Blues forward Paul Kariya just wrapped up a short press conference concerning his hip. Here’s a transcript of the Q&A:

Q: What was it like to hear what was wrong with your hip and that you would need surgery?

A: “Well, it was disappointing. Obviously I felt through the last couple of weeks - I was skating - and I felt everyday was getting better and feeling better. When I skated with the guys, I knew something was wrong and I wasn’t able to (practice). It’s good in one way that we know something has to be taken care of. I’m confident that when it’s taken care of, I’ll get back to 100 percent.”

Q: Were you losing patience?

A: “No, I felt like I was getting better. Everything settled down and then we started strengthening it, doing some weight training and some core work off the ice. I got on the ice a couple of weeks ago and skated six times on my own . . . felt really good. But it’s different when you’re skating by yourself and then you go out and skate with the guys and you have to react to things. You realize something is not operating right.”

Q: When you left that practice last week, could you tell it was a different injury in the hip that was bothering you?

A: “No, the pain generally had been in the hip area, but like JD has said, there’s two injuries there and it was tough to differentiate between one and the other and what was giving me the pain. . . . They’re in the same area and as an athlete, to try and figure out what’s hurting you when they’re inches apart, it’s difficult.”

Q: Do you think you’ll be able to play this year?

A: “I don’t know. At this point, we’re going to get a second opinion and just make sure everyone is on the same page. Once they go in and take a look at it, we’ll get a better idea of what the time line is going to be.”

Q: Was surgery ever in your mind?

A: “As an athlete, surgery is always the last option. Let the body heal naturally. I thought it was along that path and going the right direction. At this point, it’s got to be done.”

Q: Is there some relief that you know now what it is and that it can be taken care of?

A: “A little bit. Obviously the main feeling right now is disappointment and not being able to help the team win games. But yeah, to be able to get it done and resolved completely, and get back to 100 percent, is the most important thing.”

Q: Do you think both injuries (the torn muscle fibers and the joint/labrum injury) were there all along, or do you think your recent activity set off the second one?

A: “Both injuries were there all along. But it’s hard to say if what I was doing was aggravating it or making it worse. They were both there, but the muscle pull off the bone was something that had to heal first to know exactly what was going on.”

Q: What are doctors specifically calling the second injury?

A: “Again, the doctors don’t know 100 percent. There’s a hip issue involved with the joint issue itself and also a muscle issue, but until they go in their with the scope, they’re not going to know what the scope of the injury is. . . . (but) it’s a labral problem in the hip itself.”

Q: What is the pain like?
A: “It’s hard to say. It’s kind of like a bad toote ache in your hip. It doesn’t go away.”

Q: When do you feel the pain?

A: Tying your shoes, or basically anytime . . . If I’m standing here, it doesn’t feel great, but it’s not the end of the world. But if I get down low into a skating motion where you’re hip is at a certain angle, then it starts to hurt.”

Q: Is this injury basically from the wear and tear of playing hockey?

A: “Again, I’m not a doctor, but certainly 14 years in the NHL, you’re going to get your bumps and bruises. But you really don’t know what’s what until they go in there?

Q: Have you decided when and wear on surgery?

A: “No.”

Q: Do you want to get it done as quickly as possible?

A: “Obviously as quick as possible would be terrific, but we want to make sure that . . . anytime you’re having surgery . . . you want to have second and third opinion and make sure everyone is on the right page, and then go from there.”

Q: You’re expected to be 100 percent after the surgery, but what are your thoughts on whether this injury is career threatening?
A: “I’m confident I’ll come back 100 percent. I think I’ll come back better than ever. If this was something that was in (the hip) for a while, I think (surgery) will help me if anything.”

Q: What caused you to return to St. Louis from Anaheim on Nov. 5, when you left the game?

A: “At the time, I had been playing with a bad foot. I knew I did something to my hip, but I just thought it was a strain and would heal pretty quick. Back then, I was like, ‘We might as well use this time to check out what’s going on with the foot and let it heal a little bit. I think I skated three times - Chicago, Buffalo and here - and at that time I couldn’t even lift my leg. That’s when we had the MRI done on the hip.”

Q: Could this have been affecting you last season?

A: “They don’t know until they get in there, but part of the actual hip problem is not something that happens just like that. I was able to play and play well, so it wasn’t to the extent that it is now.”

Q: Is there anyway they could have found it earlier to have done this operation intially?

A: No, everything was done correctly. They saw the labral issue when they saw the quad strain off the bone. But we wouldn’t have been able to do anything at that time, and I wouldn’t have allowed them to do anything with that injury there. The muscular injury had to heal and tap down before you can even think about doing anything else.”

Q: Are you frustrated, though, that the second injury wasn’t detected?
A: “It was detected. The injury was detected . . .”

Q: You said you don’t have a date yet when you’ll have surgery but do you have a timetable of when you’ll decide?

A: “With the holidays right now, it’s tough to get a hold of some of the doctors, but hopefully in the next couple of weeks.”

Q: When are you going to get a second and third opinion?

A: “In the next couple of weeks.”

JR