I am starting this Blog to get the oppinions of others. I would like honesty and NOT "Poor you" I'm sick of that and want unbiased well thought oppinions. So with that I will start from the begining.
At the age of 5 I endured horrible pain in my hip, to the point climbing a simple flight of stairs caused me to sit down and slide up on my backside while using my arms to do the climbing.
My mother took me to a shriners clinic where I was diagnosed with Legg-Calve Perthes. (
for more information)I was prescribed a leg brace similar to the one seen in Forest Gump (I could not find a Picture of the item)I wore this brace everyday until I turned 8 when the doctors told me I could stop using it. (You have NO idea how happy that made an active 8yo boy. :P)
By the time I turned 12 my leg was starting to bother me again, and the Shriners decided to perform a greater trachantur advancement on my right leg at the age of 15. The doctor informed me then that this procedure would only delay the onset of Osteo Arthritis(
Will give you an Idea of the reason for the procedure) Which put me in traction for 3 months. After which the doctors said I was fit as a fiddle and could do anything I wanted.
10 Beautiful years went by and I took full advantage of my renewed health, played Paintball for 5 years, biking, running, kyaking (Ok so I could have done that anyway)and various other physical activities.
Then it started, 5 years ago during the first real cold snap of Maine winters my hip started acting up, causing enough pain that I used a cane for a week. But during the summer I had no problems. The next year it happened again, so I figured it was the arthritis that was setting in, and sure enough a week later it was fine, but throughout that winter my hip would lock or pop on me causing some serious pain.
Last year I used the cane for almost a month before I snapped out of it, and the recurring pain from popping and locking increased, and never went away during the warmer months.
Now this year I used a cane for 2 months, and my left leg was begining to hurt as well as my shoulder from putting so much weight on the cane for such an extended period of time. The pain has still not subsided and now I use a wheelchair at work to alleviate the pain.
Now I have done my research and have found several cases of Legg-Calve Perthes patients that have contracted Osteonecrosis of the hip. And I've read their stories and the symptoms that led up to and the results of the disorder. I know my body well enough to know what I am going through matches Osteonecrosis almost to a T. Including the sudden loss of use.
After reviewing the treatments for this (Hipe replacement seems the predominant resolution) I feel I have spent 15 years preparing for immobility and have mentally accepted it, so that an amputation would permanently resolve the life long issue I have been battling (Kinda hard to have pain in something that is no longer there, and yes I am aware of Phantom Pains)
Now with that on the table what are your thoughts? Am I wrong for wanting this, do I now fall under the title of Apotemnophiliac, or does my situation and problems warrant such a drastic procedure? I want truthful oppinions and outlooks, NOT Pity comments. I have listened to them my whole life, and I don't pity myself and don't like others doing it either. :P
