I am looking for anyone who might have had Legg Perthes Desease as a child and is now living with the result of it? I have a 28 year old son that now has osteoarthritis and need hip replacement. Any advice?

Do a google search under "Avascular Necrosis" AVN is a disease(my husband has it) that causes the bones to die at the joints(hip replacements and core decompressions are common among sufferers) but from my research on the disease I have found that Perth's disease is what AVN is called in children. There is a site devoted exclusiveley to OVN/AVN and will answer all of your questions. My husband did not have Perth's as a child. He developed AVN after taking steroids for a hernated disc (prednisone). I know another 32 year old woman who took prednisone and developed AVN and just had both hips replaced. I remember reading about the Perths disease being linked with AVN on the site and being classified as the childhood version. There is a previous post on this board from a man who's was asking the same questions about a 10-11 year old boy about a month ago. Good luck to your son. OVN/AVN is a very painful,time consuming disease. He is lucky to have a good support system in place. My husband and I have been going thru this for 2 years and still face more surgery and numerous doctor visits. Watching him struggle in pain is hard because I can't help him there, I can only try to stay abreast of the latest info and be ready to quiz the doctor at every visit. I think that is what I have been able to do the best for him. I refuse to let him be blindly led down every path the doctor suggests without investigating everything about it and then making informed decisions about how it may affect us personally. It would be so easy to just trust in a doctor but I've learned that to them,we are just another name on a chart and another body on the operating table so its up to us to question and investigate EVERYTHING and ask people who have been there if this is what is really best and if it is as successful as we are led to believe.

Hi. I am looking for any perthes person who uses crutches. The reason I ask is that I am having problems with my son's school and our local Hospital. So if you could help I would be very greatfull, or if you know any one or if you could pass this on.

E mail [removed]

Many thanks.
Tony.



I am looking for anyone who might have had Legg Perthes Desease as a child and is now living with the result of it? I have a 28 year old son that now has osteoarthritis and need hip replacement. Any advice?

I had this disease at age 6, I am female and I am now 40. I have a slight limp and occasional aches, but other than that, I really dont think about it. I wish I could help more but I seem to have the same health concerns as most people my age. If you have any specific questions - post again and I'll help if I can.

I was diagnosed with Legg Calve Perthes Disease at age 10 by age 12 i had a right hip fusion. I am now 26 years old and the mother of 2 boys. I too have athritis in both hips. It is very painful and I use a cane, and wheelchair when needed. I have been to ortho doctors after ortho doctors and Unfortunatly someone that is our age cannot have a replacement now. The main reasons why are we will outlive the replacement which will result in future replacements. With every replacement there is bone loss eventually by the time we are in our late 60's early 70's the quality of the bone isnt good enough to hold because by that time we would be working on our 3rd or 4th replacement. It's a really tough situation. I have been looking for a doctor to do it for 3 years now and can not find one. They all say that i am perfect cantidate for a replacement x-ray, pain, and health wise however doing one so young would make my quality of life worse when i become older than it is now.
also when i was in school with LCPD i used crutches and a wheelchair. If you are haveing problems with the school accomidating your son and crutches mention the American's with Disabilities Act. It is manditory for all public schools to accomodate the disabled whether it be a lift for stairs or letting the child out of class early to accomodate them with crutches. I (and 1 per to carry my books) was allowed out of class 5 minutes early so that i wouldnt get knocked down during class change. They also bought a lift to get me up stairs.

Hi. I am looking for any perthes person who uses crutches. The reason I ask is that I am having problems with my son's school and our local Hospital. So if you could help I would be very greatfull, or if you know any one or if you could pass this on.

E mail [removed]

Many thanks.
Tony.
Tony
When I was eight I was diagnosed with Perthes Disease and was on cructhes at school. My school painted big striped squares on all the blind corners and educated the other students that they were not allowed to run around corners. They also included me in the sport carnivals by letting me compete in the three legged race against the other kids. They allowed me to participate in most activities, even if it was to by a line referee or some other type involvement. I am now 37 and lead an active life with no side effects and have quite fond memories of my time in a brace and on crutches. Good luck and I hope the school thinks a little more laterally and helps it's other students be tolerant of people with differences or disablilities even if they are only short term.

undefinedI am looking for anyone who might have had Legg Perthes Desease as a child and is now living with the result of it? I have a 28 year old son that now has osteoarthritis and need hip replacement. Any advice?


