Hi all I have a 20 year old niece that has perthes disease and has been suffering in pain for the last 8 years. She needs a hip replacement but they won't do it until she is in her late 30's and she is in pain and needs it done know. Anyone know of which type is good and how young this has been done on a person. I appreciate any and all info. Thanks
How young is too young
- Thread starter kitkat14
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hi kitkat
I'm sorry to hear the sad news.
I know little or nothing about your nieces condition,. but I think you can get some good info and positive support here.
josephine should respond to you shortly
hang in there,. hope is always near.
jon
I'm sorry to hear the sad news.
I know little or nothing about your nieces condition,. but I think you can get some good info and positive support here.
josephine should respond to you shortly
hang in there,. hope is always near.
jon
JudyS
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Hi Kitkat,
Look through our site and you will see posts from a wonderful young man, also 20. His name is Young Guy. He had his hip replaced.
I would say she should not have to be in pain all that time.
Judy in socal
Look through our site and you will see posts from a wonderful young man, also 20. His name is Young Guy. He had his hip replaced.
I would say she should not have to be in pain all that time.
Judy in socal
Traceyleth
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Hi i am 35 yrs old and had THR last week I had suffered symptoms for more than 10 yrs. My surgeon was not particularly bothered by my age she is very experienced and told me that i was not that young. However the reaction from most other medical proffessionals over the years had been "your too young" The materials they use now are expected to last longer than earlier prosthesis but a lot of the older type have lasted a very long time as well, none of us can tell how much time we will get. I was going to have resurfacing but as i have a skin sensitivity to nickel i ended up with a ceramic on ceramic THR. I would suggest research as much about the surgeon as you can and preferably find one who has experience of younger patients. I am one week out fully weight bearing and although extremely tired, the agonising pain has gone and i know that with each week i will get stonger. My 3 kids have never known me to be without pain and i am looking forward to a new pain free life. Your poor niece is very young to have to go through such an op but living in that sort of pain is limiting and not much of a life either.
I wish you all the best and hope you find a solution soon.
Tracey
I wish you all the best and hope you find a solution soon.
Tracey
rejoyce318
member
"I would suggest research as much about the surgeon as you can and preferably find one who has experience of younger patients."
I agree with Tracey. I researched for months, on the internet & asking around, before I chose a surgeon (who, fortunately, was on my insurance plan's list of MDs!). I wasn't mentally ready to have a THR before this, personally, but because of my childhood experiences I had a real mindset against any kind of hip surgery. Times have changed, though, & I made sure I found a surgeon who has kept current.
Joyce
I agree with Tracey. I researched for months, on the internet & asking around, before I chose a surgeon (who, fortunately, was on my insurance plan's list of MDs!). I wasn't mentally ready to have a THR before this, personally, but because of my childhood experiences I had a real mindset against any kind of hip surgery. Times have changed, though, & I made sure I found a surgeon who has kept current.
Joyce
Josephine
NURSE DIRECTOR EMERITA
Some 20+ years ago I worked with a surgeon who frequently did THRs on 19-20 yr olds who had had Perthes or CDH as babes. We even had special prostheses for them because a Perthes child is very often under-sized as well.
The same is true now. The surgeons she has been to are obviously not the appropriate ones for this; they are a specialism all on their own. Routine hip surgeons don't touch this.
She needs to find a surgeon who makes a speciality of dealing with Perthes/CDH patients for they are the only ones who will take action. We have a couple of 20 yr olds on here at this moment who had THRs very recently, YoungGuy and YoungGirl (!!) so you know it can be done.
The same is true now. The surgeons she has been to are obviously not the appropriate ones for this; they are a specialism all on their own. Routine hip surgeons don't touch this.
She needs to find a surgeon who makes a speciality of dealing with Perthes/CDH patients for they are the only ones who will take action. We have a couple of 20 yr olds on here at this moment who had THRs very recently, YoungGuy and YoungGirl (!!) so you know it can be done.
Thanks to all that replied to my post it is encouraging to hear. We live in Canada so it is not so much about insurance coverage but a surgeon who is willing to do it. There is not a whole lot that have done a replacement on a young person. She has had a couple of procedure trying to help her one being when she was 14 where they cut off the head of the femur bone and rotated it and pinned it in place because the original side was flat. I think this made things much worse for her and significantly shortened her leg. It was all so invasive and painful that she was really leary of any doctor touching her for quite a while. I hope that if I can find enough info that she will consider a hip replacement because she has put all her plans for college and getting on with her life on hold waiting for Drs to make decisions. Any info related to Canadian Drs would be appreciated. Thanks again
Josephine
NURSE DIRECTOR EMERITA
Yes, that was a derotational osteotomy. The intent it so restore the normal anatomy of the upper femur which sometimes doesn't develop normally in Perthes. It does have some 'unfortunate' consequences which, in my opinion, aren't always fully explained to the patient or her parents.
