From COVID Runner to Marathoner
Alex Wu is an athlete who began running during COVID and ran his first marathon in 2020.. In fact, before his injury, he was running 70 miles per week and had just qualified for the Boston Marathon.
The First Signs of Trouble
Just about a year ago (Alex remembered one run specifically) where he was running, and suddenly experienced pain in his hip. It was a new, odd type of pain that he had never experienced before. Over the next 2 months, the pain worsened.
Conflicting Advice from Doctors
Alex saw 3 or 4 orthopedic doctors for his hip pain, all who had different recommendations. One doctor said he should have a steroid shot in his hip and physical therapy. Another doctor advised immediate surgery. Alex didn’t feel great about any of the suggestions he was receiving so he went to see Dr. Benedict Nwachukwu.
Choosing Dr. Nwachukwu
Alex had done his research! He scoured the internet: reviews, blogs and Reddit. Everywhere he turned, he found positive things people were saying about Dr. Nwachukwu and how he had positive outcomes, especially with athletes. Alex scheduled a consultation. “I felt listened to,” he told us. “Dr. Nwachukwu heard the struggle I was having and was sympathetic to what I was going through.”
A Conservative Approach for Treating Hip Pain
Dr. Nwachukwu spent time with Alex, discussed his symptoms, and did additional testing. His advice was to be conservative: try physical therapy for a while and see what happened. Alex did exactly what Dr. Nwachukwu suggested.
When Rest Wasn’t Enough
However, after 3 months of inactivity, he was feeling pretty defeated. Not only could he not run, but he also couldn’t sit for long periods of time. He was unable to hang out with friends, sit at a bar or at dinner, it was even difficult to navigate the streets of New York City. “It wasn’t just the running,” he explained, “I couldn’t do anything without hip pain.”
Turning to Hip Surgery
Alex returned to Dr. Nwachukwu where they talked over his surgical treatment options, expectations, and recovery process.
“I was 27-years-old and didn’t want to have hip surgery, but I realized I was out of options,” Alex explains.
The Day of Surgery
The day of his surgery was simple, he even rode his bike to the hospital. His friend and girlfriend picked him up and he began his recovery. Shortly after, he went back to physical therapy.
Understanding Alex’s Condition
Dr. Nwachukwu performed a hip arthroscopy on his right hip. Alex had a hip condition that Dr. Nwachukwu is very familiar with called FAI (Femoroacetabular Impingement) with his specific type of impingement being CAM impingement. Alex also had a labral tear in his hip, a condition that causes instability and pain.
The Hip Procedures Performed
Dr. Nwachukwu is well known for “Fixing hip pain” and his procedures for Alex included:
- Hip Arthroscopy: Dr. Nwachukwu prefers to do postless hip arthroscopy for his patients.
- Labral Repair: Done to repair a torn hip labrum
- Femoroplasty Done to correct Alex’s CAM Impingement: a type of FAI
The Road to Recovery
The next 3 months after surgery were rocky and difficult for Alex. Alex had constant hip pain during those 3 months following surgery. The pain relented slightly and was then off and on for the next 3 months.
“I was getting depressed,” he admitted. “My quality of life was not the same. I was still having hip pain and I had just about given up on ever getting back to the level I was at before my hip pain began.”
A Turning Point
Alex continued physical therapy. “At 6 months, I hit a turning point,” Alex told us. “I was finally feeling better, had less pain and felt like I was ready to do serious rehab.”
Running Without Pain
During months 6-9, Alex felt like his body was finally coming around. At month 9 he was running without any discomfort. “It was almost strange,” Alex explained, “waiting for my hip to hurt, but it didn’t.”
Returning to Form
At months 9-12 his running took off and he was feeling like the “old Alex.” He increased his training from 2-times a week to 3-times a week, and still felt great.
A Marathon Comeback after Hip Surgery
One week before the anniversary of his hip surgery, he ran the New York City Marathon. He said the whole week leading up to the race and toeing the start line felt surreal. Less than 6 months ago, he couldn’t walk without pain, and now he had the chance to be racing the biggest marathon in the world again. He finished in 3:04 and was actually on pace for a 2:50 and a personal record through mile 20 before his lack of training/fitness from being out for surgery and rehab, caught up to him. He said that for most of that race, he was thrilled to feel the rush and adrenaline of racing again.
Words of Encouragement
Alex was delighted to report that even after the marathon, his hips didn’t hurt.
Alex’s advice for other athletes facing hip surgery:
“HANG IN THERE! It’s tough and it takes a long time to recover. I didn’t even feel better until after the 6-month mark but then everything got remarkably better. Keep the faith, give it time, and don’t give up!”
A Note from Dr. Nwachukwu:
It’s not unusual for athletes to experience hip pain and FAI (Femoroacetabular Impingement). It is imperative, however, that these athletes receive appropriate care and follow a patient-specific physical therapy routine. I’ve had extensive, specialized training in diagnosing and treating hip pain for athletes and non-athletes alike. I’ve also had extremely successful outcomes for my patients in and around the United States.
Special thanks to Alex for sharing his story!