1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Hip Dysplasia and Disorders

Perthes Treatment 50 years later

Posted , 2 users are following.

christine55037
christine55037

Hey All: I was diagnosed with having had prior Perthes very recently but have always know there was something abnormal about my hips.  I  had an "incident" with leg issues when I was a toddler but was never diagnosed. I limped and wore leg braces for a time. Based on my hip anatomy I was diagnosed recently with bilateral Perthes. I have always had reduced motion in both hips (cannot sit criss cross for example) and increasing discomfort and pain which worsens each year.   Nothing helps although keeping in shape and working out (especially back and core) my whole life has helped a lot.  However, the pain is becoming unbearable in my hip joints, SI joints and generally my pelvis, I guess because the biomechanics of my whole pelvis is thrown off.  I also have arthritic changes and was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis.  My osteoporosis specialist said my only treatment option was total hip replacement of both hips.  I am wondering if anyone else has done this and if they did both hip replacments at the same time.  Doing one at a time would creat quite an imbalance I am guessing and I also guess it would be very trickly to get balance overall anyway.  Please reply if you have any experience with this.

 

1 like, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Whitbychris
    Whitbychris christine55037

    Posted

    Hi Christine, your story has echoes of my own but I am sorry I cannot answer your query about having both hips done at one time but I am interested in any replies.  I was diagnosed 2 years ago aged 62 as having had Perthes in one hip.  Like you I could never sit cross legged, I occasionally have a limp and have one leg shorter than the other. I have helped myself doing Yoga (though not now) but still doing lots of walking and Pilates.  Though my Pilates hip movements are becoming more restricted.  I saw a consultant this year who diagnosed osteoarthritiis in both hips - I also have pain in my knees and buttock.  He said I needed a new hip and was surprised I had managed so long without any intervention.  However the pain in in my good hip and buttock is becoming much worse so my feeling is that I will need that replacing in the not too distant future.  I go back so see him in March unless the pain gets too much this winter then I have to ring him.  I am trying to compile a list of questions for him, one of which will be about having both hips done.  I have joined a support group on Facebook and it's been quite a relief to be in touch with others with the same problem and being able to discuss all those aches and pains that only a fellow sufferer seems to understand.  Sorry for lengthy reply Christine but hope someone else can offer their experiences.  Good luck, Chris (even our names are the same) (:-)
    • christine55037
      christine55037 Whitbychris

      Posted

      Hi Chris:

      Thanks for the reply and sharing.  I went to a hip replacement specialist yesterday and this is what I learned.  No doctor would ever replace a hip that did not have significant osteoarthritis in it.  My hips actually have very good joint spaces even though the anatomy is deformed - I have mushroom-shaped femoral heads and essentially no femoral neck (bilaterally).  Most of my pain is from my SI joints because of the abnormal anatomy my pelvis rotates forward and pulls on my sacrum.  I get stiffer each year and have noticed like you that pilates is getting harder and pain is starting in my knees (I'm 51).  The other thing this doctor told me was that IF I did develop osteoarthritis, then hip replacement in my case would be extremely complex because my anatomy is abnormal and hip implants are designed for normal-shaped hips.  And its a bigger problem with it being bi-laterial.

      On the bright side for you, with osteoarthritis you would be eligible for hip replacement (insurance will pay - are you in Canada by chance?).  Hip replacment is a very good therapy for osteoartthirtis and it would also fix your hip deformity.  If I were you I would not wait for surgery.  I had to have surgery on my foot and delayed and delayed because I was scared until there was no cartilage left in the joint and because I waited so long, it did not fully heal properly (my big toe doesnt touch the ground all the way when I walk).

      Hopefully, my learnings from the specialist I saw will be helpful to you.

      chrisitne

    • Whitbychris
      Whitbychris christine55037

      Posted

      Thank you for this information Christine.  I have an appointment with my hip surgeon next March but he did say I could go back and see him before then if I felt I needed to see him.  I will take heed of your words and not leave it too long as I don't want to cuase further damage by waiting.  I live in the UK, West Yorkshire, and cannot fault the NHS treatment I have had for my back, knees and hip over the past few years.  I wish you the best of luck and will check here on this forum if you have any further developments.  Chris
Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.