Hip Dysplasia

I am 32 and have just been diagnosed with congenital hip dysplasia with a labral tear on the left side. My surgeon is going to mend the tear using keyhole sugary. He says a hip replacement is only necessary if you have deterioration of the bone, which I don’t. I was first diagnosed (with the tear not the dysplasia) 5 years ago and despite now being on my firth opinion (!!!) have managed to control the pain until the last few months with regular physio and cacodamol. Sorry to report that there is no conclusive evidence to support the use of glucosamine, conjointine or MSM, but calcium supplements do help. For me the most helpful managing techniques:

1. Stay thin - I maintain a BMI of around 19, the heavier you are the more weight you put on the joint and the more wear and tear you cause
2. Stay hydrated - according to the arthritis association dehydration is really bad for weak joint so drink plenty of water
3. Keep moving – when you stop moving because of the pain the rest of your body will seize up causing pain elsewhere. I use a crutch to keep my back straight when I walk otherwise I hunch and my back a feet ache, I also do yoga when I can to keep the rest of me flexible
4. Keep good core stability – if you have good core stability your muscles will lift your body weight off your hips making walking much more comfortable, Pilates is good for this, speak to a good physio for advice
5. Take pain killers if you are in pain – my doctor had to drill in to me that pain is endemic and had to be managed properly. I manage the pain to the point of discomfort, that is to say am not in agony, but I am not comfortable either, this way I can feel if I am overdoing it

I hope this is helpful, it is interesting to note that we are all mostly in our 30’s. I feel really empowered that I am not the only one experiencing this problem. I have been told that pregnancy will be difficult but not impossible, though I will need a c-section, I had previously been told it may not be possible so I empathies with the lady in her 20’s – perhaps you could ask your specialist again? Thank you all for your posts, it has been really helpful!

Hello all... I am 29 years old and feel for all of you. I too have problems with my hips and seen many doctors who basically told me that my pain was all in my head. I never had any problems till 2002 when I was in a car accident and shoved my knees and hips in to the dash board. I went round and round with many doctors. Ive had so many Xrays sometimes I think I can glow in the dark. Iv done cortizone shots, novicaine shots, anit-inflamitories, pain meds, pain management drugs, heberal supplements and anything else you can think of to help with my comfort levels. I was told that i have hip dysplasia in both hips but worse in the left, which is weird since all most all my pain is in my right hip. Right now Im in the process of working with a new doctor who says on top of the dysplasia I have a laberal tears. Were gonna go throught all the painful steps and procedures all over again but this new doctor thinks he can help. My doctor suggested some new things I havent tried like shots of litocaine in my hip socket to help with pain since cortizone didnt help me. Ive learned somethings over the past 8-9 years dealing with this pain. First is to never give up on trying to get better and be free of pain. To make sure you can find out as much information about the problem. If one doctor wont help theres a million out there that will and always get a second opinion. The one thing thats has helped me with some of the pain is making sure I stay in shape. If I cant go to the gym to do weights or cartio I will go walk around in the pool and try to swim a little. Making sure the muscles around my hip, lower back and butt are strong. It seems to lessen the presure pain I feel in my bones. I wish you all good luck and hope I may of given someone a little help in dealing with this crappy condition. GOOD LUCK!!!

My daughter was diagnosted with DDH at birth. We have gone through the plavik (the soft harness) the closed reduction with a spica cast for 3 months. neither of those worked. We are now facing surgery to try and get the hip bone to stay in. I was reading u girls post, and some of u have had all the surgeries and are no better off than the ones who haven't. I'm having a really hard time agreeing to have her go through the surgery, casting again for 4 months, and developmental delay, and it all be in vain. (she's only 13 months). What is ur recomendation, -honestly- especially the ones who have had the surgery. is it worth it? would u wait. she is in no pain at this point. if she was in pain, there would be no question about doing it. i really appreciate ur responses. thank you in advance.
Kendra's mommy

Hi Kendra's Mommy,

I just wanted to let you know about my experience. I had the surgery at about 20 months old for hip dysplasia. I literally lived my entire life until about the age of 30 without a single problem after the surgery. I was a very active child and an athlete in many sports in high school. I continued to be very active through college. I had my daughter when I was 27 with no problems. At about 30, I started to experience light pain and stiffness in my hip (I have gained a lot of weight and I'm sure this didn't help). I have been losing range of motion and put off going to the doctor. I was sledding last month with my daughter and hurt my hip (same hip that had dysplasia) by pulling it too far in the direction it doesn't want to go now. After seeking medical attention for what I thought was probably a soft tissue injury, I was told that I have severe arthritis in my hip. I have been told to manage the pain as long as possible and that a total hip replacement will be necessary at some point. I have gone through a range of emotions after hearing the news. Besides the scars down my thigh, I literally never thought about my hip my entire life until now. I have been reading up on hip dysplasia to see how the surgery affected the current state of my hip. I have read that most people do well after the surgery. I think that arthritis is a common issue after the surgery due to the trauma to the hip or placement of the hip. Even if your daughter has to deal with arthritis down the road and possibly hip replacement, it is probably worth it to try to give her the chance to be as active as I was. I know it must be terribly painful to make such a major decision for your daughter. When I recently told my parents about my hip problems, they were in tears and just seemed so traumatized as they told me the stories of dealing with my surgery as a baby. I hope that all goes well for you and your daugther. My prayers are with you.

Hiya, Im 31 and I was diagnosed with developmental hip dysplasia a year ago, i have clicky hips, and very sore muscles. I used to have cortisone injections but have now stopped as they weaken the bones. i am on naprozen 500mg and take them most days.

I have finally been referred to a consultant and I will be having a 'hip resurfacing operation, not hip replacements as they break within 5 years. For years and years I have been in pain and i was never diagnosed. I also have illio psoas bursitis which is what i was diagnosed with first.

