For heaven's sake please get some other opinions, search the net for information on how long a hip replacement is expected to last, on whether there are alternatives etc etc, you are way too young & I know this because of peple I have met where hip replacements were botched, done on people too young & then done again & then well they're still young but their hips aren't.

Also check natural alternatives on the net etc. Also I was told at 45 that I needed knee replacements but that they do not like to do them on anyone that young!!!!!! Which makes me wonder why you have to have a hip replacement whic is way worse!!!!! & you're way younger.

This is for purple 333. I have legg perthes in my left hip and do not have any cartilage in my hip due to the disease. My doctor told me that I could lose my leg if I don't have the surgery. My bursa is rolled up like a taco and has to be fixed. You mentioned other treatments, do you have any info. For me? Thanks

Specific info re alternatives no, I don't but I would suggest that you look in the phone book for practitioners of natural healing like, accupuncture, naturopathy, homeopathy (i know these ones aren't likely to help but they may know of what could & know of appropriate practitioners to contact) - anyway it's worth checking into before you have surgery rather than finding out afterwards.

I do know that re pain & healing afterwards (even now for that matter) you should take calcium tablets, sam-e tablets (400mg probably best) & a combination tablet of glucosamine & chondroitin 650-1000mg of each per tablet, twice a day). You can also check these out on the net & check out other natural healing treatments & pain killers via a search engiine like google or yahoo.

Good luck but please do look into the possibility of alternatives. Even if you do need the surgery some alternative therapy may put it off abit & therefore give you more time befoer it has to be redone (which given your age is highly likely) or the alternative therapy may help it heal better afterwards.

There's a homeopathic dr who posts on this ehealth go to the forum for suggestions for new topics (right at the bottom of the forum page & there's a post alternative medicine - it's his & he gives his contact details - he's in india (i believe from memory) but he seems very knowledgeable so if youy can't find anything in your phone book he may be of help.

Hiya meg i'm 24 and i've just had my hip done about a month ago I was born without a hip socket there is pain but u get lots of pain relieve ie: hepidural (hope thats the right spelling ) lol
anyway a month on im not taking any pain killers just lots a nd lots of physiotherapy




kerry

Hi meg....I am 24 and had a hip replacement in november of last year. I just stumbled across you post was wondering how you are doing. I also had legg perthes. I would love to hear an update.

Hi holly, everything seems to be going as planned. You know how it is dealing with insurance companies and all. I love that the majority of the time you have a high school dropout that works for the insurance company dictating what your doctor can do for you!!!! So, I am still waiting for surgery. How did you deal with your hip replacement? I am still a little scared about it, mainly with the pain after. Could you share your experience (good and bad)? My doctor wants me to come in for a cortizone injection to help with the pain until I have surgery. He's hoping to do the surgery sometime around the first week of july. Did you ever have one of those shots ? I will keep you posted & thanks for your reply.
Meg

Hi, well to be honest I don't know a lot about dealing with insurance companies. Being from canada I really don't have to worry about that, it is all covered automatically. One good thing about being a canadian. Lol
i did have to wait 8 months for my surgery after waiting to go ahead with the surgery though due to waiting lists. I have yet to talk to a young person who had legg perthes and is getting a hip replacement so I excited about talking with you. I have never had a cortizone injection.
Before the surgery I was in a lot of pain and had lost almost all mobility in my hip. I have gained alot of movement since the surgery but can still not bend my hip all the way and probably will never be able to....Due to muscle issues of course. I would say that the first 3 weeks were to worst.....It is a lot of pain but so well worth it. I still limp but again that is because of the muscles being so damaged over the years. My pain is pretty much gone.....Although I am still mildly limited. I did alot of physio and would reccommend that you really keep up the excercises when the time comes. What treatment did you receive for your perthes? I look forward to hearing from you again!

