On this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, I thought it would be fitting to list everything that I have to be grateful for – at least when it comes to my recovery from FAI, a k a femoroacetabular impingement:
1. My wonderful hip surgeon who repaired my two torn labrums and shaved down my bone spurs (which caused the problems in the first place).
2. His physician assistant who looked after me after the surgery and answered my many questions.
3. My fabulous physical therapist who helped to rebuild my strength before and after each of my two hip scopes.
4. My family and friends for their constant support during my very long ordeal.
5. My regular running buddies who gave me the motivation to keep going. (I’m now doing 10-mile runs!)
6. Anyone who has ever read or commented on this blog: It’s so nice to know that we are not alone.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Hi there
Found your blog very inspiring. I recently found out I have a labral tear and am weighing up surgery or just strength building but desperately want to get back to running.
Do you know many stories of people who can get back to running after surgery for labral tears ?
Any advise very greatly appreciated
Dominic
Thanks for the kind words, Dominic. I know a lot of people who have gotten back into running after surgery for a labral tear. I am one of them!
For me, at least, it was a gradual return to running after each of my two hip scopes. In a way, I almost felt like I did 26 years ago, when I started running for the very first time. Which was a strange mind-set coming from a person who had run nine marathons.
But in my re-entry,I started off walking, then walking and running, then running, then adding distance each time. The important thing was to be consistent and stick with it.
Today, almost three years after my second hip scope, I am running at least three days a week, including one longish run of about 7 to 10 miles.
Deciding whether to have surgery or not is a very personal decision. But I also know people who have had labral tears and opted for conventional treatment, i.e., cortisone shots and PT, and they are doing well, too.
I tried the conventional way first, but while I felt a lot better at times, one big setback had me running to the surgeon’s office.
Good luck to you in whatever you decide.
Best,
Vivian