Hello - my daughter had bi-lateral SCFE starting at age 11. She was not overweight. Over the years, she had about 5 operations. The last was a hip replacement. I had to bully and beg the doctor to get it considered. It was the first time in 6 years she was able to walk without a limp! (She was 18 at the time.) It is very difficult to be fit when you have this problem. Some thoughts: get your orthopedic doctor to PRESCRIBE a trainer to help you get in shape -- see if insurance will cover this. Physical therapy is possible as well. Keep at your doctor and stand up for yourself. If you are not satisfied, look elsewhere. Do research on the net for ortho docs who specialize in this. Universities are good places to start. Pay out of your own pocket to see a Joint Replacement Specialist (an ortho who does difficult joint replacements that regular orthos won't do) in order to talk with someone about this option. I spent hundreds of hours researching this on the internet. Our pediatric ortho at Columbus Childrens Hospital(OH) told me my daughter would qualify for either replacement or joint fusion. Joint fusion? That's like putting cement in the joint -- it was not an option we would consider. As it happened, the specialist (Dr. Joel Politi also Columbus Area) said joint replacement was the only solution. Okay -- God bless you, keep up the fight -- it is frustrating to see how little info there is on the web to SHARE about this condition. You have pain -- this is a VALID problem that needs attention. Don't give up trying to find someone who can help you!
---- Annie Heminger