Hey, what kind of hip problem do you have? I was born with legg calve perthes, and I am also waiting for surgery. Ask away if you have any questions!!!! I know how scary it can be having surgery. How long do you have to wait?

I will be seeing my surgeon for another question period in about 3 weeks. So glad I pursued some answers from his nurse as she has recommended this extra consultation. I have not heard of your particular condition but all 'waiting for surgery' is scary. The bone grafting is the part that I don't really know much about. What is recovery like? What sort of level of pain will I have to deal with? How long will I have to use crutches to get around? How successful is bone grafting? My wait for surgery is between 10 and 16 months now. Been on the wait list for 2 to 3 months now.

Wow, that is a long time to wait for surgery!!!! As for the pain, everyone has a different threshold. My doctor has assured me that the pain won't be as bad as what I am living with now. He also said that you are given good pain meds to help with physical therapy and the overall healing process. I was told that because of my age(29) that he would not be able to cement the implant. So, that means I have to either use crutches or a walker for at least 6 weeks. As for the bone grafting, I am not sure how that works. What problem do you have that makes you have a bone graft? I sure hope that you do get your questions answered by your doctor. If he/she doesn't make you feel more comfortable with the whole thing, then I suggest you find another doc. I wish you the best of luck!!!!!

Thanks for your reply meg, I had almost given up on this forum for getting answers when your first reply came. First of all, i'm sorry to hear you need this kind of surgery at 29. I was diagnosed at about 32 with protrusia acetabulae. I was told then that it was in the beginning stages and I should put off hip replacement surgery for as long as possible. I can't wait any longer (i'm 53) so have gone for it. The protrusia thing means that the femoral head (ball joint) has protruded beyond the end of the normal socket joint. That's why the need for bone grafting. They need to re-build the socket before they can put the replacement socket in. I understand that bone grafting is done routinely in different situations so is a realistic way to slove the prtoblem. Both surgeons I have consulted have given me the same information. I need both hips replaced. I'm going to be layed up healing for a while. They'll do one first and a year later, do the other. Wait lists in canada are becoming routine. Has to do with our health care system. Thanks again for your replies. Its nice to talk to someone else about these issues.

I am glad to haved helped you!!! I saw my doctor today and he was telling me about the bonegrafting. Come to find out that 2 inches of my femur has died and now he is thinking about doing that to me. If he doesn't I will end up with one leg 4 1/2 inches shorter than the other. So, I guess I will be having some bone grafting myself. Good thing that I got to talk to you or I would have been really confused about the whole thing. With legg calve perthes the ball is shaped like an egg so to speak, which causes deformity to the socket. I had it in both hips as a child, but the doctors were able to heal one of them. Everything was fine until I had my daughter. I guess all the extra pressure caused more damage. Oh well, I guess things happen for a reason. I hope that you keep in touch so that we might be able to answer each others questions!!!!