Physiotherapy

Finally got an appointment for physio. Had a consultation with them and they feel i would benefit most from hydrotherapy. I had my first hydro session this morning. It went well, i'm aching now but generally pleased with how it went. I'm walking around with one crutch more confidently now, and even went out to physio with just the 1 crutch today! I was feeling brave! Feeling a lot better today, i finally feel like i'm making some progress. Going to give driving a go this week. I tried a couple of weeks ago but i was in too much pain, just getting in the car was awful. I feel ready to do it now though, it's been 10 weeks i need some independence back. I'll let you know how i get on!

Second Recovery

Things went to plan and it was all pretty much the same as the first time around. I was a lot calmer going down to theatre this time, although I did have just a little cry when I got there!
My time in hospital went much the same as before. This time I didn't have to wear those gorgeous stockings! Instead I had to inject blood thinning medication in my stomach everyday for 5 weeks. I really didn't think I would be able to do it but you do get used to it.
My wound was clipped, rather than glued like last time. I had to have the clips removed after about 10 days by my district nurse. It didn't hurt, although the odd one got stuck to me and pulled slightly.
The angle of my right hip was not as bad as what my left side was before the operation, and the results were really good.
I've found recovery this time a lot slower than the first time and a lot more painful. Whether it is you forget just how painful it is or it really is more painful I don't know. However I was taking painkillers for 6 weeks this time, where as before I stopped on week 3. I'm currently 8 weeks post op whilst writing this, and even now I'm still uncomfortable with the pain.
At my 6-7 week check up this time things went well, my consultant is really pleased with the hip, although I seem to have a lot more muscle and tissue damage this time. I've also got a numb thigh which I never had last time. Apparently this is due to nerve damage during the operation and is very common. It seems that I will be on crutches longer this time than last time but I guess that depends on my physio, as yet I'm still waiting for an appointment. I've been trying to get around on just one crutch around the house but even that I'm finding quite painful.

Things were going so well until...

After 3 or 4 months post surgery I began to get a pinching pain on my right side, I didn't think much of it to start with, as it was in my lower back more than my hip and I had heard it was quite common to suffer sciatica after PAO surgery. It became more uncomfortable and changed to more of a shooting pain right through my hip. I began to worry that because of all the weight and strain being put on my right hip during my recovery from the surgery on my left side,I was now going to get problems with my right hip. I had a check up with my consultant in December so decided to mention it. After explaining the pain, he decided I should consider having my right side done too. My response was 'NO WAY'! Once was enough and I was not going to go through all that again. Mr Apthorp then went on to explain that it's likely to only get worse, and to bear in mind there is approximately a 6 month waiting list. I was not interested, it was still all to fresh in my mind, so I left the appointment adament I would carry on regardless, and had a follow up appointment made for 4 months time to check how things were going.
Once I got home and spoke to my family and friends, they all thought I'd made a mistake and said I was too hasty in ruling it out straight away. It was my dad in the end who convinced me to go for it, he said to just get my name put on the waiting list as I can always change my mind and come off it. I really wanted another baby this year but I'm glad my dad changed my mind. It was hard enough going through this with 1 child, I couldn't imagine doing it with a baby too. So I called the hospital and got put on the waiting list.
Anyway despite the fact my right hip was playing up, the results from my left side were great. We celebrated the success of the surgery by booking a family holiday to Florida. We went in February, 6 months after the op and spent all day everyday walking. By the end of each day my left hip was aching but after a nights rest it was fine by the next morning. I didn't suffer too much with my right side either, I'm not sure whether the heat had anything to do with it but I didn't have any really painful days, just an occasional stabbing pain.
Things soon changed, within weeks of coming home I couldn't believe how quickly the pain in my right hip increased. I was in a lot more pain with my right than I ever suffered with my left before surgery. By the time my next appointment came around I never thought I would say this but I couldn't wait to have the operation! It was only a few weeks later and I had my date through, 6th June '07.
As the date approached I began to get really nervous again, but in the back of my mind I was sure I was doing the right thing. My Pre op Assessment came and went and before I knew it, it was the day of the op... Again!