Lois, I am a 28 year old guy who is living with legg perthes i was diagnosed when i was 5 back in 1981 i was given the option for hip replacement but never considered it due to the fact once i start i will never stop until i am in my sixtys so i have done nothing until a few years ago i went on pain management and applyed for disability. This disease sucks to live with and unless you have it you can't relate to the intense pain at night or after or during a phiscal time of day. The one thing i am trying to find is an orthopedic doc to consider the possability of breaking, shaving, resculpting, or the use of bone paste to reshape my femoral head and socket. Whitch i am sure your sons is as abnormal as mine and as far as i know this is what causes the pain and arthritus. All i can give for advice to your son is this , do what he can when he can stop when it hurts and don't take a ton of anti inflamatories. If i get any results whith my quest for a doc who is willing to experiment on me i will let you know. :)

To All on this thread,
I to suffer from LCPD when i was 5 in 1981 they really new nothing of the disease. so when it came to light this is what i had i was first put in traction for 3 months then as that did not work i was put in a brace for 3 months and as that did not work i was taken to surgery and had a plate and 2 pins placed between my femoral head and socket so for a total of 6 months i was in a body cast. My school was always great but i could not go because of the body cast being wide open in the area of my Privates. other than that i have seen the same Doctor for 22 years he finaly retired in 2002 and now with the tech. of the medical discoveries i am hoping a Doctor will tell me that they can some how break or make my bones generate gerth and then shape it to a more normal shape and cure my problem. when your bone breaks it develops a large area of repair so why cant my hip do the same? and then be reshaped by sanding or ect.? so this is my quest. More to com later as i have more time to type.

My husband had Legg Perthes at age 5 he went thru three years of treatment ect. Casts, braces, surgery ect. He is now 44 and really has no serious problems. He has what is refered to as Big Hip syndrome, where the femoral head completely fills the hip joint, but it really doesn't bother him.
The ortho's don't do the surgery the same way now, so that this syndrom doesn't occur in most patients. He was told some 12 years ago that he would require hip replacement. He hasn't needed it, as long as he stays physically active he's fine. If He doesn't keep up with the physical activity his muscles give him trouble.
I hope that this helps.

PS Our youngest son who is now 13 had it as well and had surgery ect at age 6. He's doing great, Has 95% of Range of Motion ect.

I am a 48 year old female. i was diagnosed at age 4 with Legg Perthes. I spent 2 years in an A frame weighted traction and 3 more in leg braces during the day and a weight on the leg at night. I have gone on to have two knee surgeries to remove cartiliege in the knees and live in constant pain. I have tried to remain active but lately the pain is winning. Can't find a doctor who will do knee or hip replacements...Yes I know they only last so long but I still have kids at home to keep up with.. When does quality of life become the reason to do this.. When they are gone I can handle being crippled up more I need the mobility today! Very frustrating.

I am a 48 year old female. i was diagnosed at age 4 with Legg Perthes. I spent 2 years in an A frame weighted traction and 3 more in leg braces during the day and a weight on the leg at night. I have gone on to have two knee surgeries to remove cartiliege in the knees and live in constant pain. I have tried to remain active but lately the pain is winning. Can't find a doctor who will do knee or hip replacements...Yes I know they only last so long but I still have kids at home to keep up with.. When does quality of life become the reason to do this.. When they are gone I can handle being crippled up more I need the mobility today! Very frustrating.

I'm 14 now, and was diagnosed with Legg-Calvé Perthes when I was 5. I had the casts and braces and all that and had surgery when I was 7. Since then, I rarely ever have hip pain anymore. My orthopedist recommended swimming as a good exercise.

Earthbecky, do you have osteoarthritis as a result of Legg perthes? Constant pain is enough of a reason for a hip replacement, I think. I'm not sure where you're from, but here in NJ, Dr. Robert Goldman is an excellent orthopedist who specializes in knees and hips and regularly performs knee/hip replacements.

