Core Muscle Injury

Hi Everyone!

It has been 5 1/2 wonderful years since successful bilateral hip surgery with Dr. Struan Coleman at Hopsital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City.  I've been busy these past few years for sure!  I continue to enjoy my 5 mile long, very intense, power walks.  I love an elliptical on a day where the whether is not cooperating.  I occasionally run a few miles (never more than 3) around town or on a treadmill.  I have dabbled in a few spin classes and hot vinyasa yoga classes over the years.  Mostly, for the past 4 years, I have been doing barre classes at The Bar Method in Montclair, NJ.  I even enjoy some simple hiking all through upstate NY, west NJ, and Arizona!  What I can say, with utmost confidence, is my hips were absolutely PERFECT until this past November.  After dealing with months of pretty significant hormonal imbalances that led to weight gain, I thought I could exercise it away.  A new spin studio opened up around the corner and I thought it was a sign!  I signed up for an introductory membership and started taking one spin class, with one hot power vinyasa class, per week... (on top of my barre classes)...

Over a few weeks I started to notice right groin pain gradually creeping up in intensity.  The pain moved to above my groin (i.e. hip flexor region), into my upper thigh, and through my inner right thigh. By mid-January, the pain was so severe, I was crying myself to sleep and barely walking.  I couldn't even exercise anymore.  I was so weak and tired that I ended up taking a fall on ice one morning on my way to work!

...My anxious thoughts immediately flew to thinking that I re-tore my labrum.  I immediately contacted Dr. Coleman's PA, Kira Levykh.  She examined me and found I had fluid in my illiopsoas muscle.  I received a numbing agent + a cortisone injection into the illiopsoas tendon and was sent on my way.  Unfortunately, I did not find any relief.

A few weeks later, I contacted Dr. Jose Ibarbia, a wonderful physiatrist in Clifton, New Jersey.  Together we made the decision to inject my actual hip joint with a numbing agent + cortisone.  Dr. Ibarbia said that if anything, the injection would serve as a diagnostic tool.  If the injection worked, we could assume it was probably my labrum.  If I didn't find relief from the injection, we could assume we had to investigate the source of my pain further...

While the numbing agent gave me relief for a few hours, as soon as it wore off I had the most intense pain since this injury started.  On a pain scale of 1-10, I was at a 15.  Dr. Ibarbia told me to try PT.  That's when I contacted Dr. Danny Prata at Forward Motion Physical Therapy.  While my awesome friend and physical therapist, Dr. James O'Rourke is still practicing in Cedar Knolls, NJ - I just can't commit to driving there multiple times per week.

A couple more weeks passed and my pain was not getting any better.  I still was not able to exercise at all and I even started limping.  I knew I had to call Dr. Coleman again.  This time, I met with the doctor himself.  He did not believe that I had re-tore my labrums.  He also said that my bones looked fantastic (i.e. no arthritis and no regrowth of the bones that he shaved down).

Dr. Coleman felt that what I had was a core muscle injury.   He explained to me that about 4 years ago, he teamed up with Dr. William Meyers down at the Vincera Institute in Philadelphia, PA to operate on core muscle injuries + hip issues together.  Dr. Coleman would meet me in Philly to examine my case alongside Dr. Meyers to determine if they could help me.

Well, today is Monday, February 26th.  After an MRI and x-rays of my pelvic/hip region, I met with both doctors and was given expert advice.  Dr. Coleman could not see any labral tears from the imaging.  Dr. Meyers could see that the muscles on my pelvic bone had started to loosen and tear away (along with some psoas muscle issues).  Both doctors felt confidently that performing bilateral core muscle surgery would 99% take all of my hip pain away.  I had many questions, still fearing that my labrum could be torn.  However, Dr. Coleman felt confidently core muscle surgery was the way to go at this point.

While I am still unclear of what core muscle surgery specifically entails, I feel that I am in good hands.  I am now sitting in a hotel bed, pretty anxious to have this surgery tomorrow morning.  The surgery is scheduled to take 45 minutes to 1 hour.

I have plans to stay in Philly until Saturday morning to attend physical therapy at the Vincera Institute before returning home.  I am told it takes 6 weeks for a full recovery and will require a pretty intense PT program.  I am up for the challenge!

It is now time to get some sleep before my big day.  I have been fighting off a sinus/throat thing for a few days, so I need rest to be strong for my surgery.

I will post a play-by-play of my recovery in hopes that I can help future people with the same issue!

With Love,
The girl with a core muscle injury xx