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Posted 3/25/2011 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone,

I was Dx'd with Femoral Acetabular Impingement and will be undergoing a arthroscopic surgery on April 6th 2011

The procedure entails treatment of both Cam and Pincer lesions, and Labral repair.

It will be my first major surgery and Needless to say I'm a bit apprehensive and not 100% sure I want to go through with it.

Not only that I have been ill with walking Pneumonia fortunately it has cleared up but I do not know if this will delay surgery.

I have a pre op appointment with surgeon next week and will discuss it then

What I'm curious about is post operative symptoms and if any how bad they were. Did you need a shower, or toilet seat? or anything else? Also how long was it before you could resume some activity. I'd also like to know if possible was the surgery effective and did it resolve your pain issues? I've been told to expect 4-6 months for recovery and was curious if this was true for you.

I've had to withdraw from my graduate studies and am hopeful that I can return in the summer or the fall. So the sooner I recover the better. Of course this all depends upon whether I go through with the surgery. smilewinkgrin

If anyone has been through this procedure and doesn't mind speaking about it I'd really appreciate it.

Thank you

Post Edited (quahog) : 3/24/2011 7:20:52 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/25/2011 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry, I googled what it was your having, hope that's okay...
You really need to be over you pneumonia before any surgery, and then you might want to
consider core exercises to get your body in shape for the surgery, and for a better outcome, from
what I read...Also always bring questions up with your surgeon before any surgery...Maybe consider
even a second opinion as you want the best surgeon...seems like you got a lot to think about, but
try to get rest and get well from the pneumonia first, even walking pneumonia is hard to get over...
Hope your feeling better soon...
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((quahog)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
I'd be scared too....well wishes and lots of healing hugz being sent to you....
Posted 3/25/2011 1:27 PM (GMT 0)
 Hi , I'm not familiar with your condition , but I had surgery (hip replacement ) in August of 2010  and I was very scared too . If you have a spouse or family member or good friend to go through this with you it will make it a LOT more bearable . But they do great things these days in surgery , I got my life back , and I encourage you to endure and persevere , but definetly get all the info you can like your doing . I just wanted to offer my support to you and my best wishes . I do hope it works well and you get the desired results , Good luck and keep us posted . Mikel
Posted 3/25/2011 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
 

    Morning Hog!

         I too looked up the surgery you're having, and I see it involves the hip joint, so I would say yes that a shower seat might be a good bet for you, and maybe a toilet seat extender. I used the toilet seat and it was one of the best choices that I made for post surgery.

      Another handy tool is one of the Grabber tools, that makes it easy to pick things off the floor. Also, if your going to be on heavy pain med's, I would get something for a better bowel movement, such as Prunes. It will lessen the straining, and I can tell you that straining after a major surgery just adds to the pain.

         If you are single, and no one will be there to cook for you, it might be wise to precook a few meals and vacuum bag them, and toss them into the freezer. Just a few minuets in the mocrowave, and presto!...you have a simple meal.

         I wish you the very best of luck, and please do keep us updated. Also, I will have to agree with Chartreux!....you should probably be well over the pneumonia first, but that should be your Dr's call.

 SE wink

Post Edited (Screaming Eagle) : 3/25/2011 9:03:56 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/25/2011 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
quahog

I was told last year that I had the  "Cam" type of Femoral Acetabular Impingement, but they wanted to wait to do surgery, but it continues to bother me especially driving any long distances and trying to sleep on my side! The side sleeping just kills me, and the driving any long distances is next to impossible. I seen the surgeon again a couple of weeks ago and now he thinks a full hip replacement would be better, because of all the arthritis that I have in the hip! Anyway he wants me to see another surgeon for a second oppinion first, before he does the surgery.  I am kind of like you in the fact that this sounds pretty scary to me!! I just a cervical fusion done on my neck last November, and am not really interested in going through another surgery such as this! But with that said my daughters live over 400 miles away and I would deerly like to be alble to drive up and seee  them without all the pain in trying to get there!

 Anyway I do wish you well and hope that you keep us all up-to-date  on your progress through this ordeal!!

Good Luck to You!

White Beard

Posted 3/25/2011 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Quahog, its been a very long time since we have heard from you. Wow, they can do the surgery by way of arthroscopic, I am impressed. I have not had your type of surgery but I have had many open surgeries and many arthroscopic surgeries. One thing I can tell you Dennis, is anytime you can have a surgery done arthroscopically, that is the best way to go. The recovery is much easier than an open surgery. It is still surgery no matter how it is done, but its a lot easier that way.

Yes, you really need to be asking the dr these questions of yours when you go in for your pre-op appt.. I feel quite certain no dr would consider surgery unless you were completely over the walking pneumonia. Usually you do a chest xray and labs before surgery too. A very good friend of mine had a total hip done and my brother had a partial hip done and they did great after surgery. My friend suffered many, many years with his hip and felt so good immediately after surgery that he said he could have kicked himself for delaying it so many years, sure would have saved him a lot of pain and grief.

In the event you have the surgery, I do hope you will let us know how it goes. Take care.
Posted 3/25/2011 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the advice and support.

It is a big decision and I have had 2nd opinions and 3rd opinions. Still it's my choice on whether I go through with this or not.

According to the surgeon there is an 80% chance the surgery would help but because there is some advanced arthritis it might only delay the need for a hip replacement and the thought of putting myself through 2, 3 or even more surgeries is not my idea of a good time.

I do have quite a few days where my hip does not hurt but even still long drives, prolonged sitting and sleeping on my side kill me. Fortunately, the pain meds seem to help but I hate taking narcotics.

Then there is the pain in my lower back. Trust me when I say it's bad, whenever I have to do any type of kneeling or bending it stops me in my tracks. It's thought that my hip is causing it and surgery should resolve it. Boy I do hope so!

Take care,

Glenn

Post Edited (quahog) : 3/25/2011 5:50:28 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/26/2011 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Glenn. I haven't had the surgery that you are talking about but have had several orthopedic arthroscopic surgeries done. From my experience you will have pain but probably nothing compared to if they were doing an open procedure. The theory with the scope is the less cutting, the less trauma to your body, the less pain and easier recovery. I have a friend who had FAI surgery but she had a very complex open (26" of scar) procedure done. They basically cut up her pelvis and femur and screwed them back together again to re-align them. Talk about PAIN. She was wheelchair and brace bound for many weeks. Unfortunately things went terribly wrong for her after she had a fall that caused a fracture so she ended up with a THR anyway at 50 years old.

The point of telling you this story is that I believe sometimes simpler, such as arthroscopic surgery you are having, is a good place to start. I tried to impress that thought on my friend to no avail unfortunately. With surgery you can always go more aggressive in the future if needed but it is impossible to take aggressive back if it was the wrong decision. I hope that makes sense.

So I am glad that your surgeon is doing a scope procedure for you. I'm crossing my fingers for you that it gives you the results you need to get on with your life. Best of luck to you and please keep us posted.

Lee
Posted 3/27/2011 6:32 AM (GMT 0)
Glenn

 

Boy can I relate to what you said about the driving and sitting and sleeping on your side! And then the problems with your lower back. I find doing dishes or folding cloths just kills my lower back! I had an MRI of my hip and of my lower back a few weeks ago, and the surgeon I seen that wants me to see another surgeon but thinks I need a total hip replacement, told me that his concern was that the MRI showed extensive narrowing in the spinal cannal and that is also causing some of  my problems with the pain.   So I can definitely empathize with you on what you are going through! I do hope that this surgery will help you and it all works out well!

Take care of your self and please keep us informed on how you are doing!

Good Luck to You!

 

White Beard

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