I'm freaking out a bit here.

[Daria Morgandorffer]

I posted the other day about my uncle (an orthopedic surgeon) thinking that my DD may have hip dysplasia. At first I thought he was crazy because I really don't see the "limp" that he's talking about but now that he's mentioned it, she does seem to have an awkward gait. It's also most common in first born girls, which she is.

If she really has this and it hasn't been caught until now (she'll be 2 next month), she'll almost certainly need hip surgery and she'd have to be in a waist-to-toe cast for SIX TO NINE MOTHERFUCKING MONTHS afterward. I'm near to tears thinking about my super active baby being confined in a cast for that long, just having to sit there. I also have no idea how we're going to deal with this if she can't go to daycare in that cast, as both my H and I HAVE to work full time to survive financially right now.


We're waiting for a call back from the doc so that we can bring her in to be X-rayed. I'm freaking out. Someone hand me a paper bag please.

[Melissa W.]

Breathe!! Like Voodoo said, you don't have a diagnosis. Talk to the doctor. Talk to a second doctor. Take it one step at a time. It absolutely sucks to be even having to deal with this but you can do it. My thoughts are with you and little one.

[ChillyMcFreeze]

T&P's coming your way! Don't make yourself sick over something you don't know for sure yet.

[copzgirl1171]

Try and relax and I know that is so much easier said than done. Could she be in the middle of a growth spurt?

It is so scary when our kids have difficulties, but focus on today and then see what tomorrow brings.

Stay strong! *hugs*

[Daria Morgandorffer]

Yea, I know I'm being irrational. I've been trying to stay in a state of denial until we know anything for certain but my MIL is calling my H constantly and freaking him out, who then is freaking me out. GAH.

[MrsDL]

T&Ps - I have no right to say not to worry, because I try to find things to worry about when it comes to GDL on a daily basis. But you don't have a diagnosis, so worrying won't help. If she does have it, you can't change it. You'll have to go through something that will majorly suck, but you'll find a way to get through it.

[Melissa W.]

Aug 9, 2012 9:12:29 GMT -5 Daria Morgandorffer said:

Yea, I know I'm being irrational. I've been trying to stay in a state of denial until we know anything for certain but my MIL is calling my H constantly and freaking him out, who then is freaking me out. GAH.

Arrgg. Why do people do this shit!? I hope you can find a good answer for the doctor and soon.

[ringstrue]

Tell your DH to tell his mom to STFU and that you guys are handling it. Make him turn off his phone or something.

[SusanBAnthony]

Also, I am sure she would still be able to go to daycare. You may have to figure out some adaptive measures, like pulling her in a wagon or something when they move around the building, but it will all work out.

[pixy0stix]

Want me to egg your MIL's place so she has something else to freak out about?

I'm sorry. ::hugs::

[Scout'sHonor]

I had severe hip dysplasia as an infant, so I will assure you that everything will be ok I was in the harness a few months, then traction and when that didn't fix it, I had the surgery on my right hip. I was in the cast for about six months (technically two casts since they had to redo it to allow for growth) then the harness again for a few more months. My mom did say it was hard to deal with the cast, but on the upside they could plop me anywhere and know I couldn't leave. Yes it'll be more difficult with a kiddo who's already moving, but the doctors will help you out with that.

I'm 29 and have been having problems with my left hip now and wish they had fixed that one too. It's much better to treat this now than for your daughter to have issues later on. Besides, she won't remember any of it!

[Daria Morgandorffer]

Aug 9, 2012 9:53:29 GMT -5 Scout'sHonor said:

I had severe hip dysplasia as an infant, so I will assure you that everything will be ok I was in the harness a few months, then traction and when that didn't fix it, I had the surgery on my right hip. I was in the cast for about six months (technically two casts since they had to redo it to allow for growth) then the harness again for a few more months. My mom did say it was hard to deal with the cast, but on the upside they could plop me anywhere and know I couldn't leave. Yes it'll be more difficult with a kiddo who's already moving, but the doctors will help you out with that.

I'm 29 and have been having problems with my left hip now and wish they had fixed that one too. It's much better to treat this now than for your daughter to have issues later on. Besides, she won't remember any of it!

Thank you. I'm glad we ARE catching it if it indeed needs fixed, I'm just so upset that it wasn't caught when she was an infant. The hardest part will be to suddenly put her in a body cast for 6 months when she can't understand what's happening to her

[ering1115]

I'm sorry. I hope it turns out to be nothing of consquence and easily fixed. My MIL told me to put DS's shoes on the wrong feet to stop his toes from turning out. Aren't these women just a font of knowledge? People need to back the heck up and let you handle your kid's medical issues.

