I am an endurance athlete and have FAI (Femoracetubular Impingement), it’s a mis-shaped hip joint that has caused bone spurs and cartilage deterioration and damage, plus I have a torn labrum…lots of fun and I’m not bone on bone in the joint yet but am very close. Surgery is recommended and they are ready to start the process whenever I am. My current orthopedic does not do hips so we are in a “preserve and protect” mode which essentially means timed methylprednisone, celebrex, and tramadol as needed coupled with changes in training to allow me to get the most out of my body and still compete in endurance races (100 mile distance for the A races) and do the things I like to do (basically moving in the mountains: running, hiking, climbing, snowshoeing, skiing, etc.); this mostly includes a decrease in overall volume with a more intense focus on strength and stability training as well as recovery.
I have talked to a couple guys and read a little online and it seems the only thing people regret about a full hip replacement is not doing it sooner, does anyone have any experience with this surgery and what is post-surgery life like? Are there any major inhibitions?
I’m also wondering if there are any supplements that you guys would recommend for recovery?
I’m not opposed to SARMS and am a fan of the peptides having run Cardarine for a couple 8-week cycles as well as a couple of GW-0742 cycles, may be a question for another forum but is there a peptide/SARM more geared towards recovery?
With the added days in the gym my recovery is a big focus.
My wife had two hip replacements at a young age due to misshapen hip joints. Her surgeon put her on what he called common sense restrictions. For example, she wasn’t a marathon runner and so he told her not to go run marathons. He also said feel free to take up surfing, but maybe stick to a long board. She surfs, snowboards, hikes, and runs a little bit. I also know or know of several powerlifters who have had hips replaced and who are still squatting heavy. Ed Coan’s name is one who springs to mind.
You’ve probably already done this, but in your situation I’d ask around in the running community about doing the very long races you mention you like doing.
You are in for a WORLD of pain if you keep training…
I’ve dislocated my shoulder countless times (and sublaxed both shoulders), broken bones, been concussed, I have ribs that slip out of place, I’ve cut my face wide open, cracked the back of my head open, fractured the back of my shoulder, dealt with neuropathy from nerve entrapment following hernia surgery and so on/so fourth
Continuing to train for years post FAI onset led to the most pain I’ve ever dealt with in my life… aside from sublaxed ribs pinching intercostal nerves (but that is intermittent in nature).
I know it’s hard to stop training… but just get the surgery… i’m 6 months post bilateral FAI surgery and almost 100%.
I had to stop training entirely 4 months pre op because the pain was just too much. Granted the degree of pain felt differs for everyone.
So to answer some of the questions, re-surfacing is out of the question as they believe at this stage with the damage I already have it would cause more harm than good, full replacement is the recommendation and I believe it is a CAM impingement looking at my x-rays, if the first doctor told me the morphology I don’t remember…
I have 3 more races this year and one of them in July is one that I have invested a lot into including taking 2 weeks off or work to go live in the mountains and acclimate; I have a doctor’s appt on April 10 so the plan is to get the ball rolling on finding a surgeon and “checking all the boxes” for insurance; I have a PT I have been working with for years but will still need to do therapy through the insurance, I already do the medication, steroids, and have had guided injections so my hope is that I can keep it together until October and run these 3 races (100k in April, 100 mile with 42,000 ft of climbing in July (which is good because climbing causes the least pain on the hip), and another 100 miler with around 10k of climbing in October) and climb a couple more mountains in between then have the surgery end of the year…
I just want to keep it together until then, the level of fitness I have attained and where I am at after years of training and preparing is just something I just can’t let go of and at the moment am willing to tolerate the daily pain and discomfort that comes with training and just living…to me it is temporary and will be worth the outcome if I can just get through the next few months.
I know that I should have the surgery and then adequately prepare and attack these races 100% but I just can’t let go of where we are at now and the fear of “starting over” or never being able to run again because something happens or things don’t go as planned…I just feel like I need to do this now just incase there truly is not another opportunity…that is why I am so interested in recovery and just giving myself every opportunity to perform. It may not be the wisest decision and the fact that you guys have had successful recoveries gives me hope and makes me excited to be pain free…to sleep on my left side again will feel incredible
I had a total, posterior method, and I can still do almost anything including BJJ {with some common sense}. Running for distance however is out. I can run but nothing like 5K training or anything.
