Aaaaaargh, it's hip check time... Hand holding required.

[Pinkjenny]

Well ladies, you helped me through this appointment last year, I'm hoping you can do the same today. This time BOTH children are being checked.

Dd is now 3yo and was born with ddh, dislocated hips. She wore a harness to correct them for the first 15 weeks of life. Treatment was successful however she still has to be checked annually until she's 5yo.

Ds is 7 months, and was checked because of dd's history. His hips were in, but immature, apparently because he was premature. He wore double nappies and was checked at 12 weeks, and was fine.

All dd's annual checks have been totally normal, and developmentally speaking, she is no different, physically as far as I can see, to her peers.

This annual check always sends me into a tailspin. I think it's because the stakes are so high. If there is a problem, then it's operations and casts and no 'gentle' fix.

Appointment is on Monday, both dc are being seen. I'm shitting myself. I am embarassingly notorious in the clinic for my hysterical behaviour, and usually just send dh with dd, as I get into such a state. I have to go this time, firstly because I have to meet dh there, and secondly because I want to support dd and I don't want it to be something she's scared of.

I am terrified.

Bump

Both my kids were the same as yours - except it was ds that had to have the splint thing and dd who wasn't quite bad enough - but they have been absolutely fine ever since.
We have never been called for annual checks -they both had a second scan at around 4 - 5 months and having found to be fine at that point were discharged. I think if dd appears to be developing fine then you should relax. I am sure it will be OK!

And just to add - I too had hip dysplasia at birth and was splinted (plaster and rubber thing 40 years ago - not the lightweight plastic splint ds got!) and I have had absolutely no problems .

Thanks for replying haggisaggis. I'm totally irrational when it comes to this subject. Am hoping at least ds will be discharged on Monday.

Oh PinkJenny I'll think of you and maybe you could think of me afterwards. My 16m DD was in a pavlik harness for 3 months and also has her latest check next Thursday. You were so lovely and supportive to me after my slightly hysterical post when she first went in and I've never forgotten that. But you must just keep reminding yourself that there really is no reason to think things will not be absolutely fine with either your DD or your DS. I will keep my fingers crossed. Let us know how it goes.

DrCosyIiger - what a lovely post. I remember you, and your story. I think to find out that your child has any problem is just such a shock, and I was so, so upset about it that the hip ishoo will always be a source of anxiety for me, even when dd is 30! That harness is really a fantastic, amazing piece of velcro lederhosen! I will definitely think of you next Thursday and am so glad your dd was successfully treated, and you can now support others in the same way.

Hopefully we'll both have good news next week. And to make you feel at ease, the harness is so effective, it works in 90pc of cases. My dd has always been normal at every check. At the first annual one, she was 12mo, and on the 'edge' of the normal range. Last year she was slap bang in the middle of it.

I will let you know if you let me know!

Bump for any evening wisdom...

Starting to feel lonely now, bump!

Not sure if this is helpful or not, but I have hip dysplasia and I'm now 34 years old (diagnosed when I was twenty.) Even if your DD is diagnosed again (and you're more likely to win the lottery or be hit by a meteorite) I definitely wouldn't panic about it. I haven't had casts, or operations, or anything. I'm just allowed no high-impact sports [but still climb mountains]. At some point they will operate, but at least ten years off. I could die of cancer or some other disease by then! And I'm not alone - I believe Sara Cox (DJ) is the same.

Perhaps that will make you feel a bit calmer about the whole thing?

That's so interesting, ilovemountains. I must admit, there has never been any suggestion that she would have a reoccurence, but at the back of my mind, I keep thinking but there must be a chance or they wouldn't follow up til they were five.

I don't think she's a high impact sports person...

Didn't know about Sara Cox....

I hope now it was Sara Cox now I've put it on the internet, my Mum told me!

Wikipedia to the rescue, Sara Cox was born with a dislocated hip (phew)

Both Brooke Shields and Mick Hucknall's dd's wore the pavlik. Sharing celeb hip stories!

I'm still here too PinkJenny and still hand holding And loving the celeb hip stories. Maybe one day our DDs will join their ranks and inspire others?

Oh just realised it wasn't actually Mick Hucknell and Brooke Shields who wore the pavlik but their DDs. Oh well. Still good to know we're not alone!

PinkJenny, like others have mentioned, I was also born with Hip Dysplacia after my Mum had to deliver me normally even though I was breech (having had my first DD a year ago, all I can say is OUCH!).

I had to wear a hip splint for the first 6 months and I too and absolutely fine! Didn't give me any problems in childbirth either - it was only actually having a baby that caused me problems - my hips were fine!!

HTH and good luck!!

xx

Hi, I've posted on dysplasic hip threads before. DD wore a Pavlik for 10 weeks and was diagnosed due to family history. MIL wasn't diagnosed at all until she was 4. The fallout of 3 years walking on dyslocating hips have given her a lifetime of pain and problems.

I would (and will, when the time comes for us!) think of the appointment like this:

1. These are very much "for the avoidance of doubt" appointments, they will be fully expecting to see healthy hips - not the reverse

2. Expertise in this field is moving on all the time and we need to be tracking the progress of all these "repair" success cases, to prove Pavliks really do work!

3. From your post its clear you haven't seen any signs of your DD having any hip problems or not developing normally - this is a great sign

4. I would still rather they pick up the (extremely unlikely) problems to be fixed now, than my DD go through what my MIL has and does every day:
   *no proper sports or running around
   *double hip replacement at 38 and a further one since

• pronounced limp and leg deformation
• continuous pain. She is prescribed the same painkillers you get post csection (diclofenac) but double the strength - for everyday use.

I'm sure all will be fine for your DD. Good luck.
Even if the tiniest possibility of your worst nightmare comes true and the do diagnose something, you'll be there for you DD to ensure she's fit and healthy before she's even grown up.

Herethereandeverywhere - I may print this out and take it with me!!

My niece has/had hip dysplasia in both hips, treated with a Dennis Brown Bar (it was caught relatively early but she was a big baby so too big for a pavlik). I think she wore it for 3 months in total but was told she would have regular checks until she'd stopped growing, so don't be downhearted if your children don't get discharged.

Tyler80 - dd definitely won't be discharged on Monday, as I said in my op she will be checked until she is 5yo. There isn't actually anything wrong with ds's hips, and there never was. That's why he hopefully will be discharged.

I have a knot in my stomach the size of a small country now.

I have a knot in my stomach the size of a small country now.

Now then PinkJ, take a deep breath and repeat after me ... There is absolutely no reason to worry. I know you will and I'll most likely be the same on Thursday but the chances of there being a problem with either of your DCs is absolutely miniscule. So try and get some sleep and remember I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. What time is the appt?

2.15pm, DrCosyTiger. It's fair to say my knees are knocking a bit now! I alwasys feel so guilty about worrying, I mean Alder Hey is full of heartbreaking scenes, where our problems pale into comparison.