I was diagnosed with Leggs Perthes when I was a kid. I guess my parents saw me limping. I am now 18 and realizing how unfortunate this disease is. When I was a kid up until about 16 i never noticed my hip a bit. But recently it started to get real stiff, it pops real loud every time i get up and take a step, and is occaisionaly sore. The doctor said i wouldnt need a hip replacement till im 50, but if my hip continues worsen at this rate i dont see how i could last that long. For all you parents out there who have kids with this, do everything you can to correct it, they will thank you for it in their later years.

I also had Legg Perthes when I was a young child. Detected due to a limp, treated with traction, braces and crutches. Also had a lot of non-load bearing exercise swimming. (I was the only child allowed in the deep end!)Apparently recovered very well. I am now 53 and in fine health. I have worked as a ski instructor for last 3 years. I do experience leg pain (ITB syndrome) and have imperfect leg alignment and length. But these pains are likely no worse than any other 50's wanna-be athlete. I am completely mobile and capable, even athletic at times.

I was fortunate to have awareness from a careful parent, and a great baby doctor (Dr. Carl Holmes, deceased). I hope you have a successful outcome as well.

I was diagnosed with it at age 3 and am 25 now. My parents were told that I was one of the youngest the doctors ever heard of to be diagnosed with it. I was treated traction, a removable cast up to my chest and lots physical therapy. It doesn't usually bother me now, though I do get some aches sometimes, especially during the winter. I know I'll probably end up with arthritis and such someday though.

Hi. I have Legg Calves Perthes Disease. I ahve had it since I was 3 years old. I went through everything you can think of. I am now 22 years old I had a double hip replacement done this year. And it help with the pain. I am still have the limp and I had a worst case of Legg Calves Perthes Disease. Can't bend my hips at all so I still have the problems. But for your answer A hip replacement does help with pain and since he don't have a bad case of it then it is a great idea. If you want to email me about it more email me at [ please carefully review the posting rules - no emails ]

i am 62 years of age and for the past year i have been having problems with pain in the joint of my left hip. in 1947 or 1948 at age 6, i had pain in my left hip to the point that i couldn't walk. this was the years when polio was raging across the nation and my parents were sure i had polio. i was referred to the alabama crippled children's clinic in birmingham and diagnosed with legg perthese. hip replacements were not available at that time and we were told that complete rest of the hip was necessary.

they put me on crutches and told me to not put my left foot on the ground but that iddn't work. they build up my right show so my left foot wouldn't touch the ground but that didn't work. the doctor told my dad that it was critical that i not place any weight on the left hip. my dad carried me to a harness shop that made harness for animals. dad designed a type of halter made from leather straps that would buckle around me simiilar to a vest. he also designed one to strap around my left shoe, and it had a small "o" ring attatched to it. he would put these on me, pull my left foot up behind my back and hitch the "o" ring to a swivle snap on the waist strap of the halter around me. this kept my left leg, bent at the knee, attatched behind my waist, and i walked with the crutches and my left foot didn't touch the ground. it took about 2 years for my perthese to heal and i have had very few problems with it over the years, some occasional pain usually from vigorous activity. i have led a normal life.

about a year ago i began having pain that i thought was associated with a vertebra pinching the siatic? nerve, but this has persisted and my orthapedic doctor thinks the perthese healed and left the ball and socked somewhat deformed, possibly a flat place on the ball part. i have had two injections of steroid in th eleft hip joint since january,2005, but i still have the pain. he thinks i will have to have a replacement at some point soon, and i agree because i cannot function too well at this point.

i wonder if someone has had success with dealing with the hip pain with injections or other methods. i really don't want a replacement but i may have to undergo the process. thanks, daddy rabbit

I am 29, male, Hungarian. At the age of 8 I was diagnosed with Perthes. The symtom was only limping, without pain. We had two options: rest for a year in bed or surgery. I chose surgery and they cut/broke my leg, fixed it with bolts for 6 months. Than took out the bolts. Doctors said the bone will recover and by the process, the head of the leg bone will grow harder.
I had to swim and cycle as gentle sports. Additionally I was not allowed to grow fat or muscular more than normal (to keep my weight low).
Now i am OK, no limping at all, sometimes can feel unusual tiredness in the leg. I try not to walk or run too much...