If you can't send her to your normal daycare there are "medical" day cares that can take children with much, MUCH more severe issues. If it comes to this contact your local Easter Seals chapter and see if they can point you in the direction of the medical day cares in your area. The upside to a medical daycare is that they are much more regulated and the teachers are required to have much higher certifications than your average daycare.

[teflep]

What all have said. Best to you all!

[secretlyevil]

Aug 9, 2012 9:22:43 GMT -5 ringstrue said:

Tell your DH to tell his mom to STFU and that you guys are handling it. Make him turn off his phone or something.

This.exactly.this. Parents need to learn to stay the hell out of things.

zombie hugs chicky! ({)Daria(})

Remember your dd can pick up on moods, keep that in mind. It might help keep you and your H calm.

[Daria Morgandorffer]

Aug 9, 2012 10:20:22 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Okay, I would be SHOCKED if she had hip dysplasia. Really. You know when you're pediatrician pulls her legs down to match up her toes and then does the weird thigh/hip socket rotation thing that makes all babies cry? That's what they're checking for - hip dysplasia.

I think people forget what kids look like when they're learning to walk. They're called "toddlers" for a reason. My step dad did the whole "PTS walks funny" thing to me, too, and I told him to STFU, like I need one more thing to worry about with that kid and she has a pediatrician who would let me fucking know if there were a problem with her development.

So, that's the first thing - LO probably does NOT have hip dysplasia.

Here's the second thing - if she does, there is a treatment and a cure. And it might suck. But you are in a major metropolitan area with first rate doctors and you have insurance. You will get through this.

Thank you. Yea, our pediatrician is excellent and he's done those tests at every visit, so I'm flummoxed as to how he would have missed it. My uncle also has ties to some of the best pediatric orthopedic specialists in the state- and he wants me to get the digital copies of the x-rays so that he can send them around, so I know that her care would be top notch with a second and third opinion. This just blows

Thanks for the T&Ps everyone.

[Daria Morgandorffer]

Aug 9, 2012 10:21:35 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Aug 9, 2012 9:15:06 GMT -5 Melissa W. said:

Arrgg. Why do people do this shit!? I hope you can find a good answer for the doctor and soon.

Don't take her calls. It seems mean, but you have to do what you have to do.

I don't (she knows that I never answer my phone) but my H is just as freaked out as her and keeps talking to her about it. We got into a minor argument last night because he didn't think I was taking it seriously enough

Did I mention that she also told us that she had wanted to get us some really expensive combined b-day gift, but isn't going to now so that she can "put the money toward the surgery"? Yea, good intentions, bad execution.

[Scout'sHonor]

Also, the children's hospital that they took me to was awesome about financial aspects, as my parents were super poor then. They should be able to really work out scheduling and payment with you to lessen the stress. Oh, and your mil needs to shut her face. There's concern and then there's downright obnoxious.

[Deleted]

Thinking of you and the LO. It will be ok either way.. Kids are resilient. Xo

[ringstrue]

I feel similarly to sbp. Like I said in the other thread, its hard for me to know that this is the real deal unless he specializes or at least has worked often with little kids. Their bones and joints are so different. And then there is the hearsay part.

Hope you get some good info soon. DD had xrays on her arm cuz she just up and stopped using it randomly for like a week and I was a mess even though it was a big nothing.

[Daria Morgandorffer]

Can I just say how much I love my Dad? He called and was like "after looking this up, I think everyone needs to chill. This is very rare and it would be even more rare that your midwife and pedi haven't caught it by now. And if she does need to be fixed, then I guess I'll be staying in your guest bedroom to babysit for awhile. Everything will be fine."

I feel so much better now.

[taratru]

Good job, Dad!!!

I'm sure she's fine. Either way, you're going to be okay.

[basilosaurus]

I have nothing to add, really, but I'm another one who had a cast at some point in my very early life. I have no recollection, but my dad said that no one could hold me because I thought it was hilarious to use it to bash people. Apparently, I also used it to break my crib. I guess that shows I wasn't suffering in any way.

But, like others said, don't freak yet. They check for this early (like, day they're born) and often. It's unlikely. But if it is, yes, there is a fix. Your kid will be fine.