Surgery on schedule

Where we last left off, my spinal MRI came back normal and healthy, meaning that a compressed disk or other spinal source wasn't causing my pain. It was a rule-out before scheduling surgery. Once my doctor got those results, he called me to recommend surgery to repair my torn hip labrum.

In the days between getting my MRI results and my doctor's phone call, I'd done some research. I know the surgery is elective, and I've read or heard about plenty of runners who pass on the surgery and manage the pain by activity modification, physical therapy, and medication or steroid injections. And I guess if only running was at stake, I could consider that. But I feel this tear during activities of daily living, and I just can't imagine being in pain for the rest of my life. Plus, the reasonable level of pain I'm feeling right now (able to work, walk, even run short distances) is while taking gabapentin, and I'm not comfortable with taking medication every day for something like this.
I did some literature searches on PubMed, and could not find any conclusive data about degeneration of the hip following a torn labrum. But I'm still concerned that the tear is the first step in cartilage breakdown, and puts me at risk for (at a minimum) arthritis and (worst-case scenario) total hip. My doctor doesn't agree with this view, and it's true that there isn't substantial data to prove my argument, but sometimes the meta-analysis hasn't been done or the studies just aren't there. Sometimes you have to base your conclusions off of your prior knowledge. I know the function of the hip labrum, so I am concerned that leaving it alone will lead to more damage.*
I agreed to the surgery.

Right now, I have very little info on the whole process. I'm not meeting my doctor for a pre-op visit until the day before surgery (I know, great planning) right before I see anesthesiology. I have a date scheduled - June 12th - and I got coverage for work, which is the most important thing. I'm trying to go back to work pretty early, but a lot is still up in the air. Once work settles down (handling a big corporate project right now, without ANY extra hours or support) I can, you know, handle my own health. But at least I have a plan!

*There is actually reason to believe that labral surgery can lead to hip degeneration, especially if the torn part of the labrum is removed, rather than repaired. Lots of conflicting info on this topic.