Hi, Danny! I'm new to this website. I too had SCFE. I was age 11. I had severe slip of the left hip followed by mild slip of the right (pinned in situ). The result of the operations performed then were double pins on the left and single on the right, removed 1 year later. This was the practice followed in those days (1986).
I am now 36 years old. At age 25 I began to experience what was later (5 years of complaining) diagnosed as acetabular impingement syndrome. I had osteochondroplasty nearly 5 years ago (age 32). This relieved the impingement pain I was experiencing, but the hip was not in good condition on the inside. My right hip also started to be sore, but surgeons hoped that it would go away once I was walking normally again.
In July 2011 a hip arthroscopy showed my hip was bone on bone and that it was really up to me when I wanted to have it done. They told me to wait as long as I could bear the pain, but that the only other option was to have THR. All this time my right hip was sore, but because my left hip was so much worse, it seemed bearable. By February 2012 I was using a walking stick (cane) for my left hip and by April 2012 I was unable to walk at all. I insisted on working until end of June (I'm a teacher and school ends at end June in Scotland where I live). I had THR of left hip on 12th July.
Obviously things are MASSIVELY better, but I feel that my waiting for the hip replacement literally as long as I could, allowing my hip to completely fail, has had severe detriment to the rest of my lower half, not to mention my head! I have lost confidence in myself and definitely am depressed. I am struggling to cope/accept that at my mobility is so bad. Even though I had my left hip replaced, my left knee is so MESSED UP and my right hip is agonizing. My surgeon told me that my right hip has the same deformity as my left (acetabular impingement) and that I will need it replaced. Question is, do I let it go through the same cycle as my left before I give in. I think not.
At the moment my right knee only clicks. My left knee crunches so loud people ask if that's coming from my knee! I've never had it xrayed, though I will soon at post op check, but I'm sure that the severe deformity, bone on bone grade 4 arthritis for such a long time, caused bad things to happen to my knee. It's all connected. It has to be the reason! I've never pounded the pavements running. I've been active, but in a sensible way, always knowing that my hips would give in.
So, my theory is that if I have my right hip replaced before it goes to grade 4, then I stand a chance of having only a clicky right knee! Does that make any sense? If anyone has any advice/experience regarding their knees being messed up due to messed up hips and having left them basically too long, I would be grateful for your comments.
United States
Thank you for sharing that, really appreciate it and I hope all goes well with your leg 
