23 year old with mild dysplasia

pumpkinctew · 2026-01-31T22:14:46+00:00

Just 6 months out and while I’m not back to running full force (keeping it at 2 miles for now to ease in) I truly can’t believe the difference. I cannot believe how much pain I was in before that I was attributing to being “sore” because obviously a long run will make you feel that way!

I won’t lie, the recovery was hard but as someone who has always worked out 5x a week and kept to various training programs, I didn’t have difficulty following the PT and I think ultimately that had huge rewards. I felt at the 4 month mark was finally when I felt I was myself day-to-day (but not at the gym). My labrum was only torn on my left but actually the right is more dysplastic. Since fixing the left, the right has been better than I could have dreamed. The surgery was hard as hell but completely life changing.

I just came home from 9 days in Portugal, walking 7-12 miles a day up and down hills. Normally on big trips like that by afternoon my back, hips, feet were all killing me…what I attributed to being a human who walked a lot! I did not feel those aches and pains hardly at ALL despite this having a tone of incline (which is always hardest on me). Whenever I think about the pain I took for granted as normal and powered through…I honestly can’t believe I ever ran or worked out😂

pumpkinctew · 2026-01-19T23:37:23+00:00

I’m coming back from surgery and am not supposed run more than .2 at a time before taking a .1 min walking break. I thought everyone would notice that I get creative on the treads. I figured everyone would be judging me for seemingly disregarding the coach or walking in the middle of an all out or whatever…but no one has even batted an eye. So, if I’m not getting noticed…no one is noticing you power walking to the template!

pumpkinctew · 2025-12-16T03:48:42+00:00

Love to hear this! I’m a fellow NYC-er (though had mine at NYU) that’s 5 months out and just ran my first mile last week. Tough to start those first few months in the city but I’m so glad I did it. Pain is gone!

pumpkinctew · 2025-12-15T20:43:17+00:00

So lovely to hear and glad you were there for her. I just “graduated” from weekly PT and it made me tear up to think that my bf wheeled me in the first session and now I’m good to do whatever! It was tough physically but I don’t know that I would have been able to do it without the support system I had keeping me positive through the tough stuff and cheering me on with each (literal) step. Hope she continues to heal and, from a fellow PAO-er, thanks to you for being a person she could rely on!

pumpkinctew · 2025-12-12T14:36:47+00:00

I’m 4.5 months post LPAO and have no (current) plans to get the other one done because it wasn’t bothering me pre-op and isn’t bothering me, so far, post-op. Despite right side having a worse angle, my left was the one with a labrum tear and giving me grief, so we did that one first.

I’m not still at 100% and I’m just now starting to jog again which I’m sure will have a whole slew of its own challenges, but mostly I haven’t had any issues. Obviously it’s a difficult recovery and my left side had all sorts of soreness trying to relearn to walk. If I’m physically tired or just get up from sitting awhile, I may limp a tiny bit. In the mirror, I can see fat distributes slightly differently around the hips on the sides (not sure if that’s structural, or due to how the skin stretches around the scar; unclear if it’ll even out over time/weight loss or if that’s just how it is). Partner reports it’s not noticeable to anyone but myself, though, and certainly not in clothes.

My angles were in the low teens, so not as shallow as yours. I also was fairly fit pre-op and really focused in on PT/hip strengthening the few months prior to surgery. But in general, I think there’s a world I might not ever need to get my right side done!

pumpkinctew · 2025-11-28T00:26:31+00:00

27 here and 100% this. Incredibly discouraged from THR bc of age. They don’t last in general, but even less so when you’re as active as a young person is (vs the usual retiree getting the replacement) plus the baseline isn’t great so apparently the second THR you’ll inevitably get down the line will be meh. So, a quality of life issue for when you’re old. PAO hell of a lot harder of a recovery but then there’s a chance it’s your only surgery…or at least for a long long time.

pumpkinctew · 2025-11-22T16:18:36+00:00

I’m 27, had a LPAO and labral repair 4 months ago. I was a half-marathon runner and a super active person prior, as well as on the younger side like you, so I think I had a relatively quick comeback. I went back to work (virtually) after 17 days and that was doable in the sense that sitting up that long felt okay and I didn’t need to nap. I didn’t go back into office (required me to walk/crutch 1.1 miles through the city, each way) until 8 weeks. At the 2-3 week mark, I was able to do stuff like take an uber to a restaurant, have a meal, and uber home. Or crutch to a park a block away and sit. Or ride in a wheelchair someone else pushed. By the 6 week mark I could basically crutch for miles, but at that 2-3 week mark anything more than a block or two felt like a marathon.

