The Harmonious Hip: October 2012

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

6 Week Post-Op with Doctor B.

Flew back to Augusta (solo this time) to see Dr. B. for my 6 week follow up. My doctor is awesome. I simply cannot say that enough! My doctor...is...AWESOME!!! Doc, you reading this?? YOU ARE....AWESOME!!! It was apparent to him that I was doing much better since the surgery. Sitting more comfortably, walking with hardly any limp at all (and without the cane too, thankyouverymuch!) Still some residual pain and the occasional sharp "pull" in the groin, but all in all, appears to be a success so far. And actually, now the pain in the left hip (the non-operative one) is starting to surpass the right one. Which is exactly where we want to be! I left Fort Gordon with a smile on my face and an operative date in the planner. Hip surgery #2 is scheduled for Tuesday, November 27th....just after Thanksgiving. We just need a good 'ol Texas turkey dinner and BIG Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys victories so we have good, positive energy in the O.R. Right Doc?? ;-)

What is Hip Dysplasia?

You may hear about babies or pets with hip dysplasia, but it can affect adults, especially young women. Hip dysplasia is an abnormal condition affecting the hip socket, oracetabulum, and the thighbone, or femur. In someone with hip dysplasia, the hip socket is too shallow, or the femur is in the wrong place. Doctors check for hip dysplasia in babies before sending them home from the hospital -- it's an easily treatable condition in newborns. But if hip dysplasia isn't detected and corrected at an early age, the health of the hip will deteriorate over time because of its misalignment. Depending on the severity of the situation, this could result in pain, osteoarthritis, difficulty walking or an inability to walk. It can also contribute to a marked deterioration in a person's basic quality of life. It's not just dogs and babies, y'all!

Periacetabular Osteotomy (or PAO)

PAO: The Mother of All Hip Surgeries... A procedure that cuts the hip socket out of the pelvis to allow the socket to be repositioned and then screwed back into place. This allows the ball & socket to move fluidly, preventing further cartilage damage and preserving the joint in patients with faulty hips. The PAO preserves and enhances the patient's own hip, NOT replacing it with artificial parts like a hip replacement. The hip may still develop arthritis over time, even when the operation is successful. However, PAO is still the preferred treatment in young adults to postpone the need for hip replacement as long as possible.