No Crutches!!!

I was soon walking around with no crutches! To start with it was just around the house, hanging onto furniture, and walking with one crutch but within a few of weeks I was free! Once I started weight bearing I did find it painful, it wasn't as bad as before surgery but it was still uncomfortable. I think a lot of this was due to muscle weakness or damage and gradually it became easier and less painful. I was having physio once or twice a week which really helped. You need to do the exercise to get the results!
By about 8 weeks post op I was driving again, and by 10 weeks I was off crutches and back at work. I couldn't walk too far but things definately got easier with time.

Follow up appointment

I had a follow up appointment 6-7 weeks post surgery, after another x-ray I was given the ok for partial weight bearing. My consultant told me firstly to lift my left leg which I could do no problem, and then to lift my right leg. I was terrified that meant standing on my left (my operated side)! I really struggled to do it, after being conscious of putting too much weight on it for so long I found it really difficult to stand on it. It is a real weird sensation to start with, my leg just felt like jelly, and was quite tingly.

Recovery continues...

The first 3 weeks following the operation it is painful and restricting, you can't do very much at all. My life seemed to revolve around sleeping, eating, watching telly and reading. I found on the fourth week things became a lot easier and I could get around a bit more, and ventured out although I was always worried about falling over!
Sleeping of a night was not very nice. I love to sleep on my front, if I can't do that then my left side. Well I couldn't do either! I really struggled to get comfortable and was forever rearranging pillows around me.

The Scar

My scar goes from my side just below my waist down to the top of my pubic hair. I was 'glued' so I didn't have to worry about having stiches or clips removed.

Going Home

On the Sunday as soon as the hospital staff were satisfied I could safely get up and down the stairs on crutches I was allowed home. The journey home was uncomfortable, an hour on a windy road with lots of roundabouts. Everytime we went around a bend I found it quite painful, however we soon arrived home, it was so nice to be back. The first thing I done when I got in was wash my hair!

Getting Up!

It was Friday afternoon when I was first allowed out of bed. I was taken down for an x-ray first to ensure everything was as it should be. Once given the ok the physio team came to get me up. I wont lie just getting to the edge of the bed was a mission, my advice to anybody would be make sure you are well dosed up with pain killers. They managed to get me up, standing up was excruciating, tears filled my eyes but pure determination made me carry on. I was using a zimmer frame initially and that first time out of bed I only took a few steps before turning back again. My leg felt extremely heavy and the first 6 weeks following the operation you are touch weight bearing only, therefore unable to put any weight through your leg, it is really difficult to begin with but as painful as it is you need to keep with it as the more you do it the easier it gets.
It was Saturday morning when my catheter was taken out, it doesn't hurt, it's just a slight sting for a moment. I was also glad to see the back of the drip too, it becomes really annoying after a while.
The physio team came to see me again, this time to try and get me to the toilet and back! I managed to get there but I gave in and had them wheel me back. For the rest of the day I was going to the toilet myself (well with a nurse following just in case), and each time I managed to get back a little nearer to my bed, by the end of the day I was doing the round trip alone!

After Surgery

From what I remember the surgery took about 4 hours. When I woke up later in recovery I immediately felt awful pain in my left hip. I was set up on a morphine drip so as soon as it kicked in I was ok, it was just a bit uncomfortable. The morphine made me feel spaced out and after a while very itchy. I had a bandage over my wound and couldn't move my leg, which was put into a foam trough to raise it slightly. I had to wear an oxygen mask for several hours after the operation, and was connected to a machine monitoring my blood pressure and oxygen levels. I was also attached to a drip, and had a catheter for a few days until I could walk to the loo. As well as the attractive white stockings (which I had to wear for 6 weeks) I also had to wear foot pumps which punch you in the feet every few seconds to get the blood going round to prevent clotting.
It's very common to lose a lot of blood during the operation but rather that having a blood transfusion they recycle your own blood. You may find they take some blood when you are back on the ward to check whether you are anaemic.
I had my operation on the Wednesday morning and for the first couple of days you do not get up. After a while it becomes really uncomfortable not being able to move around and you spend a lot of time trying to get comfortable by sitting up a bit more. If you have a drip in your hand, it can be difficult to use this hand when pushing yourself up the bed.
As you are unable to get to the toilet you are likely to need a bedpan for bowel movements. I was grateful that I didn't need to go during the first few days, i managed to wait until I could make it to the toilet! I found it difficult to go for a few days as the pain killers seemed to constipate me, which I believe is quite common.
I was very emotional after the operation and I would start to cry at the silliest of things.

