hip labral tear-->arthritis-->still want to be active, help!

TKD SC

Hi All,
I'll try to keep this very quick. Just looking for some advice (not medical!!) / help. I'm very active and into taekwon-do, martial arts, weights/running etc.

I injured my hip nearly 5 yrs ago now in gym. Kept running on it after that as was training for half marathon at the time (and a triathlon after that). Finally went to physio 4mnths later.

In the end, got an mri 3yrs ago which showed it as labral tear (also showed bit of wear and tear on that hip). Didn't get operation at time. Hip remained stiff with dull ache but didn't stop me doing my training etc.

Fast forward to last few months, and hip has begun to give way on me most days, couple times. Got another mri the other week and there has been quite a lot of degeneration in joint. Consultant advised for surgery now as otherwise would probably need a hip replacement in a couple of years. Basically have early arthritis he said.

Surgery set for 9th Dec and will involve cutting out the tear, cleaning the cartilage and shaving down a bit of abnormal bone. I'll obviouly get physio etc there and advice of consultant.

But for now, I'm looking for any help with the following areas:

Physio - any recommendations of a really good physio (Dublin based) who has good knowledge of hip (labral tears/arthritis).

Supplements - I've just started taking glucosamine/chondroitin and omega 3 oil. Anyone find that these actually work? Other recommendations?

Exercise - once I'm over my initial period of recovery, I'm keen to get back into as much as possible without compromising the hip. Therefore, I'm looking at finding alternative to exercises.

In the gym, I've been lifting the main lifts of squats, deadlifts, bench, rows / pull-ups etc plus some met con cardio at end. Anyone know good alternatives to these that would not put pressure on the hip joint? Also, trying not to bend the knees past 90 degree angle for the labral tear as per the consultant.
Therefore, steps I've taken in last week or two include: raising seat on my bicycle so that knee doesn't come past 90 degrees; stopped bar bell squats - now doing more resistance band work, xband walks, clams, hip thrusts with bar bell, glute bridging, wall squat holds etc, for deadlift I moved bar up to starting position of about 15" off ground, which seemed to help taking impact off hip but still gave me the good feel of lifting heavy and seemed to work back and hamstrings nicely.
Trying to stay away from running, hoping I can still do some short runs (400m on running machine as part of met cons / 20min runs on grass). My longer running days are probably behind me. Anyone have experience here?
Martial arts - been doing tkd for 20 yrs so really don't want to give this up. Might need to alter some of my kicks or just leave some out, but hoping I can do most of the training and sparring.

If anyone has experience of any of this (I know there have been some boardsies who had hip surgery recently), or if you know of good exercises etc, can give some advise, or point me in the direction of some good websites, good physio, etc etc, anything at all really I'd appreciate it.
I've done a lot of my own research the last week, but always find boards to be very helpful. Sorry post is so long, wanted to get across main points and obviously still quite upset about the whole thing. I'm an active 35 yr old who still competes and enjoys pushing myself so don't want to think I'm now old with an arthritic hip that can't do much beyond walking / gentle exercises in a heated swimming pool.

Thanks very much,
Simon

amazingemmet

For the physio I'd recommend Alexandria Craig who works from Capital strength. She had the same injury and when we were living in London she was barely able to walk 50m with out pain but now she's setting national records.

For supplements what you'd really want but not sure if its available as a treatment here is Intra articular injections of Aflutop, They use it in the states but I'm not sure if its available in europe ask your surgeon.

Is your tear a CAM or Pincer tear?

TKD SC

amazingemmet wrote: »

For the physio I'd recommend Alexandria Craig
injections of Aflutop

Is your tear a CAM or Pincer tear?

Hi, thanks for reply. Alexandria sounds good - I like the fact that she's an athlete as well and has personal experience of the injury.
Aflutop sounds like a bit of a miracle drug! I'll def query with the consultant.

He never said what time of tear, I must ask. He was much more concerned with the amount of degeneration in the joint in the last three years...

amazingemmet

Yeah its very good stuff a friend of mine who is an Osteo thought he was going to have to stop practicing due to degeneration in the joints of the fingers. Ordered the stuff and done it himself was pain free in a couple of months and had no returns.

You can find Alex at defygravity.ie