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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffWhile you may initially consult your family physician, he or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in hip disorders or sports medicine.
What you can do
You may want to write a list that includes:
- A detailed description of your symptoms
- Information about any medical problems you've had
- Information about the medical problems of your parents or siblings
- All of the medications and dietary supplements you take
- Questions you want to ask the doctor
Because your time with your doctor may be limited, it's a good idea to prepare your questions ahead of time. For a hip labral tear, some questions you might want to ask include:
- What caused this to happen?
- Do I need any tests to confirm that I have a hip labral tear?
- What treatments are available?
- How long do I need to wait before having surgery?
- What types of surgery can be performed?
- What are the risks of surgery?
- What will happen if I don't have surgery?
- What kind of recovery period is needed after surgery?
- Will I need physical therapy after surgery?
- How long will my activity be restricted?
- Can I play sports again?
- How can I prevent another injury from occurring?
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor may ask:
- Where exactly does it hurt?
- When did the pain start?
- Did anything precipitate it?
- Does any action make the pain better or worse?
During the physical exam, your doctor will move your leg, and especially your hip joint, around in various positions to check for pain and evaluate your hip's range of motion. He or she may also want to watch you walk. Your doctor may also check the musculoskeletal and neurological health of your hip joint and leg by testing your:
- Reflexes
- Muscle strength
- Muscle tone
- Sensation
- Coordination
- Balance
- DeLee JC, et al. Delee & Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Principles and Practice. 3rd. ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?sid=1114018653&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3143-7..00021-X--s0040&isbn=978-1-4160-3143-7&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3143-7..00021-X--s0540&uniqId=234934476-3#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3143-7..00021-X--s0540. Accessed Feb. 5, 2011.
- Groh MM. A comprehensive review of hip labral tears. Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine. 2009;2:105.
- Bharam S. Labral tears, extra-articular injuries, and hip arthroscopy in the athlete. Clinics in Sports Medicine. 2006;25:279.
- Kovacevic D, et al. Injuries about the hip in the adolescent athlete. Sports Medicine Arthroscopy Review 2011;19:64.
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