Day of Op!!!

I arrived at the hospital later that afternoon and they wasted no time getting me ready for the morning, I was first on the list at 8am. I had identity tags on one wrist and one ankle. The nurse gave me a special disinfectant gel that I had to shower in the next morning and the dreaded hospital gown and very attractive stockings used to prevent DVT.
After my shower in the morning, the Anaesthetist came and spoke to me about what would be happening and to explain that when I wake up after the operation that I would have various drips and leads etc... I was asked to take off my jewellery. Anything I couldn't take off could be covered with a plaster. Someone else then came to see me to draw on my leg in marker pen. Luckily by this time my dad and husband had arrived, otherwise I think I would have run away! I was really upset and scared, it's an awful feeling. Before I knew it I was being taken down to theatre. My husband was allowed to stay with me until I was asleep because I was so distressed, I wasn't exactly brave but I'm sure they are used to patients like me!

Pre Op!

During my Pre Op Assessment I had to give some blood, swabs for MRSA, have an ECG, check my weight and height to work out my BMI, and the usual x-rays. It was then onto signing the consent form! Eeeek! I know they have to go through all the risks of surgery but I'd rather not know! When your feeling sick and on edge at the thought of it you just don't want to hear it. There's lots of form filling, you'll be asked about your next of kin and questions about your health and lifestyle. If it's not mentioned, ask about equipment to adapt your toilet. You will need a raised toilet seat at home after the operation which needs to be arranged beforehand.
The last couple of weeks prior to my operation seemed to fly past. Before I knew it, it was the day before the operation! I took the day off work to spend some quality time with my son who was only 2 at the time. I was horrified when I opened my post that morning to find there was a letter there from the hospital asking me to go in that afternoon instead of early the next morning. It meant my 'day of fun' was cut a bit short but luckily I had my bag packed already so didn't have to worry about that. I think the hospital staff thought I'd try and escape or not turn up, they obvoiusly wanted to keep an eye on me! Ha ha. This operation is definately one of the most frightening experiences I have ever had.

Losing the weight...

I had real determination to lose some weight and when I went for my follow up appointment a few months later everyone (including myself) was pleased that I'd managed to lose nearly 1 & 1/2 stone. I wont lie I did find it really hard work, mainly due to the fact I couldn't do much in the way of exercise. I couldn't even have a good night out with the girls without paying for it big time the following day!
I done really well not to get worked up about the operation at all, until I got my date through that was! I was due to have my op on 23rd August 06. I had my pre op assessment a few weeks before, and this is when I got really nervous and started to doubt my decision. I didn't know anyone who had gone through the surgery before and struggled to find much in the way of info on the internet, and to be honest what I was reading seemed to scare me even more!

Decision Time

I decided to go down the peri-acetabular route, the consultant advised me that as this was a specialist operation there was only a few surgeons in the UK who could do this surgery. Unfortunately there was nobody locally who could help so he then referred me to Mr. Hugh Apthorp at The Conquest Hospital in Hastings. Luckily it was only about a 1 hour drive from my home so I didn't have to travel too far.
I received an appointment through within a few months to see Mr Apthorp. I felt reassured once I met him, he was really informative and I trusted him immediately. It was really nice to meet someone who understood what I was going through and most importantly who was confident he could help. After many x-ray's and a ct scan, he advised me I was a suitable candidate for the surgery however he wanted me to lose some weight beforehand. Oh dear! Well in all fairness it was just what I needed. A reason to lose it! As there was a waiting list in the region of 6 months, I was put on the list but had an appointment in a few months to review my weight loss. Although both hips were affected, my left side was a lot worse than my right and I was only getting the pain in my left hip, therefore we decided it was only necessary to have my left side done. I was unsure what I was letting myself in for, all I knew was that I couldn't carry on as I was, so if this is what it was going to take then I was going to go for it.

