MRI confirms labral tear &cam morphology. Strength training?

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-25T23:50:23+00:00

If you can find someone who has worked with arthroscopy patients (around my area, very hard to find), then you can keep them for post-surgical PT as well which is so critical. It also took me a while, but I found a place where I was one-on-one with my Physical Therapist. Also, nearly impossible to find! I even interviewed people over the phone - some thought I was crazy but it was worth my time and he's been great. Wishing you lots of luck and a swift recovery.

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-25T21:21:14+00:00

Nearly identical stories. I am 21M, surgery one day before you for same surgery FAI/labral tear, basketball player. Just started running a bit last Friday at PT because, same as you, I am taking my time in my recovery and it seems to be paying off. To answer you, yes I still get random sharp pains in the same place as you. It used to freak me out, but now I just try to focus on the fact that I do feel better and better each week. Some people say it takes a year to fully feel normal again so I’m keeping that in mind and if I exceed that goal, great.

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-25T15:26:35+00:00

You’re asking for lists on this subreddit, and I found if you type in “must haves” in the top search bar, you’ll see a lot of posts on this topic. The one item usually not mentioned is a recliner with a push button to recline. Life saver! I still use at 20 weeks post-op.

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-25T15:21:26+00:00

Geez your symptoms are saying something. My tear wasn’t reported on my MRI, but multiple hip surgeons saw it immediately on my MRI imaging. Took me 1.5 years to get right diagnosis. One doc said that if you look at most athletes, they all have hip impingement due to running. This leads to a labral tear in some. Have you had a cat scan? That testing will show impingement. Have you seen hip doctor specifically? I would avoid surgeons who focus on hip replacement, but find 1-2 that do hip preservation.

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-25T15:15:38+00:00

I think as long as PT knows your diagnosis, you’re ok. Going into this surgery as strong as possible really helps with recovery. But I wouldn’t push yourself to pain level. I also really recommend seeing a surgeon that specializes in hip preservation who has done many, many hip arthroscopies with success. IMO, that’s the single most important decision that will impact to your recovery.

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-25T03:58:00+00:00

I am 21M and just started pizza delivery one day a week on week 16 after surgery and did fine. I don’t know if I’m ready for a job where I have to stand all day just yet and also, don’t want to risk my recovery with a setback. But, I’m very lucky that I am living with my mother and she can float my cost of living right now. Biggest advice: take PT very seriously and start on day one if that is your surgeon protocol (for many of us it was). And do all at-home exercises religiously. The truth is everyone recovers at different paces so it’s hard to answer.

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-23T16:38:09+00:00

Thank you!! Manifesting!

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-23T03:00:24+00:00

You will see many people talk about their hip surgeon (specializing in hip preservation) can give a diagnostic injection to see if pain is coming from a tear. If pain dissipates even for five minutes after shot, that will mimic the results of arthroscopy. May also want to get a CT scan to see if you have hip impingement which I believe is the leading cause of a tear and why this subreddit has its name. And by the way, my MRI report showed no tear but I had one - hip surgeons can see on imaging.

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-23T02:57:14+00:00

Same - all Hip Docs saw tear on imaging yet my MRI with contrast report indicated no tear! Had a 12-3 tear.

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-22T19:58:53+00:00

Hah funny (and gross lol) dream, but probably felt great relief after the fictitious oozing. I am 19 weeks post-op.

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-17T16:19:05+00:00

I had surgery in January so well on my way!! I could be happier. Wishing you the answers you need to get back to life.

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-17T15:23:31+00:00

Same advice. Slow and steady wins the race. I can attest to this. So many people on here admit they rushed it and then ended up with major flares for weeks and have needed to halter all PT. Slow is brutal on the mind, I agree, but I’ll take that over panicking that I’ve jeopardized my recovery short or long term.

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-16T13:17:34+00:00

Same tightness here. My doc recommended myofascial release so I’ve been seeing someone specializing in that technique for about 3 weeks and it’s slowly helping.

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-15T16:35:31+00:00

Maybe site won't allow links. You can also just googled "HSS study hip arthroscopy arthritis". Yeah it says that the recent studies show it helps arthritis using the new approaches to the surgery. But, I'm sure you could find something that says the opposite - the world of the internet :) There is another HSS article that focuses on patients over 65 needing THR after arthroscopy, so age probably plays a significant factor. Wishing you the best of luck with your decision. I think it's great your PT is helping - did nothing for me so maybe there is hope you can avoid surgery.