As for treatments, I only had to wear a brace that was god awful. I had your standard x-rays and scans, but no surgery. It took over a year for the doctors to diagnose me. My mother kept pushing that I had legg perthes because my father had it also. They kept telling her that it was not hereditary. By the time they agreed with my mother, it was too late for anything good to be done. My only option was the abduction brace, which was made out of leather and metal. I suppose it could have helped, but it was always breaking on me. Now that I have a child, I am real leary about her having it. I was told when I was pregnant that if the baby was a boy that he would definitely have legg perthes. Thank god she's a girl, less likey to have it from what I have been told. There are still some doctors out there that believe it is not hereditary, but I have been apart of research studies that prove otherwise. What kind of treatment did you endure and how old were you when you were diagnosed. I was seven and presented with a limp without any pain. I look foreward to your response :d

I started having pain at 11. I was diagnosed at 12 and had 2 surgeries. They put a plate in the bone that only made things worse. The following summer a new dr took the plate out, put me in traction for 2 weeks then put me in bilateral casts. By then it was to late though. I have pretty much been living in pain ever since. I have two daughters and also hope not to see any signs. I believe that this disease is hereditary. My cousin had it 6 years before I did when he was 5. He was treated with the bilateral casts and the last I heard he was still pain free. I am so happy to have had my hip replacement. I just hope to get many years out of it!

How tough has it been taking care of your daughters since your surgery? Mine will be 3 next month, and I am so scared that I won't be able to care for her like I have. My parents are awsome, they have helped me since the beginning. I hate putting that kind of responsibility on them. How long were you in the hospital ? Did you have to go to a rehab center afterwards? I was told that depending on how I do after surgery will determine if I have to go and stay at a rehab facility. I really do not want to do that!!! I am so glad that I have you to talk to about all this, nobody can really understand unless you have been through it. Thanks for all your information.

Hey this is weird because I already answered your last post but my reply hasn't shown up on here.
Oh well, I will write a new one.
i went into the hospital on a thursday and was released the following tuesday. When I got home my kids were at their grandparents (where they stayed for 2 weeks). My husband was off to work everyday but I was fine on my own during the day. As long as you have things set up properly you shouldn't have any problems. I can't understand why they would send you to a rehab center! Once my kids came home they were really good. We prepared them to be careful and that I would be very sore. Seeing as yours is a little younger it may be harder for her though. (mine were 4 and 6 at the time of surgery). Don't feel bad about asking for help, you will need it and I am sure your loved ones will understand.
talk to you later

I've already informed my doctor that I will not be going to any kind of rehab place. I think it is all for the money. Anyway, I will find out on tues. The 22nd for sure when it will be done. You know, one minute I am fine with the thought of having the surgery just to get rid of this god awful pain, but then, the reality of it all sinks in and I get sick to my stomach. I am also scared about what kind of work I will be able to do after. It took me 6 years to get my nursing degree, and I do not want to give that up!!!! I work in labor & delivery and you are constantly moving. I have been on medical leave for a few months now and I cannot wait to get back to work. My doctor told me that I could return to the same job after 3 months. I am kind of leary with all of the restrictions with bending and all. Have you returned to work yet?

Hello, so how did everything go on tuesday? I hope all is well! I know what you mean about the reality setting in and trying to be ok with it. I would break down every so often....Then be ok for awhile. Before I went into the or I was sitting the the little waiting room with all the patients waiting to go in for surgery. I was sitting in this chair with my feet up wrapped in a warm blanket.....And I was the only one there sobbing. I was so scared but it all worked out ok. Since the surgery I have opened up my own dayhome and am doing that for work. I am able to do only physical things that I can handle and don't have to be so worried. I would be a little nervous about going back to nursing after 3 months....But you will know if you are ready. I am so envious of you that you are a nurse in labour and delivery. I understand that it is super demanding but I would love being able to do that job. I hope you are able to return to it soon. I look forward to hearing from you.

Everything went great on tues. My doctor told me that I may not have to have a hip replcement afterall. He reviewed my arthrogram reports and it showed that I have a 4cm tear in my labral cartilage. I'm not out of the woods just yet, but man, was I happy . I should find out for sure next week. My doctor was getting with another doc at the mayo clinic to see what would be the best treatment. There was mention of hip arthroscopy, so maybe that is all I will have to endure. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I will keep you updated when I find out anyhting. I have been dealing with this for over 7 months and I can't believe that the other doctors couldn't figure this out. I guess not all doctors care about their patients, but they sure do care about the money!!! Take care and I will talk to you soon.