SCFE and its effects years later...

[Bethany88]

I was wondering if there is anyone out there who has had surgery for SCFE as a child and is now suffering from early onset arthritis and constant hip pain. I am 29 years old and has two surgeries to repair SCFE when I was 10 and 13. I was slightly overweight (not obese) as a child, which I have been told was a contributing factor. I was told to resume normal physical activity shortly after the second surgery, which I had done and continue to do. At 28, after vigorous weight training workouts, I began experiencing sharp groin and dull outer hip pain, and after finally going to see a doctor have been given a pretty crappy prognosis. The doctors seem to think that I have begun feeling the effects of arthritis and are talking eventual hip replacement as soon as 10 years from now. Is there anyone to whom this has happened? If so, how have you gone about physically making the best of it? What courses of action have you taken (cortisone, arthroscopic surgery, etc?) I just want some guidance from someone who has been through it, not a doctor telling me what "could" happen. Thanks.

[Stomper123]

I had SCFE in 1969 and had my left hip pinned. While the surgery was largely successful I was left with a leg  that rotated outwards and with one leg shorter than the other.  At the age of 28 I started to experience severe pain in my hip again and was diagnosed with arthritis with bone rubbing on bone. My  orthopaedic surgeon recommended my best course of action would be a femoral osteotomy . I  subsequently had this surgery and have had 30 pain free years. I ran, did Zumba, Body Jam, Body Combat and played tennis . Only in the past couple of months have I started getting pain in my hip again and look like having a hip replacement.

[SturgeJ17]

I had my left hip pinned when I was 12, they said the chance of the other one going was 70% but it looked good so we just did the one. One leg is now slightly taller than the other, so I have a slight limp, its barely noticeable. Im 23 now, every now and again I will get sharp pains or aching but nothing too bad. As of recently, my hip cracks or clicks with sharp pain but only for a moment. I was told when I got the pin that I could be a candidate for a hip replacement in the future.

[ThePegleg]

Strange the original question was asked in 2008 & Sturge (above) & I are online for the same issue.

I had my surgery on my left hip 23 years ago aged 13. Late diagnosis, so my hip had slipped to quite a degree. Problem sorted, still have had pain, left leg slightly shorter (so a minor limp). My biggest regret was a slight loss in mobility, awkward running & unable to ride a bike (hip turns my leg outward when lifting knee up - very painful & really miss cycling).

23 years on, I can walk (joy!). But hip mobility seems worse, the shorter leg limp has contributed to awful back pain & my damn hip clicks like a mutha. These issues may well be contributed to carrying one too many pounds but I'm considering getting an assessment. Some sort of yoga might be on the cards & physio.

Overall, it's really interesting to hear similar stories. I thought I was the only burgeoning cripple (friends don't understand) but there are some shocking stories out there, so it ain't so bad.

[FrostHip]

I am now 30 years old. However, I had my hips pinned 1 year apart when I was 10 and 11.

All I can say is that I now have advanced osteoarthritis in my left hip and mild in my right. The knee pain is excruciating. I suffer every day and my quality of life is zero. I am extremely depressed and many surgeons have turned me away because I am too young for a THR.

I have an appointment with another surgeon on July 20th and I am scared he will also say no. They truly don't do enough research on the effects of SCFE later on in life. Pediatric orthopedic surgeons fix up the kids and then forget about them. As adults we struggle to find a surgeon who will help us. It is a true nightmare. :(

[AboutToLoseIt]

I know your struggles all too well and I'm sorry you're going through this as well. I've had a THR at age 30, then 2 more all in a period of 2 years. My first THR broke during a seizure and my second came loose. I'm now 42 and suffer daily from pain in numerous joints and now having severe back trouble from years of limping. I'd like to know how you are doing now and "compare notes".

[jprice125]

For the parents: the advice I was given at age 20 was to stay active, but to listen to my body. And that is what I did. I'm now 39 and have had issues off-an-on, but the activity has pushed the symptoms out longer, says an orthopod a few years back.

I had my left hip pinned at 12 and the pins removed at 13 due to a SCFE. I came on this site as I've had various orthopedic issues over the years and I know it all relates back to the hip. My hip is degenerating and I will get arthritis and a new hip eventually, I've come to terms with that. But I stay active, until I have an issue. Most recently, my lower back went out on me. And all I was doing was reaching for something on the floor. Frustrating!  I'm going to a consult next week with a new orthopod, as it seems my issues have been increasing the past two years (the kickboxing I do has nothing to do with that, I'm sure!). But it is helpful to read others's stories.

And to the kids.....you'll get through this. You will be limited in activity. But once you're cleared, stay active. And one thing I wished I'd done more of early on was YOGA. My range of motion is fine for having the issue, but it isn't where I want it. And as you get older, trying to get more flexible in the hips gets harder. STRETCH to go along with your activities.

Take care eveyone.....JP

[QueenJean18]

is there a facebook page to stay connected with people whom have similar issues as I do??

[whiteclematis]

I am 58 this year. I too had both my hips pinned when I was 12, One was because the surgeon explained it was likely to happen to my other hip. Two years later I had the pins removed. Throughout that time and sometime after the last operation I was not allowed to do PE at school. I think it has made me not as fit as I should be, nowadays this would not be the case.
I felt really good after the operations once up on my feet again and have had many good years that nobody would ever guess I had ever had hip problems if they did not see my scars. The scars were for me as a young girl quite a problem, I was very self concious and went from loving swimming to never going. I'd never sit on a beach in a swimsuit either, I notice the scars from people having this op over 40 years later are so much better. These days I dont care so much about it. Also Like somone else says I could not sit cross legged and there were some restrictions where I did not have the flexibility of others but I could hide it in most situations by doing things a different way. I had babies no problem.
It is in later years I now have arthritis in my knees, I have good and bad days, it is also slightly in my hips, they get fixed in bed at times, but my knees are the worse. I am told I am too young for a knee replacement and from what I see of friends who have had knee replacements not many are that successful. I am overweight and feel lack of exercise in my youth has not helped with managing it and if I could get more willpower going I'm sure losing weight would help the arthritis.
To look at me you would see I am overweight but on the days my knee pain is at bay nobody would know I had any other problems.
If I can help anyone please ask.