MY FIRST APPT WITH DR. PIEHL

As my first appt with Dr. Piehl was fast approaching I had tried to do as much research on PAO sugery as I possibly could.

Within the time period between the appointments I had my CT scan and my MRI
my ct scan only confirmed my bi-lateral hip dysplasia not much more than that

My MRI was extremely painful with the injection (contrast) in the hip, as soon as they started to put the needle into my hip it started to spasm and felt like it needed to be popped so they had to stop so I could stand up and pop my hip after that it wasnt bad at all.

Then they wheeled me to the room where the MRI machine was
and they tied my legs together, explained the process to me gave me earplugs
and the MRI started it took about an hour from what I remember
really loud knocking and very confined space
wasnt too bad just annoying and uncomfortable.

I received my MRI report and cd the next day as I work at the hospital
where it was performed.
It was not a good idea to go pick up the report thats for sure
the report stated bi-lateral hip dysplasia yet again
then it also stated I have and anterior and posterior tear to my labrum
I was quite dissapointed and upset with these results but tried to keep my head up
as I am not a radiologist or Othopaedist and really dont know how to read in Dr. terms
so I tried to stay positive until my visit.

Well May 29th fastly approached
I got put in a patient room and they gave me these nifty blue shorts to wear
so Dr. Piehl could do another ROM test on me and watch me walk

after watching me walk doing ROM and taking a few more xrays
he explained to me that I do indeed have Bi lateral hip dysplasia
also have a completely torn labrum (hints the clicking and popping in my hint joint)
and that I also have what they call pincer impingement essentially my hip sockets are rotated backwards.
This was quite a hit to my emotions.

At this point we started discussing surgery and he stated I would need a PAO and labrum tear repair, he put my MRI up on the screen and explained everything to me, he let me know that the dysplasia is not the blunt of my problem but rather my rotated hip sockets allowing incorrect coverage to my hip joint.

We spend quite a bit of time reviewing my x-rays and pulled up my mothers as well to put them side by side which was neat since she goes to the same Dr. office as me

I decided that I cannot live with this pain for much longer as there is days that I cannot walk.
Dr. Piehl explained the PAO surgery in that they essentially go in and cut your bones in three places and realign the bones so that they correctly cover the hip socket.
and also while in there repair the labrum tear
he states the surgery will take around 5-7 hours
and that I will be in the hospital 5-7 days


Although there is days that I feel normal and sometimes question if I am making the right decision.
I know that I have made the right decision to go ahead with this surgery because over all my quality of life is very poor.
I am unable to go shopping,biking,hiking,work out, run, or any activity for that matter without my hip completely being so irritated I am in tears.

I scheduled my surgery for September 24, 2009
at Palmetto Health Richland Columbia SC ( I work here as well which im excited about!!!!!!)

THE DIAGNOSIS/ 1ST APPT

This is the first time I have ever done a blog so please bear with me if I start rambling on.
It all started when I was around age 19 just out of high school I started having pain in my hips sometimes the pain would shoot up my back and down my legs, but since I was so active at the time I attributed it to a pulled muscle/strain and kept on trucking on. I was very active in high school I was a cheerleader and also a swimmer!!!! I worked out religiously as well and tried my hardest to stay in shape. After graduating high school in 2001 I still stayed active in coaching at ACX for a summer with summer camps. I also tried to do the open team the following year and that is when the pain really started in my hips. We were doing toe touch backhandsprings and suddenly I felt myself not able to do toe touches as well as before. I had to drop off the team due to this, from that point forward my hip would click and pop every now and then and after popping (sort of like you do your knuckle) it would feel better for a few hours then need to be popped again. I sort of just dealt with it thinking nothing of it. As the years seemed to fly by the pain kept getting significantly worse year by year. In January of 2009 I got a new job with Health insurance benefits I decided that it was time to finally find out what was going on in my hip.

Fast forward to May 1, 2009
I scheduled my appt months in advance because my insurance was effective April 23,2009.
My mother recently just had both of her hips done she had hip resurfacing on both and has done tremendously well!!!!
I scheduled my appointment with her Dr. Dr. Thomas Gross in Columbia SC at Midlands Orthopaedics.
I was nervous but was hoping that he was just gonna say its arthirits or bursitis and give me some anit inflammatories/cortisone shot and send me on my merry way.

As I arrived at the office did paperwork and insurance stuff etc.
I sat in the waiting room for around 45 minutes

I had already had my X-ray's done and had them with me for him to look at.

I was called back by his nurse and she set me up with a survey all about what made my pain worse, what type of pain etc.

After answering these questions Dr. Gross came in and did a ROM exam on me
needless to say I was in tears after this from all the pushing and pulling etc.

He pulled my xrays up on the computer screen, and then the bad news began

He stated I had bi-lateral hip dysplasia and was most likely born with it (my mother had the same thing)

and then after that he pretty much was blunt with me and stated surgery is the only way to correct the problem.

I BURST out into tears thank God my mother was there to comfort me
and she knew the emotions that I was feeling as she had to have surgery on her hips as well.

he stated they would like to try a different surgery on me since I am so young they didnt want to do THR or Resurfacing because putting artifical parts in my body at such a young age is not practical.

Thats when we started discussing the Ganz Osteotomy or Peri Acetabular Osteotomy, he told me that he doesnt specialize in this surgery however his partner Dr. Frederick Piehl in the same practice does since he is a pediatric Ortho surgeon.

Dr. Gross took more xrays of my hips in some pretty weird and painful positions so that at my next appt with Dr. Piehl he would have a better look
he also wrote orders for an MRI and a CTSCAN.

As I left the office full of emotion and just utter shock I tried to stay positive
my next appt was May 29th.

THE START OF MY JOURNEY!!!

This is the start of my journey!!! I will be posting more in the coming days about my diagnosis and the emotions that follow thank you for checking out my blog!!!!!