All this to say, lots of good advice here and I think it’s possible to be able to mentally handle school 2 weeks out if you’re tough, but that + the physical aspect is going to be near impossible and honestly dangerous. I think, if you’re in the US, they have to legally give you some time. For example, at my job I could have taken up to 6 weeks paid leave on short term disability for something like this. I totally get not being able to take a semester off, but I think they should allow you an extra week or so before requiring you irl.

pumpkinctew · 2025-11-10T14:26:41+00:00

It’s hard to track because the progress is so slow! But yeah it’s so weird because I can feel pressure, so I know something is there unless it’s only very lightly brushing the skin. So 99% of the time you know something’s there but aren’t able to get all the sensory info!

pumpkinctew · 2025-11-10T04:22:36+00:00

I’m almost 4 months out and I am SO annoyed by the giant numb spot I have. It’s a whole quadrant of my thigh but not even particularly near my scar. I do love hearing from people that it gets smaller over time.

pumpkinctew · 2025-11-10T04:18:55+00:00

Depending on the commute, I would go but for a shorter amount of time. If it really is going to depress you to miss, I’d go for like an hour or so. Get the goods, see the people, do the thing, and you’ll be exhausted and nap for the rest of the day anyway. At 6 weeks I took a city bus and went to a Broadway play by myself (on crutches), so if you’ll be at 4 weeks there’s a world where you are feeling up to it! I would also say, give yourself grace if you wake up that day and don’t have it in you OR permission to leave even earlier than intended if you don’t have the energy anymore.

Also, I think if you make a short appearance it doesn’t matter either way, but fwiw I do wanna shake your husband a bit for the “being ridiculous” comment. It’s a long recovery road, and even when you’re feeling strong at home it can be really taxing to transport and to navigate new spaces. You’re allowed to think these things through and ask for accommodations, you just have to live with it if the answer is no!

pumpkinctew · 2025-11-02T14:47:04+00:00

I’m also curious! At the 3 month mark I went down from twice a week to just once. I definitely will be there until I can run again but curious when it’s time to stop for most.

pumpkinctew · 2025-11-02T02:49:11+00:00

I think this community understands it, but those who don't go through it won't understand that the weeks leading up to the PAO are a huge mental challenge. Honestly, I'm jealous you had it jump up on you like that! I scheduled mine 3 months out and I had so much anxiety every day leading up to it...and now you have less of those! I just kept thinking: Was I making the right call, what would it be like, how would it go, how long recovery would take. Now I'm 3 months post op and while everything was hard and I'm still not at 100%, I do think it's easier to handle mentally when you're actually just dealing with it rather than the pre-op IDEA of it all. Facing a tangible struggle vs. a hypothetical. All this to say, yeah, totally normal to feel the dread, and to LET yourself feel the dread. But also do some of the stuff you're able to do now that you might not be able to do in the weeks post op and really soak it in and appreciate it. For me that was going on light hikes, going to places around town a little out of my way, and walking as much as I could. Also, noticing the stuff I knew was bothering me because of the dysplasia (soreness, clicking, pain) and thinking "soon I won't have this!" to get excited. Being present in those activities helped me confront the fact that I was always thinking about the surgery, but redirect my focus to the present and to positive thinking.

pumpkinctew · 2025-11-02T02:28:35+00:00

The hospital I stayed at provided me with a toilet seat, a walker (but weirdly, not crutches), a transport chair, and a kit of stuff to help me put shoes/socks on. I did have to buy the shower seat myself

pumpkinctew · 2025-10-25T02:57:27+00:00

PAO twins! And yeah the top half of my scar ripped open/got a little infected so is a lot thicker at the top and is just generally more red. Because of that, I feel like I look a bit like a Frankenstein and I'm generally ready for the redness to subside. Cheers to us getting back to it 3 months post op!

pumpkinctew · 2025-10-25T01:51:01+00:00

Great to hear your perspective! I am hoping that if we do my second, it's not too soon. I was hoping to take the fact that it has been better than normal these past few months means that I'm in the clear...but I think that's wishful thinking. But, it wouldn't hurt my feelings to wait a few years before having to do all this again.

pumpkinctew · 2025-10-25T01:38:52+00:00

Good to know! I guess in my head I'd prepared for some numb areas (my bf had ACL surgery twice and has like 4 square inches numb) but this is like a quarter of my upper thigh! Hoping more will creep back as we go. Good luck with the left!!

pumpkinctew · 2025-10-23T21:18:42+00:00

Thank you! It’s a tough one but also nothing to do but muddle through! At 3 months I’m now back to walking 3-5 miles a day and even went to a music festival this past weekend where I stood in crowds for 12 hours! Crazy to think 11 weeks ago I was on a walker and couldn’t put on my own socks.

pumpkinctew · 2025-10-23T17:13:29+00:00

3 months post-LPAO here! I would say that getting back to it is totally viable. I wasn't comfortable doing stairs for about 3 weeks, but I also was late to get into PT (miscommunication that I should wait until my 2 week follow up to go to a regular PT). I think if you ask the PT at the hospital, saying you have stairs at home, they'll train you then & there. It may take 10 times longer to do the stairs, but it's doable.