There must be someone in Canada who specialises in this. Why don't you try to find a children's orthopaedic hospital and ring them? Ask if they know of anybody. You should ask to speak to the secretary of the senior orthopaedic surgeon.
There must be someone in Canada who specialises in this. Why don't you try to find a children's orthopaedic hospital and ring them? Ask if they know of anybody. You should ask to speak to the secretary of the senior orthopaedic surgeon.
szarak2000
junior member
Hi all... I am 29 and considering a THR this fall. I think I have a good doctor and I trust him (in US). I feel very much like Kitkat's niece.. way too many things done to my hip (they cut off my femoral head also, a few years ago), and too many things gone wrong. I am having a hard time making a decision, but the pain is often too much. I have a young daughter (1.5 yr - hard to keep up with her and the pain) and want more kids. Are more pregnancies recommended at all after THR? I also need encouraged towards this surgery, any help - much appreciated. Thank you.
Josephine
NURSE DIRECTOR EMERITA
Of course you will be able to have kids! The entire objective of the procedure is to give you back your LIFE!
Whatever the past of your hip, I can promise you that a hip replacment will restore all to a usable state. The only minus is that you will certainly need a revision somewhere in your 50s. But prostheses are lasting longer and linger so that is not at all for sure. Read my post in this forum about the lady who has had her hip for 40 years! Imagine! She had a family and everything.
Don't deliberate anymore - get it done. The only regret will be "why on earth didn't I get this done sooner"!
You should also read my post How to choose a surgeon and a prosthesis as it contains some vital information and a few key questions to ask the surgeons before you make your choice.
Any questions, feel free to post them!
Whatever the past of your hip, I can promise you that a hip replacment will restore all to a usable state. The only minus is that you will certainly need a revision somewhere in your 50s. But prostheses are lasting longer and linger so that is not at all for sure. Read my post in this forum about the lady who has had her hip for 40 years! Imagine! She had a family and everything.
Don't deliberate anymore - get it done. The only regret will be "why on earth didn't I get this done sooner"!
You should also read my post How to choose a surgeon and a prosthesis as it contains some vital information and a few key questions to ask the surgeons before you make your choice.
Any questions, feel free to post them!
szarak2000
junior member
Hi Josephine - thank you so much for the encouragement. I will definitely research the materials (ceramic vs metal) - the only problem with this is that now it makes me a little hesitant towards trusting my surgeon who suggested ceramic. I will discuss with him some more to better understand his reasoning. Also, my younger age is only part of the difficulty in decision making... other thing is that my hip looks nothing like a normal hip. Very flat acetabulum, practically not much left of femoral head, the entire joint is "riding" up in my pelvis, about 1.5 in, making my left leg that much shorter (both femurs are the same length because I already had the good leg shortened by about 2 in to make them match). So the entire joint (after hip displasia at birth) has been reconstructed a few times and now looks like a mess. I walk with a cane, and I really want to get rid of it. Do you know of cases of bad hips like that being redone?
szarak2000
junior member
Has anyone else been able to get rid of a cane post op? I've had it for about 6 years now. My doctor says once he moves the joint where it belongs, my muscles will get more leverage. I am not sure what is left of my muscles because the leg has been cut so many times already. But I am very active and try to stay fit, so PT is not a problem...thank you.
Josephine
NURSE DIRECTOR EMERITA
Many times, Szara. Many, many times! It's not at all an uncommon scenario when the patient has a history like yours. But when the replacement is done, the joint should be restored to an anatomical norm and your leg length along with it, give or take a few mm. Therefore, all things considered, you should have high hopes of being rid of the cane and even being able to forget you ever had a bad hip. Won't that be something to look forward to?
The only thing that may hinder that objective is that your muscles and ligaments may be so contracted and accustomed to their present state you may find it tough to get them to function as fully as they need to. But a good physio will help you get the best out of it you can, so don't despair about that.
I'll look forward to hearing your updates.
The only thing that may hinder that objective is that your muscles and ligaments may be so contracted and accustomed to their present state you may find it tough to get them to function as fully as they need to. But a good physio will help you get the best out of it you can, so don't despair about that.
I'll look forward to hearing your updates.
szarak2000
junior member
Yes. Will be doing research on the material next, and then teleconf with my doctor and husband. Then likely scheduling the operation for the fall. thanks very much for the support.
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