i have been back to another doctor that was recommended by my orthapedic man. he took new x-rays yesterday and showed me what is wrong with my hip. the perthese that i had as a child healed but left the ball part of the hip joint mashed flat to some degree. the ball is more oval than round, and is much wider than tall. the long bone(femur?) of the left leg did not develop as the right one did. the left leg is shorter than the right. the doctor told me to think about it and call to set up the replacement. he said i can't do anything to stop the pain and replacement is the only way to go.

this doctor has been replacing hips since 1987 and also does knees. he said he and the doctors he works with do about forty operations each week. he told me he would make a four inch incision and the new hip would be different kinds of metals that when heated forms a ceramic coating over the metal. he thinks everything will be ok as long as i do the rehab and recovery correctly.

i would like to hear from any who have had replacements and how they have done in rehab and in the long run. daddy rabbit

pip48a i hope your son will get advice from someone that could possibly deep him from getting worse as he ages. see my post on this site under user name daddy rabbit

I am looking for anyone who might have had Legg Perthes Desease as a child and is now living with the result of it? I have a 28 year old son that now has osteoarthritis and need hip replacement. Any advice?

I am a 29 year old female diagnosed with Legg calve Perthes disease when I was 11 after having problems for over a year before my mother ever took to to see a Dr. My hip had dislocated and had grew attached to my Pelvis. I was waking up during the night in screaming pain. We were poor and had no insurance. Surgery was done on the second day after diagnoses, I walked on crutches for 2 years after my hip was repaired and I had pins in the right hip for about 16 months the pins were removed and I had to wait another 8 months before I could return to a weight bearing status. Now at age 29 my femoral head is flat my leg will only move in 2 directions without severe pain and I cant find a Dr. willing to replace my hip. They all say we have to wait it out,I have been told by 3 doctors I need it done but That I am just to young. I filed for disability in 99 I still dont have it. I recently found out that I have Rhumetoid arthritis I have had both knees operated on because of the damage the RA has done. I am 60% disabled. What I have read if they catch this disease Perthes before the age of 8 and under, the recovery is great with no adult disability because the bone will grow back to normal. How true this is I am unsure since I was 11 and I did sustain permanent disability from this. I live every day in pain I can't sit through ball games with my boys I can't take long walks even on flat ground and any job I have, I need to be able to lay down, stretch out or walk around on unsceduled times, I have been unsuccesful at finding this job. Since I never really attended school a lot after that due to my inability to sit in class for long periods of time, i really have no education 7th grade the last school year on chrutches and in a wheelchair. This disease really took its impact on my life in so many different areas then and getting worse as the years go by, my rhummy told me that I have the bones of a 60 year old woman. Also make sure he takes a blood test for rhumetoid arthritis because its something you develop after bone trauma such as a dislocation due to Perthes disease.

Thanks Deanna

Hey i got this when i was about 3 had braces for a while never really bother me till i turned 22 got to were i had bad pan in my leg chould not walk now that want fix my hip dont know if im gonna do this or not i cant work cuzz im n pain most of the time work on get ssi but not work out well for me i dont know what to do im still young but i fill like im 80 cant do what all my friend do cuzz of this prob i thank i got a bad case of it cuzz its now got artritus n both legs and n my back

I had legg perthes as a child. I was 7 years old, I had to wear a brace for a year and a half and later (in the 6th grade) chip the bone in the same hip. I am now 30 years old and a couple of years ago I was diagnosed with arthritis, rumetisim and nerve damage. I have three children. I am in the same spot as some of you. I have been denied a hip replacement based on my age and have been turned down for disability. I now work full time and I am a student. Doctors told me to get trained for a job sitting down, then when I turn about 50 or 60 they will give me a replacement. I was wondering if anyone has found any non-medication ways to help with the pain. I am in pain everyday but I have to support my family. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am glad to have found this message board, finally there are others that understand what it's like to deal wiht this.

