and asked if I knew about that. Nope never came up before. She noted that i have extreme hyper mobility, likely EDS, which i did know.
In light of the dysplasia and hypermobility, she told me that I am not a good candidate for arthroscopic or traditional labrum repair surgery as she didn’t feel confident at all that I’d have a good outcome. I asked her- if I just had the labrum tear and impingement whether she would have recommended that I have the surgery, and she said, absolutely. I was really bummed. I’ve been in pretty extreme pain for about 3 months now and it’s really wearing on me and limiting my ability to work (desk job, but not even the sit stand desk can save me here). She didn’t refer me to another surgeon, but mentioned there are surgeons who specialize in dysplasia, though as usually treated when people are much younger. This is at HSS in NYC, so I feel like they should have options… I get it but on the other hand, I have more issues and thus less clear surgical options?
My GP and ortho are working on potential next steps once I have a CT to further illustrate the dysplasia. My question to this seasoned and knowledgeable community is whether any of you have had this combination of issues, which removed the option of arthroscopic surgery, and the path you ended up taking. I’m feeling pretty discouraged because I had a lot of hope I’d have a surgery booked today and relief on the horizon even if not immediate. And now I have no clue.
Thank you so much. Appreciate any experience or insight anyone can share!