Bone shaven down, anchors in both hips to repair torn labrum
I’m 22y/o. I do have some degree of joint degeneration in hips and shoulders as is common for people with hypermobility spectrum disorder (fancy way of saying you have connective tissue disorder but don’t meet the cutoff criteria for EDS dx), FAI greatly accelerated damage incurred.
I’ve been told as the structure of my hips aren’t normal I may not be able to avoid hip replacements down the line… but i’ve brought myself time
Very glad I had the surgery. The first 3-4 months are rough though, and I still feel a pinch/minor pain from time to time
Do you physiotherapy religiously… I’m cleared to run now if I want. I’m not sure if I’d be comfortable doing anything over 5k though. I’ve got a second chance… I want to ruin my hips doing weights and martial arts, not distance running.
Pick your poison
I’m in for a life of pain more/less no matter what I do. Might as well make the best of the 5-10 or so good years i’ve got left… good is subjective I suppose…
But still no squats. In another 4 months I’m cleared to do whatever I want, BUT my shoulders may need to be repaired (left one again, right one for RC tear)
Well looks like surgery is coming sooner rather than later; I have a surgery consultation on Monday; I’m still training and plan to do so up until the surgery I was thinking late July or August so I could climb a couple mountains but thinking the sooner the better now; I have a memorial day family vacation so maybe as soon as June. Focusing on core and from the lower back down along with the running and biking and then just want to rehab the shit out of everything. (I also do a lot pushups, abs, and air squats throughout the day at the office, 500 -1,000 per week)
Lucky for me there is a gentlemen who just finished the Cocodona 250 (a 250 mile foot race in Arizona) in a little over 76 hours…with a double hip replacement; needless to say I have reached out to him and a couple others who run 100 and 100+ miles with total hip replacements…so I have a lot of hope and am pretty motivated.
With all that in mind does anyone have any experience in any supplements I can start pre-surgery that may help; the only limitations I have are what I can get; at the moment just all the usual stuff and peptides and all that but if there is something more anabolic that would help I could possibly be able to get on something that needs a prescription.
After Leona Divide 100k a couple weekends ago where I only made it 40 miles on this hip is when I realized I have to do this now, I can’t finish these races anymore much less compete. I’m in great shape (5’10" 170ish, 10.9 - 12.5% body fat depending on my diet) and really trying to do this like a professional athlete. If I treat it like that I feel like I’ll have the best chance at success.
Thanks for all the help and positivity guys, this is a little tough for me mentally; I think it is the fact that I have always been able to make things happen, but this…this is out of my hands and up to the surgeon and my body’s response…kind of scary; I like to say that most of my successes in life are because I am good at suffering and simply don’t quit…I can’t suffer my way through this one…
So I don’t know which I’m having yet, I’m actually typing this before I read a little bit about the different types, I’ve found posterior as you had, the anterior approach, and the robotic anterior approach…but what was the rehab like for you? If you want I can send you a message or even an email but I have some questions to say the least.
Mostly, what did you feel helped the most during pre and post surgery? What would you do differently that you feel would help? Any recommendations?
As for running, what is the issue and keeps you from going farther distances?
The fact you do BJJ is inspiring man; keep up the great work, I’m a blue belt but it has been so many years I would put on a white belt if I went to a gym…how is your flexibility?
No personal experience in this matter and not an expert by any stretch, but Anecdotally, Bo Jackson played 2 years of Major League Baseball and hit 29 home runs on an artificial hip. Medical technology has come a long way since then as well. Perhaps with today’s technology he’s able to enjoy a full career. My point is, I believe you should still be able to live a full, healthy and active life. Just be mindful of pain and find exercises that don’t cause pain.
