Hip Replacement... CRAZY

It's been a while since I've written anything.... busy with work, kids, and art.

2 interesting PPFD-related things have happened recently. I was asked to speak at a symposium at the Tampa Shrine that focused on how to care for pediatric limb deficient patients. My segment focused on the psychosocial aspects of care... basically, why 'bedside manners' and showing young patients personal interest is so important. I talked about how the personal connections I made with my Shrine medical staff really shaped me- and my family- even perhaps more than the excellent medical care I received. It was really great to sit, as an adult, in front of all these medical professionals and explain things from a patient's view. These things are, perhaps, common sense... that a physician or prosthetist showing a strong interest in the young patient's hobbies/recreational activities can have a profound influence on the patient's overall rehabilitative success. But I really DON'T think it's common sense because I've heard all too often that this EMOTIONAL support is lacking for some young patients. Anyway, this was a very cool experience. AND it was awesome to see those same people working at the Shrine- people I've known since I was a little girl.

Another interesting thing that has happened is that I've been having major pain in my 'good hip'. Funny, the leg with the most severe PFFD has a hip that doesn't really bother me- despite the fact that there is really no traditional hip joint, just the end of a bone with no ball, no socket- all just held together with tissue. The other hip, well, that's a different story. The side I wear a prosthesis on is my 'good side'. The fake leg is the good leg. So, anyway, I decided to have an x-ray because my last hip x-ray is from ages ago, when I was a teenager. So I did and it ends up that my left femur is slowly migrating upwards. It's rubbing against the top of my pelvic bone. Nice. So... the ortho Dr. suggested that maybe I could have a hip replacement. If you could see my x-rays you could imagine how crazy that sounds. That's basically my only option, which doesn't sound like much of an option to me. So, I requested a copy of my x-ray and left. No thanks. But at least I did get a new x-ray. I LOVE to see how in the world I'm put together. It blows my mind. And you know... as funky as my hips are, I can walk, not too gracefully, but I can. Those funky hips help up to two pregnancies and two deliveries. Thank you, funky hips. Despite the trouble you cause me, I guess you did your job.