Alex W : Hip Arthroscopy, Femoroplasty, Hip Labrum Repair – Benedict Nwachukwu, MD, MBA | Hip, Knee & Shoulder Specialist | Orthopedic Surgeon

From COVID Runner to Marathon Runner

Alex Wu is an athlete who started running during COVID and ran her first marathon in 2020. In fact, before her injury, she was running 70 miles per week and had just qualified for the Boston Marathon.

First Signs of Trouble

About a year ago (Alex remembers one run in particular) where he was running, and suddenly experienced pain in his hip. It was a new and strange kind of pain that he had never experienced before. Over the next 2 months, the pain got worse.

Conflicting Advice from Doctors

Alex saw 3 or 4 orthopedic doctors for his hip pain, all of whom had different recommendations. A doctor said he should get steroid injections in his hip and undergo physical therapy. Another doctor recommended immediate surgery. Alex wasn’t happy with any of the advice he received, so he went to see Dr. Benedict Nwachukwu.

Voted for Dr. Nwachukwu

Alex has done his research! He scours the internet: reviews, blogs, and Reddit. Everywhere he turned, he found positive things people were saying about Dr. Nwachukwu and how he has achieved positive results, especially among athletes. Alex schedules a consultation. “I felt heard,” he told us. “Dr. Nwachukwu heard the struggles I was going through and sympathized with what I was going through.”

A Conservative Approach to Treating Hip Pain

Dr Nwachukwu spent time with Alex, discussing his symptoms, and performing additional tests. The advice is to be conservative: try physical therapy for a while and see what happens. Alex did exactly as Dr. Nwachukwu.

When Rest Isn’t Enough

However, after 3 months of inactivity, he felt very defeated. Not only could he not run, but he also could not sit for long periods of time. He couldn’t hang out with friends, sit at bars or eat dinner, and even had difficulty navigating the streets of New York City. “It wasn’t just running,” he explained, “I couldn’t do anything without hip pain.”

Moving on to Hip Surgery

Alex returns to Dr. Nwachukwu where they discuss surgical treatment options, expectations, and the recovery process.

“I was 27 years old and didn’t want to have hip surgery, but I realized I was running out of options,” Alex explains.

Day of Surgery

The day of the surgery was simple, he even rode his bicycle to the hospital. His friends and girlfriend picked him up and he began to recover. Shortly afterward, he returned to physical therapy.

Understanding Alex’s Condition

Dr Nwachukwu performed hip arthroscopy on his right hip. Alex has a hip condition that Dr. Nwachukwu which is called FAI (Femoroacetabular Impingement) with the specific type of impingement being CAM impingement. Alex also had a labral tear in his hip, a condition that causes instability and pain.

Hip Procedure Performed

Nwachukwu is best known for “Fixing hip pain” and his procedure for Alex included:

The Road to Recovery

The next 3 months after surgery were difficult and difficult for Alex. Alex had persistent hip pain for 3 months after surgery. The pain subsided a little and then disappeared over the next 3 months.

“I became depressed,” he admits. “My quality of life is not the same. I still have hip pain and I’ve almost given up on getting back to the way I was before my hip pain started.”

A Turning Point

Alex continues physical therapy. “At 6 months old, I reached a turning point,” Alex told us. “I finally feel better, my pain is reduced and I feel ready for serious rehab.”

Running Without Pain

During months 6-9, Alex felt like his body was finally recovering. At 9 months he was running without discomfort. “It was almost strange,” Alex explains, “to wait for my hip to hurt, but it didn’t.”

Return to Form

At 9-12 months, his running started to improve and he felt like “the old Alex”. He increased his workouts from 2 times a week to 3 times a week, and still feels great.

Marathon Return after Hip Surgery

One week before the anniversary of his hip surgery, he ran in the New York City Marathon. He said the entire week leading up to the race and getting to the start line felt surreal. Less than 6 months ago, he couldn’t walk without pain, and now he has the opportunity to return to the world’s largest marathon. He finished in 3:04 and was actually on pace for 2:50 and a personal record through mile 20 before his lack of training/fitness due to being out for surgery and rehab, caught up with him. He said that for most of those races, he was thrilled to be able to feel the adrenaline of racing again.

Words of Encouragement

Alex was happy to report that even after the marathon, his hips didn’t hurt.

Alex’s advice for other athletes facing hip surgery:

“HOLD IN! It’s hard and takes a long time to recover. I didn’t even feel better until after 6 months but then things got a lot better. Keep the faith, give it time, and don’t give up!”

Note from Dr. Nwachukwu:

It is not unusual for athletes to experience hip pain and FAI (Femoroacetabular Impingement). However, it is very important for these athletes to receive proper care and follow a patient-specific physical therapy routine. I have undergone extensive and specialized training in diagnosing and treating hip pain for athletes and non-athletes. I have also had very successful results for my patients in the United States and beyond.

Special thanks to Alex for sharing his story!