The Diagnosis

It was about a year later in March '05, I was lifting Daniel out of the bath and my back totally seized up. I was in agony, unable to even stand up straight. After an hour or so it wasn't improving I still couldn't stand straight so my husband drove me to A&E. They sent me for x-rays of my lower back and pelvis as that was where the pain seemed to be stemming from, and it was then they discovered I had Hip Dysplasia. I was then referred by my GP for an orthopaedic opinion and physiotherapy.
I didn't find that physio or hydrotherapy really helped, I started swimming again in hope that would help but I hated it, all the time I was swimming my hips constantly 'clicked'.
After a several month wait I had an appointment with an orthopaedic consultant at my local hospital, he advised me I basically had 3 options.

1. I could carry on as I was, in agony! Not an option as far as I was concerned!

2. I could opt for a total hip replacement, which is not something that would likely be agreed considering I was only 25, so that was not really an option.

3. I could have something called a 'Peri-acetabular Osteotomy'... a what? was my reply!

How It All Started

I was 25 years old when I was finally diagnosed with Hip Dysplasia. I never experienced any pain or problems with my hips as a child. The first I remember of any pain was when I was about 14 years old. It was really only when I was running, or walking for a long period that I would get the uncomfortable achy, and occasional sharp stabbing pain in my groin. I remember complaining to my mum after a couple of months, who then took me to the doctors to ask his opinion. I was told it was simply growing pains, and we accepted his explanation. Looking back it's quite funny, as lots of members of my family used to comment on my 'walk'! My nan in fact used to tease me by saying I should be sent to finishing school to learn to walk like a lady! She was always saying I should practise walking with a book on my head to stop my waddling. I wonder if my 'walk' had anything to do with my hips?
As time went on and I got older, the pains never went away, and I began to find it more painful in the winter than the summer, and despite really enjoying playing hockey I gave it up in my late teens. I then started aerobics (being inside seemed to make a difference) and swimming. I carried on as normal and got used to the pain, it was bearable so I just accepted it.
This carried on for years, until I was 23 and pregnant with my little boy. I was probably about 6 or 7 months pregnant when it got noticeably harder, which was no doubt down to the weight I was putting on. In total throughout my pregnancy I put on nearly 4 stone! Most of this was in the last few months when I was struggling with the pain. My son Daniel was shall we say 'rather large', just 1 ounce off a whopping 10lb! I ended up having to have an emergency caesarean as after 13 hours of labour they decided to do a scan to find out why things weren't progressing, to discover he was too big for my pelvis!
After Daniel was born and I was fully recovered I wasted no time in trying to shed some of the weight, I managed to lose around 2 & 1/2 stone and found my hip pain was decreasing. So I began to get on with my life again, and was loving being a mum!

So Why Am I Doing This?

I guess I'm doing this kind of backwards, however there is a reason behind this...
Over the last several years I have had major problems with my hips due to Hip Dysplasia, which has resulted in surgery on both my left and most recently my right hip. When I was first advised that the best treatment for me would be a Peri-Acetabular Osteotomy I had no idea what this was. My consultant done his very best at explaining the operation to me, however I still left my appointment that day with so many questions I decided to do my research on the internet. This really did not help me... After many hours,days and even weeks of trying to find out more about this operation and Hip Dysplasia itself I gave up, most of what i found was information about cats and dogs!

Despite not having much luck with the research I went ahead with the surgery, and I have just recently decided to create a blog to help any other people out there who may be going through the same thing. So rather than being able to give a day by day or week by week run down on my surgery as things happen, I'm going to go about telling my story of the past year or so in my first few postings.

I just hope that this information will help and maybe reassure someone going through what I have been through. No surgery is the same on any person but I believe just to have someones opinion and to know or hear from someone that has been through something similar is reassuring in itself.

As time has gone on I have managed to find a few helpful and informative sites which i will add to my blog as useful links.