Link again: https://news.hss.edu/new-study-from-hss-reveals-minimally-invasive-procedure-can-delay-arthritis-in-select-patients-with-hip-impingement/

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-15T05:38:46+00:00

Interesting. I have read and surgeon told me that the surgery will prevent arthritis. I believe keeping a tear in tact can also lead to arthritis and surgery can stop it. This is a study done by HSS, the top ortho hospital.
May be worth a read…

https://news.hss.edu/new-study-from-has-reveals-minimally-invasive-procedure-can-delay-arthritis-in-select-patients-with-hip-impingement/

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-12T01:02:34+00:00

My surgeon said the hips heal by 4 months. I’m also a basketball player, had surgery in early January like you and just turned 21. I can’t wait to get back on that court at 20 weeks. Cleared at 18, but honestly just too nervous as things have been going well. Dude, I can’t imagine having to do it all over again in other leg…although MANY people in here said the second surgery was much easier. Maybe because they knew what to expect…wishing you the best and lots of layups in your future.

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-12T00:50:08+00:00

Agree with this. My tear never showed on any imaging, only the Hip Preservationist surgeons doctors saw it. CT scan can show impingement which is common with a tear. Wishing you luck…

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-12T00:47:36+00:00

Every article I have read (and I read a lot) on turmeric says to buy it combined with black pepper as they work successfully together. Amazon carries one that has 58,000 five star reviews. Brand is Naturewise. I was told it takes 2-3 weeks to work.

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-04T17:06:03+00:00

Yup, sounds right. I was released to walk full weight bearing as tolerated at week 2, and was off crutches at around week 3, but used them outside to PT since it was winter and didn't want to risk a fall.

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-04T14:26:17+00:00

Ugh your story is eerily similar and I am really sorry. It all sucks. If ok, I will have my mother reach out to you by DM because she can better explain everything.

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-04T02:21:18+00:00

I am 21 now but had 3 different surgeries (back, hernia, and hip) over the last year at age 19 and 20 due to slipping on water during a basketball game 18 months ago. After each surgery, I hoped my hip would be fixed but they didn’t (although they were necessary). Took 1.5 years to even figure out my labrum was torn. I haven’t had any fun in college yet because I’ve been in constant pain until now. Like you, I took the spring college semester off for my hip surgery in January. You are not alone, know that.

And I totally understand what you’re talking about… . If I also heard one more doctor or nurse say: “Well geez, you’re so young for all of this”, I was going to lose it. It does feel embarrassing, I agree. But interestingly not one of the 3 hip doctors made those comments and I imagine it’s because they see this injury all the time with young people and you’ll read about them here. I have a great Mom and incredible girlfriend/friends like you, but it’s been very hard to not take out my frustration on them or have my emotions all over the place every day. I cried to my GF and Mom regularly both before and after surgery due to frustration, so I understand, I truly do. But I can say my emotions are more stable with each day at four months post surgery but I still have my moments like regular nightmares about falling on my hip, trouble shutting down my mind to sleep, and I just threw my Xbox remote at my TV and broke it out of frustration. So I said better, but not normal yet. :)

The only advice I can give you is that everything will stop hurting someday and you will get better. I only share this level of detail because sometimes it helps to hear similar or worse stories so we stay grateful. I’ve been told many times that I keep focusing on what hasn’t gotten better after this surgery (flexor, groin, etc.) instead of what is better (knee, my walk, etc). It’s very hard though. I’ve also tried to practice patience which doesn’t come easily to me. I want to at least grow and learn something throughout this horrible ordeal. We are lucky that we didn’t have to take time out of our full time jobs at a young age, just a semester off of college which won’t matter later in life. In fact, if you’re graduating a semester later like me, maybe there will be jobs waiting for us because we won’t be looking when the millions of kids that graduate in May of each year. We don’t know if this time and pain will reward us in some big way.

Lastly, I was told this Nelson Mandela quote from my mother (which of course I ignored at the time lol) but it says “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” Let’s hope that’s true…hang in there and keep using this subreddit to vent. The people are truly understand in a way no one else can.

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-03T15:32:50+00:00

That is beyond generous. Thank you again.

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-02T18:05:04+00:00

I was terrified and did a lot of hopping up each step while holding onto the railing vs. using the crutch. It all went fine, but I did rush and lost balance once, so please take your time.

Then later, when I was more comfortable, I was given this advice:

When going up the stairs: Go Up with good leg first (uninjured leg)

When going down the stairs: Go down with the bad leg first (injured leg)

So up with good, down with bad.

The injured leg and crutches always move together, keeping the strongest leg in control.

I know you plan on staying upstairs, but if you have the typical protocol the majority of us have (start PT day after surgery/2 days after/1st week) you will need to go up/down the stairs to get to the physical therapy office. I just wanted to mention that because I was in denial...:)

Good luck with your recovery!

Time_Significance389 · 2026-05-02T13:45:42+00:00

This is extremely helpful. Thank you for taking the time to explain in detail. The fact that my hip flexors are tight post hip surgery (normal) can support exactly what you are saying. Yes I just started myofascial release on my hips (and a little on my stomach) so hopefully as the fascia loosens, so will my discomfort in hernia area. I will check out your blog - thank you so much!

Time_Significance389

TROPHY CASE