Hi, I was diagnosed with Leggs-Calve Perthes disease when I was around 11yrs. old. I started to camplain of more than normal pain so my mother took me to the doctor. I played sports up until the diagnosis, but was still active ariund the neighborhood. I was in marching band from 13-18 and could jog for short periods of time. At age 12, the doctors told me that I would need a hip-replacement soon but that there were other treatments. So they put me on crutches, put in a lift in my right shoe and on the bottom of it, put me in physical therapy and perscribed naproxen. In my case, the lack of blood flow to my right pelvic region caused of the condition, therefore causing my right leg to grow slower than the other leg for period of time, or stop growing for a period of time. My parents tried to keep me the on crutches but could not because the pain was minor and the pressure to be like other kids was too great. The next step the doctors tried was to sleep with a back brace to minimize the scoliosis caused from the different shortness in my legs. Again my youth prevented me from keeping the brace on through the night due to comfortableness.
From age 14-23 the pain has been a dull, constant, throbbing pain that came and went with no warning, but recently has taken a whole new turn. I am now 24 and for the last two weeks have been experiencing more pain in my affected leg than I have ever felt. Even though I believe my pain is really bad, my condition is still not as bad as others. I have been going to gym on and off since I was 17, but have been mostly working on upper body. At age 20 I started using a cardiovascular machine called an"Eliptical Trainer" and stretching before and after usage. It almost made my hip feel like a normal hip even though I could not run or lift real weight with it. I could go on long hikes, sleep without pain, etc.... When I stopped going to the gym because of some stupid reason, my leg would not really hurt that much. So when I returned to the gym to reactivate my hip muscles, I would go through a 3-4 day period of pain and then I would be back in the swing of things. 3 months ago I stopped going to the gym but had no major leg pain afterward. I started stretching 1 month ago to ease my gym transition, and hurt my hip very badly somehow! Was'nt doing anything different, maybe I've taken the hip as far as I could go and now all I can do is let it die.
I do reccomend to anyone with Leggs-Calve Perthes disease at any age to swim, easy streatching, LIGHT weight bearing cardiovascular exercise machine(s). There is also a natural method of reducing the amount of weight one puts on their joints with correct posture and body usage. It is called Alexander technique and I am starting to take lessons again, i'm hoping these Alexander lessons will help my joints stay intact longer.

A little long, but I just found out that there were other people like me.
I have a lot of questions and no medical insurance!

Thanks,
Eric

hi
I am a 34 year old male who has had perthes disease from I was 10. I want to know if anyone who has had this disease, and did not wear a built up shoe, has had a curvature of the spine and also a thinning of the leg and how it affects their lives. I have also had pains my groin area and wondered if this has maybe happened to other sufferers my Dr has told me it is related.

I was diagnosed with perthes at age 13, a little older than most. I spent 2 weeks in weighted traction, and about a year in an A frame cast. afterwards i went through some very painful physical therapy to get back on my feet. I am now 29, and live with pain everyday. I am not very active anymore, but i used to be. i went through basic training in the air force but couldnt adapt to military life and got kicked out after 8 months. I have worked in factories and done concrete work, all of which has served to wear down my hip. I have a pronounced limp, i cant run without paying dearly for it, and cannot walk for long distances without experiencing enormous pain. My right leg is about 1/2 inch shorter than the other, and i have a spur of bone sticking out on the side of the femoral ball, which severely limits my range of motion and also causes pain. because of the difference of length between my legs, my back is constantly out of alignment, causing pinched nerves and such in my back. because of the pain in my hip, i tend to stand with all my weight on my left leg, which has caused that knee to deteriorate, and now it hurts alot of the time to. The only way i have to alleviate all this pain and discomfort is by taking 1600 mg ibuprofen, and a pain pill called ultracet. I have also found that the spur of bone protuding out of my hip also gets in a bind with some tendons or something and causes very sharp pain and i have to work my hip around to get it to pop to make it stop hurting. I was told by my doc that i wouldnt be able to walk by the time i was 30, and that i should think about getting my hip fused. I refused. I was also told that when i reach about 55, i could have a hip replacement, but not before that because it would wear out my hip socket after the second time around. I have heard of another type of hip replacement but im not too sure its any better because it uses metal. They cut the entire ball off of your femur, and run a titanium steel spike down inside the bone and bolt it in. on the top it is shaped just like the ball, and will not wear out. I dont know about anybody else, but having a large portion of titanium steel in my leg doesnt sound very comfortable, but maybe it could straighten out my pelvis and reduce the pain i now suffer.

