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.

[NaryBerry]

hey, these seem to be some of the worst case scenarios. I had my left hip pinned when I was 11 and was up walking and released from the hospital the next day and the 2nd hip was pinned 6 months later as there was a 50/50  chance of it slipping out of place. I did that surgery as an outpatient and went home about an hour after the surgery. I was drowsy but went to church that evening. I was up moving around, doing light chores within 2 days. I was able to return to full physical education activities within 10 or so weeks. Now as an adult age 24, I don't have issues with either hip for the exception of flexibility, it doesn't hurt but the way my hips are pinned I am unable to do the splits ( minor issue) my scars are about 4 cm thanks to the excellent peds ortho doctor at Cedar Sini in Beveryly Hills, CA Dr. Robert Bernstein. Have your son be as active as possible post surgery as docs permit. If your son is carrying extra weight you want him to get his weight down just so that he will not become obese as an adult, extra weight puts extra weight on the joint and that can cause arthritic pain later in life. Hope this helps

[xdamer]

my name is Jordan fluekiger and I live in Wisconsin. I have this same problem. I was 12 when I first had the first pin in(left hip). it was not bad but then a mouth later my other hip hurt then again f###k me (SURGERY)!!!!!!! now 5 mouths later I'm suffering a lot of PAIN!!!!I DO NOT NOW WHAT TO DO!HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

[Gregoryb58]

I will soon be 58 years old. I had surgery on both my hips (one week apart) for SCFE in 1970 at the age of 12. Each hip was "pinned" with 3 screws, a normal procedure at that time. I spent almost a month in the hospital and then an additional couple of weeks in bed at home.That was followed by 3 months in a wheelchair and then two months on crutches. I missed 5 months of school and had to have tutor at home. My, how things have advanced! Much quicker recovery time! I have developed rather severe arthritis in both hips and suffer with moderate pain most days. I would not do anything different however, I had 35+ years with little limitation or pain and I am grateful for those years. If you are a parent facing this with a child, just be thankful that most SCFE cases result in many years of normal or near normal lives, and I am still blessed to be able to walk (though sometimes with a cane) even with arthritis. I do use a motorized cart at stores when I have to do extensive shopping, but all in all it could be a lot worse. I wish all my fellow SCFE friends all the best and keep moving!!!

[bucky73]

So pleased to have found others with similar problems. My Dr will not take me seriously, I have been complaining about pain in my right hip for quite a while now. It effects my knee also. I had my right hip pinned at 13yrs old, pins removed at 16yrs old. The pain I am experiencing now is very similar to the pain I had all those years ago (41 now). I was never warned about things like arthritis but am concerned it may be the source of pain I'm living with now. Some days I can barely walk! Hope the Dr will eventually do some research into this, I will be informing him of this forum and hope it may shed some light on the subject.

[emmakate143]

My name is Emily and i am 19 years of age. i got diagnosed with scfe when i was 12. Had surgery that next day and i was wheel chair bound for 2 months with no walking. Since then I've had 6 other surgeries to try to fix what scfe had caused since it was so severe. One surgery included as much as having my femur bones cut in half and re positioned. I am doing a research project for my college class, its on if i want to get my next surgery which will be getting the hard wear of my leg removed, I want to do so because apparently there is a very high risk that i will need a hip replacement in the future, and right now my full femur bone and joint is filled with metal. So, before that hardens they want it out. I've been online looking at the likely hood in other people who have my issue. its really hard finding someone who understands. However you guys helped me in the fact that i now know i need to get this metal out, even though I'm emotionally exhausted from surgeries. its hard being this age and not being able to run or do the things i love but i know it all happens for a reason. Thank you for letting me know im not the only one!!!

[helenparkinson]

I'm a bit freaked reading some of these comments my son got a pin in his hip just over a year ago aged 11 after diagnosis of scfe and only yesterday complained of bad pain shooting from his knee to his hip he can barely walk took him straight to hospital Sat 5 hours after getting X-Ray and ultrasound and everthing was clear and we sent home with pain relief...He's in agony right now I'm seriously considering asking them to do mri scan or something the pain has to be coming from somewhere....:(