I was out of the gym on my hip for six weeks and of course i started out slow. With a THR it’s all about bone forming around the prosthetic and the recovery to the tendons that were cut or shoved out the way to make room. I only missed two weeks of work. The reason why you can do most things on a THR other than running is because the prosthetics will most likely out live you BUT it’s about the fit in your femur (assuming your surgeon uses the largest femur ball possible). In other words it gets loose so anything high impact makes that happen sooner. When I was in PT I could literally hear the old dudes coming in the room by the rattling of their hips.
If you want to run then you need to get a resurfacing instead but you have to do that before the damage to your pelvis is too advanced. Which is the mistake I made.
@jacob0805 , I hate where you are at but you could not have needed it at a better time. I have been rehabbing hip replacements since the late 80’s/early 90’s and they have gotten so good!
Two pieces of advice.
Ask around and get the most recommendations from the running community near you or, if you are willing to travel for surgery, from the people in the running community about who they trust most and their approach to surgery. Here is a resource for you: https://www.hiprunner.com/
Seek professional performance-related help. I wrote about this in another thread about knee replacement. Here is the link for that: Recent Knee Replacement - 5 Month Old - #2 by Dr_Grove_Higgins
The link advises to reach out to a professional who specializes. Also, we wrote a certification to performance training joint replacements if you are interested.
Good luck and happy running again real soon! - Doc
So quick update, first and foremost I can’t thank you guys enough for the responses and Doc, what a wealth of knowledge and thank you; do you mind if I shoot you a message at some point? (I think we can do that here lol)
I reached out to a gentleman who just finished the Cocodona 250 (in just over 76 hrs and in 4th place no less!!!) last week on a double hip replacement; so I reached out and we’re going to talk this week…I hope to start a good relationship with him and I have always been self coached when it comes to ultramarathons and the mountains but it may be time to think about bringing a coach on…this fella coaches people privately
And…met with two surgeons today; found a guy I am really comfortable with and we are on the same page; surgery date is set for June 7th; “muscle sparing anterior hip approach; total hip replacement”…so here we go
I think “the team” is ready; I have my wife, a couple buddies, a therapist, a PT, and a surgeon…with the advice and encouragement you guys are helping out too man; I have an aversion to anything social media related (I do laugh my ass off at the IG reels ) especially when it comes to advice; cool that I know I can always come here and get real dudes (and ladies) like me.
I have a partial prosthetic elbow that rubs uncomfortably against soft tissue and resultant scar tissue. On pressing days I ice my elbow before and between sets to numb it and wear wrist wraps. Somehow they help stabilize the press better than elbow compression.
I realize a hip is more complex but a buddy I train for powerlifting competitions with came home from Iraq shot 8 times, blown up and partially paralyzed with multiple replaced joints, including hips. He swears by stem cell therapy and peptides. Through these therapies and guided physical therapy he regained the ability to stand, then walk, got in to CrossFit for all around training/mobility and is now competitively powerlifting with occasional mods to training plans.
I can confirm growth hormone releasing peptides seem to relieve pain post workout.
Sorry Im late to the thread. From personal experience i highly recommend hip resurfacing but only with a surgeon who is proficient at it. Hands down better than traditional replacement. Its best suited for males that are active. It had low success rate years ago but theyve figured out the issues and have perfected it. I cant recommend it enough for numerous reasons. The most important is that you can perform as well as your natural hip. Research Dr Suu at HSS New York and watch his videos. Hes done numerous pro athletes that went back to the sport. He also did the pro wrestlers Big Show and The Undertaker who went back to wrestling afterwards. Good luck
I had my hip resurfaced and that was the worst recovery… Ended up having my hip replaced a year and half later. I was up and walking 3 hours after surgery and did not have to use the walker at all. I was 37 at the time. I still do BJJ, lift weights, running, even though I personally hate it. As long as you ease back into your training you should be good. Its been 5 years and still good as new and no problems. Have gone through a 4 month federal LEO academy recently and no prblems either. Good luck
What is going on boys? Just wanted to touch base and let everyone know that things have gone pretty well; I did my own rehab and 4 months after surgery I finished a 50-mile run and 6 months after surgery I completed 109 miles with 42,000 ft of climbing all on a treadmill and just under 38 hours…hip held up and all is well.
Appreciate all the advice and input here…next up: Rotator Cuff Surgery in a month…yay
