The latest post on HSS on the Move, the Hospital for Special Surgery blog, offers some tips from its Center for Hip Preservation on managing hip pain. It suggests, among other things, avoiding “repetitive hip flexion,” or moving your hip or leg toward your chest, along with deep squats and lunges.
The tip that caught my eye was one that I wish I had followed (or knew to follow) at the first hint of discomfort during my ill-fated marathon training two summers ago: “Do not work through pain.”
“If the discomfort accompanies running, stop …”
But isn’t there typically some level of discomfort associated with running, especially when you’re pushing yourself to go faster or farther? Which happened to be what I was doing when marathon training.
Runner’s World, in fact, published an excellent article last year about seven common running injuries, like plantar fasciitis, and when it’s appropriate to run through them or to stop.
I didn’t think there was anything seriously wrong when I first began to experience groin pain during my long runs two years ago. (There was, of course!) If I had experienced any pain during running in the past, it usually went away after I warmed up. In other cases, a few days of icing, anti-inflammatories and rest usually was enough to fix any problem and get me back on the road again.
Today – after two arthroscopic hip surgeries and almost two years of physical therapy – I am more in tune with cautious about my body and what it can or can’t do. (Right now I am comfortable and grateful to be running twice a week, around three miles at a time.)
No pain, no gain has evolved to no gain with pain. At least for now.
I have had two hip surgeries with July 12, 2012 being the last one. Rehab so far so good. I have had a issue with knee but don’t need surgery on it. Yeah!! Next visit to dr on Oct 2nd I get to run on a Alter G Treadmill. I have not run in 2 years. My last run was may 2010. I also do triathlons. Love to do sprints. Had weird thing with hip swimming. Can only use the pull buoy for arms only. No kicking without kickboard. Yesterday did kicking with board as was on my back and my hip felt like it was going to come out of the socket. Yikes!!!! I had my labrum repaired from 2-10 o’clock. Is this bad news? Did I do something wrong?
Hi Debbie,
Thanks for your comments. I’ve been hearing from so many people who have had both hips done! Seems pretty common.
Like you, I took quite some time off from running, and it’s only now that I’ve started back up again. I think aches and pain are common after these surgeries — I had issues with my right knee and I still feel some mild discomfort in my left groin area. I worry all the time whether I somehow might have injured or reinjured myself, and my concerns are usually put to rest with a call or visit to my doctor.
Good luck in your recovery, and stay in touch.
Vivian
Hi, I just had Fai surgery on my right hip for cam impingment and labral tear on July 12th. It is a slow recovery. I had my left hip done on Jan 1th of this year also. I have now irritated my right knee cap after surgery. So now a shot and some knee exercises and hopefully will get to run on Alter G Treadmill on dr appt at Midwest Orthopaedics after appt with Dr Shane Nho. He trained with all three of the big hip doctors