When medical problems overlap, some patients end up
dismissed by healthcare providers because their pain picture has become too
complex. At times, complex regional pain syndrome or fibromyalgia is diagnosed. In
my book I write about how it takes a systematic approach to diagnose someone
where pain has escalated beyond just an ache in the hip joint and a clear-cut
x-ray, CT or MRI impingement diagnosis, as well as and some strategies patients
can apply to reach their goals.
From personal experience, I know how hard it can be to get
shuffled from specialist to specialist. So I was excited to find a summary from
a recent hip symposium (hosted by The American Journal of Orthopedics) where a
number of hot shot hip surgeons gathered to discuss surgical preservation of
the hip and how the understanding of complex issues keep developing. For
example, the symposium addressed the topic of layers of diagnoses some patients
may experience as well as a discussion on sources of impingement.
The hip and pelvis are complex structures but the hip
symposium members demonstrated how doctors’ understanding of the hip and its
disorders has matured over the last decade – and keeps developing. For example,
there is broader recognition that a patient with hip impingement may not only have
simple CAM or pincer type lesions.
Dr. Reinhold Ganz, Dr. Bryan Kelly and Dr. Ira Zaltz
discussed how conflicts outside the hip joint (extra-articular) to hip motion,
such as subspine (AIIS, anterior inferior iliac spine) and trochanteric
impingement, makes it necessary to assess a patient with hip pain looking at
all aspects of the structures around the hip. The doctors stated that sources
of secondary impingement can present as new pain generators after correcting
other sources of impingement.
In addition, doctors Ganz, Kelly and Zaltz acknowledged that
mixed deformity is increasingly recognized. For example, a patient with
impingement symptoms may also have elements of hip dysplasia. The physicians
explained that these overlaps, lack of accurate classification systems, and disagreement
on definitions have made diagnosis and treatment challenging for doctors who
are trying to parse clinical symptoms, exam findings and imaging.
Dr. Kelly presented his process for obtaining “layer
diagnoses” for the painful hip as compensatory soft tissue changes are common. He
encouraged attempting to identify diagnoses for each layer. He
identified Layer 1 as bone and cartilage abnormalities. According to Dr. Kelly,
Layer 2 diagnoses are defined by abnormalities affecting the tissues of the hip
capsule and labrum, which lack ability to function. Layer 3 diagnoses refer to
dysfunction of the muscle (contractile) tissues. Layer 4 diagnoses include
processes affecting neural structures, such as nerve entrapment syndromes.
Dr. Kelly stated that these changes can be multiplex. For
example, “core muscle dysfunction” may be the consequence of abnormal bone and
cartilage (osteochondral) shapes; correcting the hip joint mechanics may best
treat a case of pubalgia. In other words, issues related to the hip can co-exist but be cured by fixing the hip.
For patients, dealing with multiple issues – possibly related to hip dysfunction – getting correct diagnoses and
treatment is challenging. Not all doctors and clinics employ what Dr. Kelly calls "a hip center model” – a team of experts providing comprehensive care. Wouldn’t
that be nice for all to have! Instead, many patients find themselves referred out to a
number of different specialists who each looks at their specific area of medicine, and sometimes have very limited knowledge of hip impingement, FAI.
At this point, patients with complex issues related to their
hips, who cannot find adequate care in their hometown, might be better off traveling
to doctors who are on the forefront of hip research and comprehensive care. If
you are living with a complex pain syndrome that to the best of your logic
starts with your hips (remember you are the one living in your body!), but are not taken seriously by your doctors due to the
variety of pain, presenting your doctor with the layered diagnoses model
related to hip abnormalities is worth a shot. Hopefully, that can get you in
the right direction of getting appropriate diagnostic tests – not just pharmacological
treatment of your complex pain.
Stay tuned – I’m going to do some more digging on this
topic - and more!
