22 and Need Hip Replacement

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-25-2004
22 and Need Hip Replacement
4
Thu, 09-29-2005 - 12:24pm

My name is Jennie and I came here in seek of some help, answers, and advice. I'm 22 years old and need a hip replacement, possibly my femur, and maybe even my knee. 3 years ago, I had an accident at my former employer's and broke my hip. I was then diagnosed with Fibrous Dysplasia and told that it would never progress, get worse, or cause any more fractures. I had surgery to install a metal plate down the length of my hip and femur. I was told that the plate would stabilize my hip and that would be that. Well, fast forward to a few months back, and I was pregnant with my son. I suffered a fracture on the socket that I didn't know about. When my DS was 5 week old (this was 5 weeks ago), I stood up from the couch to lay him in his bassinet so I could go to the bathroom. I had an awful popping and pain. My DH made me go to the urgent care and there they discovered not only did I have a stress fracture at the ball joint, but that the disease has progressed. I went to an orthpaedic doctor and he discovered a spot on the X-Ray he believes to be either a tumor or Osteonecrosis. He said I have major joint degenerative issues and another issue that he isn't sure is Fibrous Dysplasia after all. My only option is a hip replacement at Duke. He said if I didn't have one, my hip would continue to fracture and break down to the point that I couldn't walk anymore. I have a CT scan and a bone scan scheduled for next Wednesday. I know that a hip replacement is in the very near future. But, how am I do recover? I have a 10 week old baby and a 5 yr old DSD. DH said that DSD would go back to her mother for the time being. But, how do I get care? My own mother won't come out to help me for a couple weeks. My MIL is moving to Minnesota in a couple of weeks. I have nobody. My grandmother wants me to come stay with her for the duration of my recovery. But, I don't want to be away from my husband. We already have a handicapped apartment, so that's ok. But, I can't bear to be away from him and he doesn't want me to be away. He wants to help out as much as possible. I'm thinking of just backing out of the surgery.

What should I do?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2003
Thu, 09-29-2005 - 3:40pm
You have to do what you both feel is right but seriously what shape will you be in if you don't have the surgery?
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-25-2004
Thu, 09-29-2005 - 4:10pm
I'll wind up in a wheelchair. It has progressed so fast in three years, I'd hate to think what I'd be like in another three. I need to have it done, but I really want to be home. Home is where I'm comfortable and feel safe. Home is where my husband and children (DS and DSD) are. I need to be with my husband, not away from him. We'd rarely get to see eachother b/c of his work schedule. With me being home, he'd try to work set hours with no on-call time. He's a service tech, so he's always on the road. He doesn't want to be away from DS either. DS does not work well alone. I'd hate to see who'd been warming my side of the bed while recovering. He's a weak-willed man who can't resist temptation.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2003
Thu, 09-29-2005 - 4:20pm

I don't know you or your dh but I hope he loves and respects you enough to only be thinking of you when he's laying in bed at night instead of having some chick there with him.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 09-30-2005 - 1:50pm

Greetings and Welcome jenniekg,


Backing out of surgery IS NOT AN OPTION! Anything could happen to make it worse!


cl-flowers