lisawray

I see that Gabrielle started replying to you but here is my 2 cents:
I think you should go get an MRI (you will probably need a MRI with contrast fluid in the joint). An X ray won’t show cartilage damage like your sports doctor is talking about. The worst thing that will happen is the MRI tells you exactly what’s wrong, so you can treat it however you decide, and get back to the hot room. The best thing that could happen is the MRI tells you nothing is wrong, and you can get back to the hot room!

Best of luck.

Hi,
I know this is an old thread but I have suffered through so much guesswork and uncertainty, I registered just to comment on it. I’m in the Boston area as well and 4 weeks out of arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn labrum. The surgeon reattached it with four anchors and shaved the bone impingement. I have mild hip dysplasia, but it never presented any problems before this (and I didn’t know about it).

I actually know exactly how the tear happened — NOT in yoga. I was in a flexibility class and felt my hip pop (audibly too) while rolling forward through straddle splits. I didn’t know what the problem was, and massage therapists and yoga teachers suggested weak glutes, a groin strain, tendonitis … meanwhile anything that required external rotation became increasingly painful. I rested, I stretched, I iced, I took NSAIDs, nothing helped. I kept teaching and working out … when warmed up I could dance and practice and could sometimes achieve split positions, but afterward I would pay for it. Eventually I started developing a limp and everyday walking hurt. I finally saw a doctor who diagnosed me in 5 minutes and within a month I had xrays, an MRI arthrogram, and was in surgery. I guess my hip deformation made me prone to labral tears and my intense flexibility exercises weren’t helping. Considering the dysplasia is bilateral, I now doubt I will ever achieve the straddle splits (even if it were physically possible … fear would probably hold me back!)

My yoga practice was 3-4 times a week, mostly a mixture of “advanced vinyasa” and Bikram yoga, although I tried Baptiste in Cambridge too. I continued to try to do yoga before the surgery, mostly Bikram (with the injury, but without knowing the exact problem) … I couldn’t do triangle on the bad side, lying back in fixed firm was impossible, no twists on the bad side, no seated head to knee stretching bad side. My hip was usually sore afterward but I felt so much better overall I kept coming. I found I had to mention explicitly to the teacher that I had an injury, otherwise I would get singled out in class for not doing the pose because I otherwise have a very strong practice. I found that sitting or standing in the starting position or an intermediate position was OK with the instructor, but it was very frustrating mentally.

Did anyone return to their full practice after labral repair — specifically a demanding practice like Bikram? My doctor is not very communicative about the recovery process, and I don’t know any other yogis or dancers who have had this surgery. My doctor does not even advocate PT, and won’t give me more information other than that I’m currently banned from exercising. He has said later he may allow a stationary bike or elliptical. I can’t see safely transitioning from that level of restriction to the extremely active life I used to lead. And I seriously fear for my flexibility. 🙁

Anyway, I’m currently still on crutches and in quite a bit of pain. I’m not sure what is more depressing: the uncertainty, the pain, or the absence of my yoga practice.