masi61

Over the last several years I’ve come to the realization that my left hip has moderate arthritis and several labral tears. I had the MRI and this was confirmed. I never knew that a bad hip sometimes manifests as inner thigh or groin pain. I learned a fair amount about this and it has not progressed so my ortho doctor said I can proceed with cycling & fitness classes without restriction. I started doing a lot of yoga 2 years ago and learned a lot. Now I try to do one yoga class per week if I can fit it in my busy life.

But this thread is about my good hip. I think I might have a labrum tear in it now. I go to the orthopedist today to discuss. You see, I love to do kick boxing on Monday nights. I’m 57 and sort of the “old man in the class”. I’ve done this class in the past and picked it up regularly over the past year or so. My theory is that the kicks in different directions are therapeutic for joint health. The instructor is really good and she builds different movements progressively so that any stiffness restricting range of motion can be gradually worked out through transitional moves such as knee kicks, partial kicks then a full kick to the front, sides, donkey kicks to the rear etc...

i have experienced some popping of my hip joints without pain, often the popping is accompanied by a release where there is an increase in comfort and range of motion.

But 2 weeks ago my instructor was having us side step across the classroom quickly, a movement I have done many times without any problems. On this day she gave us an optional little internal mini kick as we sidestepped. Sort of like something an Irish dancer might do.

Well the the first time I did this I felt a disturbing grinding feeling with sharp pain and then my femur felt locked up ! This was troubling. I stepped gingerly to the back of the classroom and very gingerly rotated my thigh in and out to try to reset the hip. I thought it did so I rejoined the class. This same series of moves was still underway and I re-joined. She again prompted us to do this little Irish dancer move and this time I had the same result but with even worse pain. Again I re-set the joint through backing off and lightly rotating the stuck body part. I completed the class and said a little prayer that nothing was torn or permanently damaged.

Cycling seems to not aggravate it which is a relief since riding is my main sport. But when I was in bed, as I rotate my right leg to get out of bed, I am still getting sharp pains, weakness and some sticking.

So so today I plan to go back to my ortho to see what needs to be done. I love kickboxing and I hope I can continue doing it because I usually feel great for the rest of the week after I do it. I feel it enhances my cycling by improving core strength, arm and chest strength and, yes hip strength (if there is such a thing). I feel like certain movements such as the donkey kicks and certain kicks that repetitively work the hip flexors are normally super beneficial, and are a bit unique to this type of class. I used to do Zumba for the same reason.

If anyone has a theory good or bad about what is going on with my hip joint, I’d like to hear it,

Also, I will post an update later today to explain what the ortho recommends.

OldTryGuy

HOLY COW!!!!! So what's up from the ortho ???

masi61

Good news!
it is more of a bone spur causing an impingement but only in certain rotations/angles.

He didn’t think it was a labral tear. He said my pelvic flexibility was quite good. He said if I have a temporary impingement through a certain motion to just back off to where it is tolerable. He said I’m cleared to continue my weekly kick boxing - yeah!

OldTryGuy

Very good news for sure. Enjoy the K-B and cycling.

jppe

Good news.

If the “bad hip” ever needs replacing don’t wait too long to replace it after your ortho says it needs it. It’s immediate pain relief plus you risk damaging other joints favoring the bad hip. I’d suggest finding a surgeon than can do the anterior replacement procedure. Recovery is much faster than the posterior approach. Also make sure your surgeon fully understands how active you are. This might help with decisions around full vs partial replacement and the materials they use.

Probably information that’s very premature but things I’ve learned from personal experience (and my wife).