For years, I’ve been struggling with chronic hip pain that no doctor seemed to be able to diagnose. It was incredibly frustrating, and I felt like I was running in circles just trying to figure out what was going on with my body. But finally, after years of searching, I found a doctor who was able to pinpoint the issue – pincer hip impingement and a spur like labrum tear as well as uneven pelvis. In this blog post, I’ll be sharing my journey to getting diagnosed and my experience with these conditions.
When I first started experiencing hip pain in 2016, I went to several doctors who couldn’t figure out what was going on. Some recommended surgery or a total hip replacement, but without a clear diagnosis, I wasn’t comfortable with either of those options. I tried hip injections and went through countless MRI and x-ray tests, but nothing showed anything abnormal.
Finally, in 2023, I was lucky enough to find a doctor who was able to identify my condition simply by looking at an x-ray taken in his office same day. Pincer hip impingement occurs when the ball and socket of the hip joint don’t fit together properly, causing the bones to rub and pinch the soft tissue around the hip joint. A labrum tear is when there’s damage to the tissue in the hip joint that acts like a cushion. In my case, the combination of these conditions was causing my chronic hip pain.
After getting diagnosed, I did some research and found out that pincer hip impingement and labrum tears can be caused by genetics or injury. In my case, I was born prematurely in 1989, and my legs looked like a dead frog when I was born. The doctors slowly straightened my legs out, and no one told my parents that I may have hip issues in the future. It wasn’t until my second pregnancy, with a big baby, that my hip issues started to become more noticeable and problematic which also may have been the cause of my uneven pelvis.
Now that I have a clear diagnosis, I’m working with my doctor to determine the best course of treatment once my pervious doctor sends over my contrast MRI. I currently do have a service dog to help my mobility. While I still have a long road ahead of me, it’s a relief to know that there’s a reason for my pain and that I’m not just imagining things.
Dealing with chronic hip pain can be incredibly frustrating, and it’s easy to feel like you’re never going to find a solution. But the key is to keep searching and advocating for yourself. If one doctor can’t help, keep looking for someone else who can. And don’t be afraid to do your own research and ask questions – it can make all the difference in getting an accurate diagnosis and finding the right course of treatment. My journey to diagnosing my chronic hip pain has been a long one, but with the right diagnosis and treatment plan, I’m looking forward to living pain-free in the future.