I am a 33 year old mother of two. I was diagnosed with Legg Perthese when I was 13. I didn't have any braces when I was diagnosed. I was excluded from PE and used crutches when I was in severe pain.

Three years ago I had a total hip replacement. I have to say it was the best thing I could have done, and I wish I could have had it earlier. My doctor put me off on the surgery as long as I could. I made the decision after the birth of my last child whenI was unable to walk after visiting the grocery store, shopping mall, etc. I could not run after my kids or keep up with the house work. I was taking pain medication every four hours, so I finally decided to have the replacement and it was the best decision I had made.

There were a couple weeks of post-op pain, but nothing that couldn't be tolerated w/ medication. It has been three years, and I am completely pain free. I recommend it to anyone!

Hi.
I am a 47 year old female who had Legg Perthes in both hips at the age of 3. My mother tells me I fell one day for no reason and screamed in pain and would not attempt to stand up. The left one was painful at that time. The doctor put me into what was standard treatment for the time, which included more than a year in special shoes, and a steel brace that went all the way from the ankle to the thigh followed by crutches with a belt around my waist that was attached to my left ankle via another belt to keep my left leg off the ground. This treatment lasted well into kindergarten - I remember it well.

I was warned not to gain weight and to stay active and soon forgot all about the disease. I could never run much, as in gym class on the track - due to pain in the right joint (the left one was treated). I could never sit 'indian style' - my leg simply would not bend that way.

I had no major problems until I was 30 years old, and it was time for my son to be born. I could not have him - there was not room in my pelvis for him to pass through. I thought it strange - but after the trauma of an emergency c-section I did not think about it much.

In my mid thirties, I began having more and more incidents of extreme lower back pain, with hip pain on the right side. By the time I was 44, I lost yet another job due to not being able to keep up with the pace due to pain. Early this year, I began to suddenly gain weight for no apparent reason. By the time the problem was discovered and treatment began, I had put 100 extra pounds on my already stressed joints. I was seriously thinking that I was dying, between the pain in my hips and the other things going on.

The xrays revealed a startling picture of deformation in both hips and my pelvis. I was told hip replacement would do no good due to the deformed pelvis. There are very shallow sockets for the femur heads to rest in, and the foramen is tiny. It was explained to me that possibly because of compensating for the left hip, the right one was causing great pain even though it looks better in the x-ray than the left one does.

Now, I am fighting to keep going. Currently, I cannot walk more that about 20 feet, and need a cane to do that. I cannot stand in one place more than a few seconds - the pain in my lower back and right hip is intolerable. I have not slept well for months due to pain in my hip that feels like a throbbing spasm in the bone. The only position that relieves the pain is sitting on a rolling office chair without arms so I can splay my legs out - putting my knees together causes that horrid spasm pain. I currently take between 2400 and 3200 mg of ibuprofen a day to control the pain. I will not go into all the activities of daily living that have been disrupted. Everything has changed in life and living.

I can still work with an electric wheelchair and some additional college education. Of course, getting help for this is a long and terribly slow process. I had all my classes lined up and was registered for the fall semester this year and had to put it off due to no wheelchair. I will do just fine, I know. If you have an experience similar to mine, please share. Thanks.

I am a 27 year old mother of 4 and just got the news from an ortho dr that I will need a hip replacement. It is basically up to me when I do it. Of course they want to prolong it as long as I can, but how long can I live with the daily pain. I had legg perthes when I was 10 and have had surgery when I was 18 to reposition the hip into the socket. It has lasted until now! Any advise? Is total hip replacement the best answer??