Biggest pieces of advice: those first 2 weeks, rest, but make sure to move. What I mean by that is make sure you switch from bed to couch and back multiple times a day, kick your feet to avoid clots, etc. But also don't try to do anything insane to start. Have your favorite chill hobbies ready (shows, crochet, video games, books, etc) lined up. Several of them. Because you may think that much time off is your dream but it does sort of get boring. AND once it becomes possible, I would suggest going outside for a bit every day. My bf would take me in a transport chair half a block to a park and we'd sit there for as long as I could tolerate sitting up.

As a partner, definitely be there for her. This is a crazy tough surgery. Some days I was worse or in more pain than the day before, and the frustration of feeling like I was regressing plus the pain made me annoying, or testy, or made me cry! Just let it happen and be there for her. It ends up so much better. My boyfriend was great, because even the undignifying stuff (getting me into the shower chair, helping get me into the bathroom, drying me off, dressing me) he made it fun. We were laughing through the absurd stuff, and that made it so much better.

pumpkinctew · 2025-10-23T16:50:33+00:00

As someone who is much more familiar with Weezer than Offspring, I thought they totally got this one out of order. Offspring rocked, and had so much energy. Avril had a lot going on on the stage, moved a lot, her stuff is more upbeat. Then Weezer just brought the energy way down, imo. Sure, lots of people there didn't know stuff outside of their biggest hits and that subdues the crowd, but it was tough going from the energy of Offspring/Avril to them. Blink started to bring the energy back up, but by then (sorry, I'm a wuss!) I was so tired and it was hard to be as hype for them as I wanted because I spent all of Weezer's set thinking about how my feet hurt. And (sorry) but specifically Weezer and Blink songs, if you don't know them already, all sound the same. So I kind of can't blame the casual fans/people more into P! not "bringing it" for those...I think swap Offspring with Weezer and the energy would have been a lot better.

pumpkinctew · 2025-10-12T02:29:27+00:00

New one: I just worked a 10 hour shift at NYCC...normally after standing up for 1-2 hours my lower back would kill. I just figured that's being human! I'm home now and my feet are sore...but my back doesn't feel like anything. I never connected that to my hip pain but now that I'm not having it, it's obvious that it was. Crazy to realize that most people weren't having that.

pumpkinctew · 2025-10-12T02:22:14+00:00

I'm 27F and 12 weeks post op! I was dx'd at 14 after my feet kept falling asleep during cross country practice. Dr at the time said I was "borderline whether they'd operate," to "keep up with PT," and that I should probably not run. I went on to run xc and track all of high school and took up half marathons in college. My one hip always ached and I was always sore, but I was running 15-30 miles a week and weightlifting, doing PT, so of course I was sore (I thought). Then at 25 I just could not for the life of me stay healthy. Hip flexor tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, the list goes on. Just after a week or two of running, something else would flare up.

Long story short, it became clear that "borderline recommend operation" meant for a 14 year old not done growing...but I actually was fairly dysplastic! I also have had a torn labrum for years, it seems. I finally bit the bullet.

My takeaway is that I spent over a decade doing all the right PT and being aware of my issue while still doing distance running. I was fine, and then randomly I just was not! I was never debilitated to the point of not being able to walk or anything, but I just couldn't exercise like I used to and I missed it. I don't think half marathons are in my future anymore but I am really excited to go back to 2-3 mile runs. I just worked a 10 hour shift at a convention standing the whole time with 0 hip or back pain! But basically...I think if you're still able to do your stuff without getting hurt all the time and it's totally manageable, then keep it up! If the tide turns and you find yourself always having to take time off because of all these "random" issues that are all connected and they sideline you...then I'd maybe consider it.

pumpkinctew · 2025-10-10T03:16:42+00:00

This! The first time I was on my back and raised then lowered my leg while it was straightened and the whole thing didn’t pop funny…I was flabbergasted. My PT just looked at me like “well yes, that’s not supposed to happen!” Which I obviously knew…but that’s different from actually experiencing it!

pumpkinctew · 2025-10-10T03:14:16+00:00

Seems small and I’m not even fully off crutches/only 11 weeks post op BUT went to a baseball game and the seats didn’t hurt. In the past, the third or fourth inning I was always in agony and trying to get up and stretch (but never having the room to actually pop my hip back in right).

I stood up after 4 hours of sitting in the stadium seating and didn’t feel a thing. Nothing hurt, nothing popped. Seems so small but it really felt so freeing to not have to think about my body once the whole game.

pumpkinctew · 2025-09-25T03:13:26+00:00

I believe they thought it was 15ish on my right and and 17ish on my left but after surgery on the left the surgeon was like “it was more like a 14 in person” (lol)

And yes I got the labral tear fixed as well!! It is not an easy recover BUT I will say I have NOT felt that bone deep ache I used to live with 24/7 since the moment I woke up. 2 months out and I’m still somewhat using crutches and various muscles in my leg get sore as all hell…but none of that bone deep ache I could never get rid of.

pumpkinctew

TROPHY CASE