I have been told that there is a way and it is to have the hips resurfaced, I am on the waiting list - and cannot wait for this op as the pain is unbearable and I feel my life is on hold, i cont have children as my hips are too weak. I would speak to a consultant and seek a 2nd opinion. I am now registering disabled as i cont walk properly. hope this helps someone. :-)

I would like to tell you all is not lost! I had dysplasia when I was 11 I had the first hip done (pins put in then removed) and the other when I was 13.   There are many other options - get other opinions - I am forty and was told at age 11 I would have to have my hips replaced - GREAT news there are other possiblities if you are a candidate!!!! You might need to see a specialist with HIP Arthroscopy - there are very few surgeons in orthapedics who do this because it is a fairly new surgery - much less recovery and you don't have your hip replaced initally!! One such specialist is in NYC named Dr. Brian Kelly. 

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You have to be aggressive with your patient rights - most surgeons take the easy way out and go with total hip replacement 1st.  If Dr. Kelly is too far there are a few other surgeons in the states who can help you out.  Good luck!

Thank you for your help! its good to know someone understands.  I will have a look at the website for Dr Brian Kelly, Although I am based in the UK - Its def worth looking.  Once again thanks  :)

 Hi, I am 32 years old.  I have bilateral dysplasia of the hips.  It was misdiagnosed at birth and not picked until I was 5/6 years old.  I had pelvic osteotomy on both hips when I was 15 years old.  Unfortunately, they were not successful and at 25 years old I had a total hip replacement which changed my life.  I am now walking unaided and pain is not as bad.  The other side needs doing but while I am working and trying to enjoy life I hoping it will last another couple of years.

I would love to chat to anyone else with same condition.

 

Helen

Hi, I am 56 and just had an arthroscopic repair of labral tear 8 weeks ago...slow recovery, still can't get through a whole day without crutches and or lying down.  The surgeon also diagnosed me with mild hip dysplasia and says the surgery probably won't get rid of all my pain.  He also said there is no sign of arthritis in the hip he did surgery on.  My question is, what is actually causing the pain in hip dysplasia?  Have any of you ever had a doctor explain this to you?? 

Jo

 

Hi Kendra's Mommy,

My daughter is almost 10 months old and has bi-lateral hip dysplasia. She wore the pavlic harness and it didn't work. They now want to do surgery and I really don't want to do it. It sounds as if I do she will still have the same problems as people who have surgery. I really just don't know what to do and want the best for her. Anyone have suggestions please let me know.

Thanks!

Vada's Mommy

Vada's Mommy,

I am so sorry to hear about your little girl.  I just want to let you know how grateful that I am that my parents pursued surgery to correct my hip dysplasia when I was still a baby.  I was told by my surgeon that I am lucky that they corrected it when I was young and had such a great childhood and active young adulthood.  I don't remember the surgeries and never thought anything about my hip growing up.  I was extremely active... gymnastics, cheerleading, baseketball, swim team & even track team.  I can't imagine how things would have been different for me as a child if my parents hadn't followed the advise of the surgeon.  I do have hip pain now for the first time in my 30's and will eventually have to have a total hip replacement.  But, with technology being what it is and access to wonderful medical care here in GA (Emory Joint Hosp.) , I am confident, that all will go well and the results will be amazing.  I have an uncle who had the surgery on both hips and he is very active and says that it was wonderful to wake up from the surgery with no pain.  I bet when your little girl is older and possibly needs additional care, there will be incredible improvements to hip surgery and it may be even easier for her.  I wish you the best and will pray for you and your daughter.

Thank you for such a quick reply! Because of the advancements in technology is the reason I wonder if I should go thru with any surgerys now. We went to University of Michigan and the doctor had said Vada will have no problems until she's an adult. Also if we do the surgery now, there is only a 50% chance of correction and then she would have to go thru it all again at 3 years old. I just read all these stories of babies that have the surgery and still have all the symtoms later which sounds as if I were to do nothing, it would be the same outcome. I am really having a hard time deciding. I want what is best for my little girl!

I am a 16 year old young women. Even though I do not have hip dysplasia, I have slipped/broken both of my hips at the age of 13. I have dealt with having 3 surgeries. The best thing I can tell you is what many doctors have told me is to swim, bike ride, and walk. Swimming helps build up the strength in your hips, so after a pro-long time of doing this, your hips will be able to handle alot more with your dysplasia. Bike riding is easier for most seasons, it helps moves the hips and hip muscles to handle more durability. It's all about doing excercises to help your hips handle more. But the best thing you could ever do is talk to your doctor and see about physical therapy, now it is different from a history of broken hips and having equipment in them, but physical therapy can help you soo much! I hope this helps!

Thank you for your comment Mick! We have, for now, decided to put off surgery due to hearing too many stories. My daughter is 1 1/2 now, and it's hard to say that we don't want it, we def. want what is best for her and I'm not sure that surgery after surger after surgery leading to a hip replacement in the long run doesn't seem like the best choice. I wish I had more parents to talk to that have dealt with this. But thanks again and good luck with your hips!

You can go to Yahoo groups and find lots of other parents to talk to. Just go to Yahoo Groups, search Hip Displasia and maybe the word parents. Good luck. I am still putting off hip replacement and am still SO grateful that my parents fixed my hip when I was about 20 months old. I had a wonderful childhood. I was very athletic from the time I was a young child until my thirties. So glad I had that long stretch of great health and activity. I never had any revision surgeries or any treatment. My hip is worn out now from so many wonderful years of activity. I will be glad to get the hip replacement in the next few years and will get back to running and playing with my daughter. I get along fine now. I'm just a little slower than I used to be.