I am now 4 weeks post RPAO. Since I didn't start this earlier - let's back up. I am 33 years old and have 2 small boys. I have been living with dysplasia and pain for 10 years - diagnosed 5 years ago. After going to many docs down here in FLA - they wanted to do a replacement. PAO was briefly mentioned to me - so I did my own research. I spent HOURS on the internet - and Dr. Millis in Boston sounded like "The Man". I was headed to MA for Thanksgiving and got an appt to have a consult. He concluded that PAO was the best option for me - but I couldn't wait too long- as I had already developed arthritis. I was lucky enough to get a cancellation date for surgey (otherwise was going to have to wait until May). I had RPAO at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston on Jan. 25th 2008. I spent one LONG week there. I had several reactions to MANY pain meds. I left the hospital on vicodin and had a rough plane ride back to FLA.
The first week home was tough - lots of naps and lots of vicodin. The next week got better. Now at 4 weeks, I am driving, standing up in the shower AND able to shave my legs, sit on a regular toilet seat, go up and down the stairs on my cructhes very easily, walk putting a good amount of weight on my leg...... I can say that the recovery is going MUCH better than I expected! I am in contact with Dr Millis once a week through email - and go see a local doc this week for x-rays and to look at how the incision is healing.
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This is my story about living with hip dysplasia and recovering from periacetabular osteotomy surgery.
About Me
- MY PAO STORY
- Fort Myers, Florida
- I am a 40 year old mother of 2 boys - Brady and Reilly. I have a wonderful husband TJ. I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia at age 28 and had a scope done to repair a torn labrum. After two pregnancies and lots of hip pain - I had RPAO on 1/25/08 with Dr. Millis in Boston.
Medi - weight loss clinics
PAO Definition
"Periacetabular" means around the acetabulum. "Osteotomy" means to cut bone. Simply put, the PAO cuts the bone around the acetabulum that joins the acetabulum to the pelvis. Once the acetabulum is detached from the rest of the pelvis by a series of carefully controlled cuts, it is rotated to a position of ideal coverage as dictated by the specific acetabulum's unique anatomy.
PAO BLOGS
http://iampaod.blogspot.com/
http://tragicallyhip-sam.blogspot.com/
http://hip-hopanonymous.blogspot.com/
http://limpalongwithrachel.blogspot.com/
http://hipchicknyc.blogspot.com/
http://hiphiphooray-becky.blogspot.com/
http://shelleysspots.blogspot.com/
http://asouthernpaotale.blogspot.com
http://congenitallychallenged.wordpress.com
http://hipendeavors.blogspot.com
http://tragicallyhip-sam.blogspot.com/
http://hip-hopanonymous.blogspot.com/
http://limpalongwithrachel.blogspot.com/
http://hipchicknyc.blogspot.com/
http://hiphiphooray-becky.blogspot.com/
http://shelleysspots.blogspot.com/
http://asouthernpaotale.blogspot.com
http://congenitallychallenged.wordpress.com
http://hipendeavors.blogspot.com
PAO info
- http://children.photobooks.com/directory/profile.asp?dbase=main&setsize=5&last=millis&searchButton.x=26&searchButton.y=10&pict_id=9903970
- http://health.howstuffworks.com/hip-dysplasia.htm
- http://hipandpelvis.com/patient_education/periace/page1.html
- http://hipuniverse.homestead.com/files/PAOSurg.htm
- http://www.books.google.com/books?id=CSaFS5Tod3QC&pg=PA795&lpg=PA795&dq=michael+b+millis&source=web&ots=hlj8mvFC97&sig=lA3q0MG_w9VL-Z73jwBuBaddo6Q7hl=en
- http://www.ecyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-84865964.html
- http://www.orthojournalhms.org/volume1/html/articles11.html
- http://www.orthojournalshms.org/volume2/html/articles17.htm
13 comments:
Did you have any problems getting your insurance company to approve your surgery?
I just forwarded your blog to my a girlfriend of mine, Selina who just had the surgery done last week at the same hospital. She had to go to rehab and will be going home Tuesday hopefully. She is in her mid twenties and waned to help her by sending her some info and inspiration.
Perhaps she will email you with questions! She is nervous to go home and nervous about weight gain due to a medication called lyrica. she is uncertain about what aids she might need at home (wheelchair, toilet risers ect)
Thanks so much for posting your journey online. I myself had major hip surger a few years ago due to osteonecrosis and am in my twenties as well and wished there was someone who was there to help along the way like you are doing for other women.
