Dislocated hips as a baby

Hi Susie, 

I started the other way around, I went to my Osteopath several times, increasing the visits to twice, sometimes three times a week and then when I realised that she could no longer help me I looked for professional help. First abroad, then I brought the results of the MRI scan and showed to the GP who sent me to a consultant who subsequently sent me to another super specialist in London. Today, after a periacetabular osteotomy, I am pain free, although I'm still using crutches for the next month or so. Hopefully my left hip wont become problematic and fingers crossed I wont need a hip replacement when I get a bit older. But for now, things are looking up - finally! 

Hope you managed to deal with your pain, considering this post is one year old... 

Stay healthy  

Hi there. I also had hip dysplacia as a baby. I had, what they called, frog plaster for 9 months and was put on traction. I am 44yrs now and I am booked in for a THR on the 2nd sept. Like you, it started with pains in groin, aches, limited movement then pain, then hip snapping. I tried a steroid injection first but it only lasted 6months. X rays showed osteoarthritis, bone on bone. Hoping my THR will go ok. Will keep you posted 

Hello Susiesue,  I'm a bit late entering this discussion and I have started a discussion last week called 'Congenital Dislocation leading to THR' as I hadn't found your discussion then!  Anyway,  I was diagnosed with congenital dislocation of the hips at the age of 18 months when I wasn't walking properly and was dragging my left leg.  It turned out to be a very bad case with a badly deformed hip socket on the right side and hardly any socket at all on the left.  I was in frog plaster for 18 months followed by a sort of hip girdle with leg irons for another 18 months or so.  I was 4 before I could walk.  I think I had manipulation under anaesthesia every three months and my plaster changed at the same time.  Fortunately I can't remember very much about this time at all, except for the black anaesthetic mask being put over my face.  This was in 1955. 

I then had pain in my legs constantly for the next 40 years, had a pronounced limp on the left side and a spinal scoliosis to the left because of the left leg being shorter than the right.  I couldn't walk very far and always had to think what shops I wanted to go to when I was in town to work out where to park the car.  Cold, damp days were agony and I sometimes had to stay in bed most of the day.  I did however manage to deliver two babies by the normal route.

When I was 40 the pain was just too much and I felt like the hip joints were grinding together.  I went to a local orthopaedic surgeon expecting to be told to come back in 30 years' time but he immediately referred me to a specialist in Birmingham, two months later I had my right THR followed by the left one just under 3 months later.  Once I'd recovered from the ops I had a completely new lease of life - in fact so much better than I'd ever had before.  I was able to walk, cycle, dance - all the things I hadn't been able to do before.  These hips have lasted me 20 years and it was only in July this year that my right hip disintigrated and I had a revision just 6 weeks ago.  So far I think I'm doing OK but I think I've got more pain than last time - it is a bigger op though.  My left hip is looking Ok so far so I'm hoping it will last a bit longer.

I just wanted you to know that there are other people who have experienced these congenital hip problems - I thought I was the only one til I came on this forum!

I hope things are working out for you and that you will soon be without pain and able to get on with your life.

Take care,

Stella

Hi susie

I came across these posts as I was googling the pain I am experiencing. I had a disclocation in my right hip at 6 months which was missed as a younger baby. Had an op and was in frog plaster (unsure how long for as my mum is longer with us to give me the info). I had a lot of pain at age 11 when I was walking and running and saw a doctor who said it was because I was growing but then said I would "probably end with arthritis in it as an adult" I remembered this! I'm now 38 and have had the odd painful period but nothing major apart from now. I've got a lot of pain in my hip when I'm walking. I'm limping and having to slightly swing my leg when walking. I can't stand straight due to the pain I have to stand leaning on my left side to rest my right hip. I thought it was just another painful episode but this is the worst I've ever experienced and I am making an appointment with the doctor. I have been taking co codomol and ibuprofen but this is not touching the pain.

Has anyone else had the intermittent pain over the years or has it just come on in adulthood. I'm slightly scared as to what they will say!

Any info great fully received.

Anne-Marie

Hello Susie, I had a similar problem but both my hips were dislocated, left worse than right, and wasn't discovered til I was 18 months old. Was in frog plaster for 12 months and then leg irons. I was 4 before I walked. I had pain all my life. By the time I was 40 I couldn't stand it any longer and had both hips replaced with 11 weeks between ops. It changed my life for 20 years. Last July my right hip collapsed and I had a revision in September which I am still getting over. The left THR is still going strong. I know just what you have gone through and I'm amazed how many people have the same problem. BTW I am 61 now so all my treatment for CDH took place in the 1950s.

Stella

So glad you are ok, even though it took longer to recover. I wonder how we'll both be in 20 years time....   anyone out there on their second or  third revision?