'This is the most severe case I've ever seen'

I hope you can tough it out while they try conservative treatment, but I wouldnt put up with too much torture, if youre just going to need a hip in the end, anyhow. If you need it, you need it. Hang in there....

Atrophy is tissue wasting. You'd probably get more out of it within the context of the findings on the MRI report. You should get your own copy, try to learn a little of what it says, so you know what they intend to do next. There's often a lot of repetition in these reports, mostly medical terms for direction/dimensions (posterior/anterior is a couple most folks know), so they arent as tough to read as they appear at a glance. You'll pick up on the lingo and the situation pretty fast, but above all do not be afraid to ask questions. This is serious shit, you need all the info you can get to make the best decisions for you. Best of luck...

Everything OldGoat said, especially "do not be afraid to ask questions," plus I'd see if they'll let you talk to the other doctors too.

May as well start getting yourself ready for hip replacement surgery. My dad had his done and it literally changed his life. He was using a walker within a week and was off the opiods in about the same time. He immediately felt less pain after the surgery. I saw him smile for the first time in a long time after he woke up from surgery. Do your homework there is lots of info out there. Find a surgeon who does lots of them and you will be just fine. It’s a common procedure and the techniques have advanced quite abit over time. Best of luck to you. 😊👍

The good news is that hip replacements are one of the most wildly successful surgeries out there and when I had mine it so completely cured my FAI pain that I was carrying on flailing my legs around screaming I was cured before I even came out of anesthesia, lol. I got both done at once and the nurses were confuzzled that they found me wandering off to the bathroom on my own the next morning before they had time to give me the "We know it hurts but getting up and moving is super important" lecture.

I was able to reduce my opiate prescription by 2/3rds within 3 months of the surgery.

When my facial MRI came back as "normal," I cried. I almost didn't go to the follow-up appointment with the neurosurgeon. Good thing I did because he saw 2 nerve compressions that the radiologist missed. It meant that I had surgical options, which was huge as medications weren't very effective.

I’ve learned I’d rather have bad results than no results. Because then it’s been identified and now the doctors can help me with the next steps.

I can’t imagine the pain you’re in, but I’m so glad things are moving forward now.

There's something very validating about getting important findings on imaging. Like your pain isn't considered a personality flaw anymore once they can see you actually have something broken or torn or compressed. I hope you're able to get relief from your pain.

I am so glad you have an answer!! I hope they are able to help you soonest.

Congrats on a diagnosis. I know what you mean. Finding something is better than finding nothing, but finding something serious sucks. Anyone I know who has had joint replacement is happy with the results. Some things are restricted, but who cares if the pain is gone. Gentle hugs.

I’ve had both of my hip replaced. It was immediate relief and hardly any down time. I was up and doing stairs the next day. The incision is the worse part.

I hate to suggest it, but just so no surprises, they might still have a weight requirement for hip replacement surgery... its important because risks of surgery and infection get significantly higher as BMI goes up.
Its like smoking, most surgeons want patients non smoking before and after to allow for healing, and if they cannot agree then they won't agree to operate. Of course emergency fractured hips get replaced, but honestly, complications are horrific. in 4 months nursing on orthopaedics and inpatient for 3 more i got to know so many people with some hard going complications, mostly wound breakdown and infection linked.

Make sure you take their advice, infection in post trauma hip surgery left my neighbour in severe pain for at least 4 yrs, hardly able to walk. They had the option to remove his hardware that had infection all around it, but he then had another 6 months of outpatient iV antibiotics before oral ones. Some of his issues were from an open contaminated wound, but he was also a smoker. He quit when they removed the hardware,

Sorry to suggest some potential bad news still incoming. The thrill of an diagnosis after years is awesome, took me 5 yrs to get a neurosurgeon say i had CRPS in my hip and leg. My local Drs had reached the point that my MRI had eventually become normal, so clearly there was no reason for my pain. I could have kissed the neurosurgeon finally be able to explain why and how my leg was still agonisingly painful.
Best of luck, like others have said, do lots of research, especially if they do create issues for you. 5 yrs is long enough to have suffered!

I’m so happy for you! Being validated is awesome

While it stinks you have this condition, I’m so relieved that they gave you a diagnosis!

Hopefully can be fixed by a hip arthroscopy. Is it both sides?

Glad you got a diagnosis.

I'm sorry that your hip is so fat progressed, but I'm glad that you have answers. Answers, good or bad at at least a way forward.

I don’t know what hospital you go to or if you live in a City or Out in the Country, but coming from a 4x cancer survivor, Research your hip options, and def def get a second or third opinion. Ind companies pay for this, and it’s encouraged. I went to a big city to get the finest care- it’s not that difficult to do this, I can help you with what steps you need to take ( first stop get your med records, everything you have now is in your MyChart from your hospital, and getting other Drs your records are so easy. I am a researcher and Thank God I found my Surgeon that not only saved me but gave me a good quality of life too. it did require me to relocate temporarily then unfortunately I had to move from the East Coast to the Midwest. please know you will have other options and know that in the medical world , the more a hospital does a procedure, the more knowledge they gain- so this is not the end all and don’t take it like that. I would help anyone research options and getting second and third opinions just let me know. God Bless just know there are other options .

I remember when a friend got double hip replacement surgery and afterwards admitted they hadn’t realized just how bad their pain truly was until it was gone. The silence was deafening outside of just regular surgery/healing pain. I hope your path to relief is a short one!

Research for your self treatment options. And research the dr before letting them touch you. Sounds like hip replacement is coming and I pray no more pain

Well, I'm sorry that you had to just find out that you have such a severe case after probably having suffered with it for years. I hope the surgery goes well and I'm also glad that you finally received a diagnosis.

r/hipimpingement

Dr. Google says you probably need a hip replacement

I'm so happy for you to have an answer

So glad you got a definitive diagnosis!! That’ll a huge part of the battle. Best of luck.