Source: American Journal of Orthopedics Blog and Community: AO North
America Symposium on Surgical Preservation of the Hip. March 29,
2013. Alexander S. McLawhorn, MD, MBA (Resident Advisory Board Member of The American Journal
of Orthopedics; and Orthopedic Surgery Resident, Hospital for Special
Surgery, New York, New York.
Great article, Thanks! I had labral tear surgery almost two years ago and I know something else is wrong. I have searched all I can and tried all the therapies I can figure out and pay for. Despite being told my labrum looks good, why do I find it hard to lift my leg? and why I am struggling to run most days and then out of the blue I can have a great day where everything works perfectly? I can see I probably got layer 2 fixed, but I am trying to explain to doctors and therapists what the layers 3 and 4 part as my muscles don't want to play well together and it feels like a "nerve' things is pinching my adductors and I feel tightness and pain up and down my leg and lower back that mysteriously comes and goes. I am now worried about layer one too, as I went to a surgeon who doesn't believe in FAI. Good food for thought here.
ReplyDeleteGreat article Anna, am enjoying this new site!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jim and Louisa. Jim, don't give up looking for help and educating yourself on the topic. It sounds like you could get better! Anna-Lena
ReplyDeleteThis is just what I wanted to read this morning! I(and many of my doctors) would consider me a complex patient. After bilateral scopes in 2011 I was left with one success (the right)and one mess (the left) the recovery was slooow and VERY painful but because I was new to FAI I had no idea that the left hip was not healing correctly. Almost a year later I had a re-operation on the left and they replaced the labrum this time. After, the hip improved drastically. When I say improved...I mean I don't walk with a cane anymore (I'm 29!!!). Now, a year out from that surgery and I still live everyday with pain. I've been in many kinds of therapy at this point and gone to see many specialists to no avail. My physical therapist thinks that I am on the road to a THR but, I'm too young now (not that I want that!) and a life of chronic pain will just not do. Anyhow, I'm glad (and sad) to hear that I am not the only patient after this kind of surgery going..what gives? Thanks for this, I know I must not give up! I'll keep looking for a solution.
ReplyDeleteYes, keep your spirits up and keep going forward. That's the only way. Soon more on the layered diagnoses to follow.
DeleteAnna, I bought your ebook and did a quick read through the night I found your blog post. I wish I had this ebook while I was going through surgery options. I learned most of my information from message board posts and had to use them for guidance. I will be doing a more thorough read and posting information about your book on my blog this weekend. Even though I think I only had a labral tear (no FAI) this book was spot on in giving advice. I am glad to see I have been doing many things right: such as finding a MAT specialist. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteJim, thanks for your kind words. Feel free to let me know what your blog address is.
DeleteHere is my post on the book. I really found it very useful and will be rereading it as I work my way back to being pain-free and running all the miles I want to run again: http://recoveryourstride.blogspot.com/2013/05/hip-problems-labral-tear-fai-read-this.html
ReplyDeleteJim, thanks for sending the link. I am touched that my book - which took a considerable amount of time to write - is helping you. I very much appreciate you spreading the word about it so that it may help others too. That was the whole purpose of writing the book. Thank you! Anna-Lena
DeleteI recently came across your blog and have been reading along.I'm impressed. You're truly well informed and very intelligent. You wrote something that people could understand and made the subject intriguing for everyone. I'm saving this for future use.
ReplyDeleteDear Anna:
ReplyDeleteI read your book. Thanks so much. I continue to use it as I approach FAI/labral tear surgery. I have a few questions:
1) What became of the hernia diagnosis you mentioned at the end of the book?
2) Is it always possible to palpate a hernia and know it is there?
3) I have palpable pain at the pectineus muscle. Can that be referred pain from FAI/Labral tear or could it be a hernia?
Any advice is welcome. Thanks so much.
CH
Hi CH,
DeleteI will respond to you in private if you email me at theentrepreneurialpatient@NOSPAMgmail.com. Remove no spam.