FAI Hip Impingement (Femoro-acetabular Impingement)

FAI Hip Impingement Awareness facts - It is estimated that approximately 15% of the young, adult population have hip impingement, so who do you know that might have it?
Hip impingement causes painful labral tears within the hip socket.
Hip FAI symptoms are misleading to the average medical professional, as FAI hip impingement pain frequently presents as low back pain and interesting only 10% of back pain is ever clinically diagnosed and cured... Which begs the question what percentage is actually caused by hip FAI or hip impingement, as its otherwise known.
The more active you are, the more likely you are to trigger hip impingement symptoms, so busy mums and gym bunnies beware... but at least you're in good company as many premiere league football players have also suffered FAI hip pain.
Hip impingement is diagnosed through x-ray and labral tears are diagnosed through MRI arthograms - but both need to be read by hip consultants specifically trained in FAI hip impingement.
There are 60,000 hip replacements every year in the UK and it now appears that FAI hip impingement, over the years, could be the leading cause of hip osteoarthritis. A silent epidemic.
Hip arthroscopy can reduce the hip impingement and reattach the torn labrum to the hip socket. This surgery can eliminate the pain and disability caused by FAI hip impingement and divert the need for hip replacement in later life.

Briefly I'm Louisa Weeks Browning and my personal FAI Hip Impingement story is ongoing and began way back in 2003, only getting diagnosed in 2009. My Hip Impingement story from 2003 is in the right margin below the home link.

Monday, 26 September 2011

Hip Arthroscopy FAI - campaign for UK NHS funding & Campaign for Aetna funding in the US

Hip arthroscopy is not yet funded by all PCT's nationwide in the UK. In the US there are also issues with Aetna refusing to fund Hip Arthroscopy. These two are huge issues for FAI patients in need of surgery.

There are two new campaign groups starting out on facebook, gathering patients together who are struggling with hip arthroscopy funding issues, whether in the UK or US.

These groups will allow people to meet and discuss their cases, compare notes and hopefully find a way ahead. For the UK campaign there is also a councillor who is looking to gather FAI sufferers together and launch an appeal with the NHS for funding for hip arthroscopys for FAI sufferers. Her details are on this site and she is hoping you will make contact with her and add weight to her argument. Also there is a surgeon becoming involved and keen to help with the lack of Nationwide NHS funding. There is also a petition available to sign.

The UK campaign is at facebook groups, type in: "Hip Arthroscopy FAI" - campaign for nationwide NHS funding in the UK.

The US campaign is at facebook groups, type in: "Hip Arthroscopy FAI" - campaign for Aetna funding.

Sorry I am unable to provide links, unfortunately facebook currently block links.

News in Dec 2011:
America:
Delighted one of the members of the facebook groups is doing brilliant work raising awareness over the Aetna row, please follow this link and joint the petition: Well done Ryan Herring Carroll! http://news.change.org/stories/why-im-asking-aetna-to-cover-my-surgery


UK: Bradford PCT will now fund hip Arthroscopy. However there are still many counties that don't... yet!

More brilliant news, I will quote Ryan here as a campaigner for FAI with Aetna:

Ryan Herring Carroll Aetna members... aetna just changed their policy!!! They now consider FAI surgery "medically necessary" if certain criteria are met. The petition campaigned I started on Change.org has recieved over 1000 signatures. In addition, I sent all of the research I had done to most major news outlets, TV shows, the American Medical Association, American Association for Ortgopedic Sugeons, senator, the governor, the Va Insurance Commision, etc. I also reminded Aetna of a similar law suit they were involved in back a few years ago. They "settled" in that situation, but in the settlement they outlined what the term "medically necessary" means. Anyway, Im so glad that everyone can have this now :)
Posted by at Monday, September 26, 2011
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2 comments:

  1. Hi, I am in the US. I have had undiagnosed hip pain in both hips for a year. Xrays, MRI and Blood work have been clean. I was wondering if I could chat with you for advice as it seems this could be what I have and I am super frustrated! christineflack@gmail.com
    THANK YOU!
    Christine

    ReplyDelete

  2. Drop me an email Christine and if I can help I will. I'm on louisa.w@virgin.net

    ReplyDelete

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