In today’s post I’m updating you on all things  recovery for my hip labrum repair. It’s been 5 months now since I’ve had my surgery.   I’ll share my Physical Therapy journey, what I’ve done, and what I’m currently doing to recover.   For more details  on the story about my labrum tear read this post here.  

The surgery itself was fine. It took about 1.5 hours and my wake up from anesthesia was great.  The recovery hasn’t been necessarily painful just long and frustrating.  I was told it will be about a 3-6 month recovery.  

I have learned that finding the right person who specializes in this type of surgery is key to recovery and a “good experience.”  It took me 1 years to get a correct diagnosis and 1.5 years to find the right Dr. who specializes in this type of surgery.  I found Dr. Durham Weeks at OrthoCarolina.  He is one of the best in the nation and he focuses on athletes/Sports Medicine.   His Physician Assistant Jeff Dabkowski is just as fabulous as Dr. Weeks is. They put up with all my millions of questions, listened and let me make the decision if I wanted this fixed.

I recommend having someone prepared to help you for 3 weeks if you have kids.  If you don’t have kids 1-2 weeks for sure.

Get crutches.  

I didn’t feel like an ice machine was necessary.   They called and tried to sell me that service. 

Plan on staying on the downstairs floor if you have a two story house.   I started slowly going up the stairs week 3.  

Get a small chair for the shower. I used my kids chair and put tennis balls that were designed to be on the legs of chairs.

I started physical therapy the second week post surgery.  We did a lot of hands on physical therapy the first month.  We also included glute bridges and core work.  I was on crutches for 2 weeks.  As far as help needed, I had help the first 2 weeks with life (kids, cooking). I personally got around great and didn’t need any help getting around and going to the bathroom.  I got a little help getting in the shower just to make sure I didn’t fall.  I used my kids’ small chair to sit on and put tennis balls on the legs of the chair to stay safe.  You can shower within 2 days of surgery.  If you have kids I recommend getting help for 3 weeks.  The 3rd week was really hard by myself.  My husband is a pilot and gone often so it was just me with the kids.  I was able to drive after 2 weeks but just drove short distances.  

The second week is when I went back to the Dr. and they check in and see how you are recovering.  No taking a bath due to possibility of infection on wound site.  I had 3 little scars where the scope went in right below the hip on upper leg.  

The 3rd week I was able to work out upper body carefully with dumbbells. No heavier than 10 lbs.  So I did what I could to stay active and sane.  Think standing biceps, triceps, chest and shoulders.

How I felt:  Overall I felt just like I had surgery. I needed to rest and relax. Not too much pain.   

2nd Month I continued to go to physical therapy 1-2 times a week.  We started leg presses on the leg press along with stability work.  Think planks, Pilates ball,  and bands.  I returned as a participant in a hot yoga sculpting class at Life Time called Warrior.  I modified and did what I could. I always encourage people; who cares what you look like, show up and do what you can and listen to your body. Rest, get back in and modify and do what you can do.  I modified a lot this month in the class but it felt good to do what I could do.  

How I felt:  I met with Jeff, the PA, and he validated everything I was feeling.  It was very hard going to the grocery store for 20 minutes and walking around without feeling like I need to sit down. I tired very easily when walking.  I would go to the store for just a couple things and I would have to stop because I had pain in my groin and need help out to the car with my groceries.  It gets worse, then better at this point.  I sat down to cook and rested in the afternoons on the couch.  I was prepared for all of this but still discouraging.  

I continued to go to PT once a week and do the exercises they prescribed at home as well. Think lots of band work, glute stability and core work.  One of my issues along side healing from my labrum tear is instability in my SI Joints/sacrum/pelvis.  

I met with my Dr. for the first time (I saw the PA before) since surgery. He reassured my tear was very large and surgery was definitely valid. It’s hard to tell via MRI how large the tear is. He shared everything is fixed and perfected in my hip now.  He said there was no other damage to cartilage or anything in my hip.  

How I felt:  I have two different issues going on.  I did feel like my sacrum felt better for  2 months after my surgery and then all of a sudden I feel the SI area hurting again.  We are still not sure if they are related.  For me, I was hoping the labrum tear was the answer to my sacrum being in constant pain.  Unfortunately it still hurts.  

I did start doing Body Pump barbell workouts again in the 3 month while being careful with lower body.  Either using no weight or very light weights.  During this month I also bought a SI belt to wear.

How I felt:  I felt very discouraged as this..   sitting cooking doing dishes in kitchen afternoon/evening.  

I put a hold on my PT and decided to try Pilates on the reformer and still do PT on my own with the exercises they gave me.  My main issue is getting my pelvic floor and sacrum to stabilize and be strong.  I currently am doing Pilates twice a week in a small group setting so stay tuned for an update to see if that will help me.  

I am doing Body Pump barbell work outs 1 time a week.  Modifying the legs and back track still.  I do Warrior Sculpt at Life Time 2 times a week and I am currently training to teach at AKT studio: a dance fitness method. Stay tuned for more about that.   I am also doing a Barre Core class at Life Time and will be teaching that class as I slowly get back into teaching group fitness.  Everything low impact right now but slowly able to do more cardio exercises.  

I also just recently went to a  “Body Worker” who does manual therapy manipulation for the whole session. You know how Physical Therapists usually only have their hands on you for 5-10 minutes? A Body Worker does that work for the whole session.  I’ve only been once so stay tuned to future posts on my experience with that.  

How I’m feeling:  I feel very discouraged because my sacrum hurts more than the labrum/hip recovery. I know the hip and groin will feel better eventually.  Common symptoms of a hip labrum tear is pain in groin, not the sacrum. I did not have much pain in my groin, just weakness.  Lots of weakness when doing anything like leg raises or hip exercises.  Most of my pain was and is in my sacrum.   In my 3 month follow up with Dr. Weeks he said, “How can I help you simmer down?”  LOL  Therefore, I am dialing it back a bit. Currently Pilates, Barre Core, one Barbell workout and Warrior Sculpt. All low impact.  

I just hit the 5 month post surgery mark and I although I can do more I feel very tired in the afternoon. If Im up all morning workout and and walking around and moving I just want to sit in the afternoon to rest. I just had my follow up with Dr. Weeks and he said I’m exactly where I should be. I feel like it will be a 12 month recovery before I’m feeling strong again in the hip/sacrum.

Overall, I am very happy I got the surgery and very satisfied with my experience with Dr. Weeks and His PA.  I was told the recovery is long and it’s not a surprise to me that it’s taking a while to feel like myself again.   I have never been in crazy pain before or after surgery it’s just something that needed to be fixed for long term and highly likely that by having the surgery it prevented me from having major hip issues later in life.  

 Stay tuned to hear how I progress in the near future.  

I’ve had back surgery before and know that in due time I will get stronger again and feel like myself. 

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Thanks for reading about by Arthroscopy hip surgery.  Please share with anyone you know who may be going through the similar experience.

Til next time friend,