It’s a double-header for Alex Rodriguez.
The New York Yankees announced today that its star third baseman will have to undergo yet another arthroscopic hip surgery – this one on his left side – to repair a torn labrum and bone impingement and to remove a cyst. (His right hip was scoped in February 2009.)
The Yankees general manager, Brian Cashman, said that Rodriguez probably wouldn’t return to the game until next June. He’ll be required to complete a presurgery strengthening program of four to six weeks, before having the procedure, scheduled for January, then four to five months of physical therapy.
Dr. Bryan T. Kelly will perform the arthroscopic surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, the place where both of my hip scopes were done. Rodriguez’s first procedure was done by the hip scope pioneer Dr. Marc Philippon of Vail, Colo.
Cashman said Rodriguez’s left hip problems were likely a contributing factor in his poor performance recently. “The struggles we saw in September and in October are more likely than not related to this issue,” Cashman said on the Yankees Web site. Rodriguez “wasn’t firing on all cylinders,” he added.
It’s not uncommon to have both hips showing signs of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), or hip impingement syndrome, which causes tears to the labrum. According to my hip doctor, around 40 percent of patients are affected, though not all will need to have a second surgery – like A-Rod and I.
Sunday, in fact, marks the one-year anniversary of my second hip scope, on my right side. (The left side was done in July 2011.) I’m glad to be looking back at that year – and thrilled to be feeling like my old active self again.
Wishing A-Rod a speedy recovery!
Hi Armando! I am happy that you are now pain-free. Some day – a few months from now, pehpars – I’ll be able to make the same claim. I could’ve waited several months down the line to have the second side done, but I didn’t see the point. This way, I’ll be able to recuperate through the quieter winter months. We were both very lucky to have been treated by the best surgeon in the No. 1 orthopedic hospital. And, like you, I plan to mix up my exercise regime after I’m all healed so that it’s more balanced. No more running every day! Next week my stitches come out, and my PT begins. Take care, and thanks for commenting!