Hello everyone,

I am new to this forum and so thankful to find it!

Briefly, I am still trying to get a diagnosis for my pain in the butt/hip/groin. I did a long-distance triathlon, now 4 years ago, and still don't have a diagnosis.

Have just had the low back ruled out as the culprit for the origination of pain. Piriformis syndrome has also been ruled out. In addition to all of the orthos who have no answers, I've been to PT, extensive (and EXPENSIVE) myofascial release, Rolfing, acupuncture, yoga (which only makes it worse, stretching seems to aggravate it a LOT), chiropractic, etc, etc.

My spine surgeon suspects hip involvement, possibly labral tear, so I have set up a consult and testing with Geoffrey Westrich in New York at Hospital for Special Surgeries. My question is has anyone here been to him? I've seen him on the internet a lot...and my interaction with he and his office have been spectacular (he even answered an email personally). They are very accommodating to out of towners, helping with travel logistics, etc.

I am SO HOPING for a diagnosis here! That has been the single-most frustrating thing, the not knowing. Labral tear makes 100% sense to me.

I would also love to hear from anyone about their experience with the surgery, recovery, etc. Any words of advice, I want to hear it all.

Thank you :-)

Tracey in California

-- Tracey in California (tkuhlin@earthlink.net), July 22, 2004

Answers

Tracey,

I am a patient of Dr. Westrich and although a great surgeon, his staff can be difficult to deal with and the estimate I was provided for the total cost of surgery was 40% of what it actually amounted to. Just a warning.

-- Lou (lullmark@hotmail.com), September 21, 2004.

Tracey,

I am a post-operative patient of Dr. Mathias Bostrom, also of HSS. About two weeks ago I returned from a cruise vacation with a lot of pain. Unfortunately, Dr. Bostrom was away, but his nurse arranged for me to come in right away, without an appointment, and it was Dr. Westrich who saw me.

This was my only experience with him, but he was very attentive and accomodating. He was also very thorough, ordering x-rays, an aspiration (to check for infection, which I have a history of) and bloodwork. I felt totally comfortable with him and he did prescribe an anti-inflammatory which helped with the pain, until I was about to see my surgeon.

From my dealings with him, I think you should be in good hands.

-- Audra L. Coulthurst (alc129@aol.com), November 16, 2004.