Warm Wishes,
Sabrina Beganny
Bri79@mac.com
Hey! I'm so glad to have found your blog. I was just diagnosed in October and hope to get in to see Dr. Millis this summer. How was the trip back home? I live in Georgia so would have a similar commute. Thanks for your information!!!
oh my gosh, I can not beilive how similar our stories are I also had a scope to repair the torn Labrum but it did not help the pain. I am seeing Dr.Downer in WA he is the top guy around here! I am 9 days out from POA surgery. I spent 4 excrusiating days in the hospital I was up the 2nd day just to go to commode, and thought, what did I do? I can not move my leg. Each day it gets a tiny bit better I am still in lots of pain and in bed most of the day and am only really getting up to go to the bathroom. I am toe touch weight bearing for the next 4 weeks. I have 2 questions did you have a bunch of pain in you butt back of hip area? My doc said they don't usually remove screws, why did you have them removed? One last question when did they remove your drain? They removed mine on day 4 but now I have a huge lump probley 4 inches wide and all the way down my incision.My doc said it will reabsored but it could take up to 3 weeks to go away. How long befor your husband and you could be intimate? I can not imagine my life back to normal yet! I have 3 children who are 7,7,and 5! Thank you for your blog I have never met someone else with this issue.
Hello. You don't know who I am and I can't view your email address but I wanted to say thank you. I just got home from the surgeons office and started doing research on my expected surgery, PAO. I was just diagnosed with hip dysplasia (age 29) brought to our attention by a torn/calcified labrum! Thank you for all the awesome information and blogging about this. Though my surgery isn't soon, it still is worrisome. So thank you!
Hello,
I can not view your email address either. I would like to get in contact with you regarding the RPAO. I had the same thing done on my left hip in 2011. I have been having a lot of complications and I had my surgery done at a very well recognized hospital and clinic. I think I may have to find a different doctor.
Before I forget you look great! You're running, that is awesome! I hope I will be able to run again as well. I love reading your blog and you are inspiring everyone with your remarkable recovery. It is a tough surgery and its not for everyone. ;)
My email is lbmcdo@aol.com
Beth :)
Hello, I am glad I found this site. I am suprised by the # of mostly women who are afflicted with hip dysplasiaand have to go thru this PAO surgery. Brief history: I was diagnosed at the age of 35 and had left hip PAO surgery on 12/23/2010 with Dr. Sankar out of CHOP (a protege of Dr. Millis). I am so happy I found him b/c fighting insurance and other surgeons was a hell ride. Dr. Sankar had great bedside manners and didn't mind the 100s of questions I asked. If someone is opening me up, I am going to google and ask everything. I had the 4 screws removed on 8/11/2011. I had a very long, tough recovery b/c of such severe pre-op pain, torn labrum, and body's adverse response to drugs and p/t. I notice that some women incision are different or have more bruising involved. I will update a picture of mine if interested. I had a question,when do you get all your feeling back?? I understand that the 20% flexibility and mobility will probably never return, but I still have a numb,tingling area to the left of my hip bone. My surgeon recommended no longer training for races b/c the surgery will not last as long--does this advice sound familiar?? I really want to run but not to ruin my 10 hr surgery,1 1/2 yr recovery. I am at least finally pain free, narcotic free, limp free, except my hip flexor and butt msucle does get too tight or sore a lot. I think I am still overcompensating too much with my right leg. I also have had JRA in my left knee, and one leg is shorter, had leg braces, so it is bothering me now in my 30s. Or I really should never have become a runner :P.
I never had any loss of feeling or numbness... He says he must have missed that nerve on me... At first he told me to be careful running... But now 4 years later... After examining me and looking at X-rays he gave me the go ahead to keep running... :)
My flexibility and range of motion is good... And no pain while running... So I will keep running!
I have 2 races coming up... A 10 miler and a 1/2 marathon... Both at Disney...
that is great to hear!! Good luck to you... It is 1 yr and 7 months since surgery, and I have decided to try running again. So, this last week I ran a mile 3 times. I had to stop halfway each time b/c I realized my quads are too weak. I have a dull throb or ache in my left hip area and buttocks. Did you? How do you feel when you do any jumping around? I am trying to start "insanity", but wondering if I can take the pounding...
Hi Beth,
I just found out that I got hip dysplasia with early OA at the age of 36 years old. Can you share the age that you had PAO done?
I've got no surgeon here that can do PAO and am trying to find out how successful this can be before I spend a load of money flying out to someone who can operate on me. Thanks!!
how much you paid for the surgery? I am worried if its too high. i may not afford it
Hi, I had my surgery a week ago and yesterday while getting into bed, with help, I felt a locking pain in my hip. I feel like something shifted. I was walking a lot better with the walker before this happened last night.
Any advice? I did email my doctor but wanted to know if anyone has had something similar.
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