I just got back from seeing my orthopedic surgeon, and he said that there are not that many differences between the symptoms of a hip labral tear and a hip flexor strain, and only a MRI is definitive. Because an MRI is expensive, I would like to make sure this is true. I originally hurt my hip flexor from reaching for a ball while lifting my leg in soccer in early May 08. It doesn't hurt to run, but when I do any leg lift movements especially bringing my knee towards my chest, it starts hurting, but when I stretch it by bringing my knee to my chest and holding it, it immediately goes away. Also, when I wrap my hip flexor with ace wrap, I can play soccer with absolutely no pain while slide tackling and lifting my leg--it is only tight sometimes but no pain. My main concern that it is a labral tear is that there was a sort of popping sensation immediately before it started hurting, but that never happens when I wrap my hip. Does this sound more like a hip flexor strain or a labral tear? If it is a hip flexor strain how long do you think it will recover, and is it ok to run with a wrap if there is no pain?
Thanks