Will a surgeon do HR for just moderate joint space narrowing?

[Miguelito]

Just a quick question before I bug my surgeon. I'm pretty sure they would, that it's a facts and circumstances thing, not simply how much joint space narrowing. I have Cam FAI as well, the hip hurts mostly constantly (though not like the already HR'd right hip did, thank Jeebus).

Thank you!

Mike

[Dannywayoflife]

I believe there has to be a certain degree of arthritis in the joint as this changes the circulation within the joint. But once past that point there's no real point to postponing further

[Miguelito]

Sorry. I was very unclear in my brevity.

There is definitely arthritis (a word whose meaning I am still a little unclear on after 32 years of having it) in the joint. I have lots of different kinds of pain (including the traditional groin pain), the FAI, moderate joint space narrowing, etc.

I just don't have severe joint space narrowing or debilitating pain yet.

So given that, I will take your answer as a yes.

Thanks again,

Mike

[HippyDogwood]

Mike

Before surgery, the surgeon will assess two things;

• Whether he considers your pain to be manageable - they treat pain rather than x-rays
• They then look at the source. The FAI could have caused a torn / detached labrum which is giving you the pain and would show up in an MRI scan. If so, an arthroscopy to have the FAI removed and labrum fixed could be a better first option, if the spacing is still good

David

[Tim Bratten]

Send Koen De Smet an e-mail with the x-ray and ask him what he thinks. He'll reply for free and give you a better answer than we can.