Hi,

I am 42 years old and had Legg Perthes as a child and was on crutches from
age 6 to 8 years old. My hip was still permanantly damaged and from the age of 8, I knew that I was to have to have hip replacement one day. When I first got off the crutches, I went to one doctor that told my mother to eliminate all my activities as to not hurt the hip!!! Well, I can tell you as an active busy child, that was worse than being on crutches for 2 years!!! Then I went to another doctor that told my mother that I could do no more damage to the hip and if I could handle the pain, allow me to do anything. This doctor gave me my life back!!!!!! To this day, he is my hero. I went on to play softball for 25 straight years and played every other sport too, skiing, water skiing, basketball, you name it. (While I was playing, the adrenaline kept me from being in pain, but after I would be in pain). I learned to keep that to myself so I could keep playing. Nine years ago, the pain finally caught up with me and I had Hip Replacement done. (About 15 years ago, a doctor did a femural ostetotomy on me, 20 years after the disease and even though it was successful as far as surgery is concerned, it did nothing for me!!) It does seem like that would be a viable option if it was done when I first had the disease. For the femural ostetotomy (which was done by a different orthopedic because I was living in another city), I was on crutches for 2 weeks only. Just for the record, due to having the osteotomy done, they had to order a special hip made just for my hip replacement. I went back to my first doctor for the hip replacement and he told me that they should have never done the ostetomy at my age. The real reason I am writing this is to let you know about getting my life back from the doctor when I was 8 and to let you know that the Hip Replacement has changed my life for the better!!!! I am know longer in arthritic agony and I can do just about everything but I did promise my doctor I would quit softball and skiing after I had the surgery!!! The hip is uncemented, due to the fact that I will have to have several in my lifetime. I hope this helps!!!!

I am looking for anyone who might have had Legg Perthes Desease as a child and is now living with the result of it? I have a 28 year old son that now has osteoarthritis and need hip replacement. Any advice?

I am a 25 year old with Legg Perthes. I had my left hip replaced a couple of months ago.. Already it has relieved all of the pain that was holding me back. I live in ontario canada and have a university hospital in my city and they put in a new type of replacement they have for younger people.. It does not have any plastic parts in it, and it never requires a full replacement.. In about 20 years I will have to the titanium ball at the top of my leg, and the titanium cup insert in my pelvis changed due to wear and tear. but that will be minor surgery (in and out in 2 days) and cruches for a couple of weeks... If your son is in pain and it is effecting his everyday life, he needs to get it done.. Even though it's only been a little over 2 months for me, I am already walking and not experiencing any more pain in my left hip... I am getting my right side done in about 8 months from now and I can't wait to get it done because I will be able to be physically active for the first time in over 10 years... I recomend getting it done

I was diagnosed with B-ilateral Legg Perthes at the age of 3 in 1958. A rareity for girls since this seems to affect young men more often & very very rarely, bi-laterally in girls. I spent the next 8 yrs. on & off crutches, in a wheelchair & a most painful short period of time on leggbraces that I basically used as stilt like appendages. These we tried @ the age of 5 when the school I was to start Kindergarten in, rudely informed my mother that they didn't have "special education classes". I continue to have multiple problems to this day. I fall a lot!! Pain is an everyday part of my life along with muscle spasms sometimes so bad that my husband has to hold my legs down to keep me from jerking off the bed in the middle of the night. I too have disabling arthritis, scoliosis & nerve degeneration. However, in October of 2000 I had my right hip replaced. After spending most of the year in a wheelchair semi-confined to my home because the pain was excrutiating & embarrassing (my husband would have to go to the bathroom with me, I made noise when I moved.) Never knowing if I would be standing or on my face at the most inopportune times. I had to have some quality of life!! I wish I had done it sooner! I endured a major rebuilding of the femur, joint & socket, which had to be screwed into what was left of a portion of the pelvis, because everything had literally fallen apart and arthritis had taken over. My left hip was not in as bad a shape at the time however it has to be replaced too. The right one again, eventually. I am not and probably will never be "pain free" but it always seems that when I am at my lowest, I see someone who has no legs & I know that I am blessed.