I just saw De Smet and similar to what you have been told, I have been told as well.  He also mentioned people who had unsuccessful scopes feel pain more so than those who never had it with simlar physical examination and x-rays.

He said there are a lot of unsatisfied patients who weren't "bone on bone" and advised me to wait.

So what do you do for the pain? I mean living in pain is not a good option either.

Kinda feels they left us grey area patients with no options.

Larry

I don't do anything for pain.  I don't where to go from here.  Maybe if run, workout hard and do some extreme sports, I can burn through the cartilage and be a likely candidate sooner.   

Have you made any decisions?

I am just trying to keep working on my core, i was not bending correctly so my back and knees were feeling it. I am now squatting to pick stuff up and watching form.

No one has any answers.

Larry

If you can't do surgery yet, I'd recommend looking for a yoga/stretching class. I've been doing one the past 3 months in preparation for my surgery at the end of this month and it's made a huge improvement in my flexibility and pain.  My hip still aches constantly, but my muscles are feeling much better. In particular my lower back has been much improved.

I'm really tight in the hip flexors and adductors, and it was a struggle doing a lot of basic things like putting on my socks. It's still not great compared to someone with good hips, but I'm able to put on my socks without too much trouble.

I still can't do some of the yoga moves, and won't be able to until I've had the surgery but that's OK. The instructor's good about dealing with mobility issues. It was embarrassing at first to see all these women with their knees pulled into their chests and there I am on my back barely able to get my knees up to 90 degrees, but worth it in the long run.

Hi Larry. Reading the first part of your post " I would not like the new hip since I had so much joint space left". Similar to mine. "your hips are a young man heaps of joint space" except when you MRI them.

Go for it from my experience and get a life back if the surgery works out. I have so many times been pushed out the door due to that joint space thing which is not correct. I have also asked Dr De Smet about that same issue as having too much joint space which has caused total failure of the operation (too much cartilage). Dr De Smet has replied "there is  a way around this" so I am confident it would not be a failure.
Good luck all the best.

Hi Larry.
I have read through the post. Sounds like you had impingement wear and similar to me sort of.
Scoped and labral tears done 2013. problems sitting, walking, riding, bike just normal stuff. Hip checks out mild to moderate wear anterior to posterior.
Same the surgeons in NZ will not do work on it due to it is not extensive enough damage to warrant a successful op. (severe)
It has been like that for 7 years now and no change. They do not go off symptoms only off pictures. What do I do lie down for the rest of my life because that it what is forces you to do. The drugs prolong will damage you so its not a pretty picture. The hip does not seem to deteriorate as it is injured and maybe not in degenerate stage. You seem to get left in limbo. I hobbling human. You seem to have an offer on the table resurfacing looks to be the best option as I can see with results. I would go for it get a life back. Marathons with prosthetic's? looks only good from that point. All the best with your choice.

Quick update, met with Dr. Ratterman this week. First I was shocked how his practice is run, I have never seen a new patient flow so smoothly. I signed in at 110 my appointment was at 115, I was in the room at 118. I saw his PA took 7 X-rays and then saw the doctor. Kudos to him and his staff.

He stated to not go with another scope, it would be like stirring up a hornets nest. Also, which I found very interesting,he noted some bone re growth on the femur from earlier x rays. This was corrected by my OS but it appears some grew back maybe causing impingement again. This is something never mentioned by hip scope surgeons. At my age 43 he said HR is the only viable solution.

So it's decision time

Thanks,

Larry

Hello Larry.  I just picked up on this great thread a few minutes ago.  I received almost identical comments from Dr. Gross when I first began to see him almost three years ago.  At that time I had already had one injection that was working very well to address my hip-related groin pain.  He looked at my xrays and said that I have almost no cartilage left in either hip.  After examining me, he said (and I quote), "I'll do the surgery if you want me to, but I don't recommend it.  I don't think you would be satisfied."

This left me a little stunned.  Here I was nearly bone-on-bone, already on the injection train, unable to walk significant distances without groin pain, and within 9 months of being forced onto Medicare (which he doesn't accept).  I simply couldn't understand why he would make a comment like that if, like so many here profess, HR is a fix that makes your pain go away (i.e., what's not to be satisfied with about that??).  He recommended that I continue on doing those exercises that were tolerable, maybe have one more injection, and then come back when things were worse.  I left feeling confused and wondering if my Type A perfectionistic personality was not the real issue here.

Over the next 2.5 years, I followed his exercise instructions. I also had another injection which didn't help at all.  Then a friend of mine saw me limping down the street one day as I was attempting to complete a 2 mile walk. He told me I looked like an old man.  He said, "why don't you go see Dr. Gross like my wife did and get something done about your hip."  I was on the phone that afternoon making an appointment with Lee, Dr. Gross' PA (Unfortunately, Medicare had already claimed me by then.  Thankfully, Lee accepts Medicare and she is GREAT!).  When I went in, I got new xrays and it appeared that I was finally bone-on-bone in my worst hip.  Dr. Gross and Lee wanted to make certain that I was feeling worse than when I first came to see them.  After that, he seemed much more comfortable about proceeding with the surgery.

The rest is history.  Today I am 10 days post-op and recovering amazingly well.  I am still a little confused about the need to wait since I was clearly headed to bone-on-bone.  Also, I will freely admit that I will be very disappointed if this operation leaves me with the same type of groin pain that I felt pre-op.  That being said, I highly recommend that you choose Dr. Gross for your surgery.  If he is on board with it, I don't see how you can do any better.  Good luck and keep us informed.