Unstable knee with grating clicking noise

[bikelet]

Hey sorry to hijack this post...Physio Dace
just realised that i may have FAI- I don't have bad pain but sometimes my hips just need to crack (which sometimes is painful, sometimes not). If i flex the hip and then do a hip circle, there is a major clunk and it usually hurts (depends on exact body position and certain days). If i try to do a piriformis stretch lying on my back i feel pain in the hip join (left more than right) and i feel that my hip is mechanically restricted in this movement. I can do a piriformis stretch seated and i do it especially for the left side as in the past i have had some issues with sciatica in that leg. Would you think it might be FAI, if so what should i do? I am only young and don't really want an op as it doesn't restrict me that much at the present time

[Physio Dace]

Bikelet,

Well I guess the most important fact is that it doesn't limit you too much - so you may not want to rush out too quickly for investigations etc. Without examining and asking a few hundred Q's I cannot answer your question in confidence.

My first suggestion then would be to get an assessment by a physio with a hip pathology in mind and if there's any clinical suggestion of FAI then a follow-up xray would be indicated and help differnetial diagnosis. A few surgeons in Australia are now having excellent success with a mini-incision and arthroscopically corrected Cam/Pincer/both FAI particularly if the hip joint itself is still reasonably well preserved (mild OA only) - thus early detection can be very useful.

Good luck.