Cast Life Book Review: Living with Hip Dysplasia

DDH or developmental dysplasia of the hip is part of my everyday vocabulary.  It is a word or condition that I had not come across until Erin was 11 months old. One of the things that has helped me understand hip dysplasia is the book Cast Life.

We had a long wait for a diagnosis and then it was all overwhelming as things moved at such fast pace.  She was failed you see.  Failed by her newborn health checks, failed by health visitors, GP’s and all the other medical teams that came into contact with her including physios. The knowledge about DDH just isn’t there, checks carried out by the most junior doctors who don’t have the experience to detect instability in newborn hips.

I am bitter about it.

My daughter has suffered because of it.

Seven times in theatre before the age of three.

Yet a paediatrician consultant diagnosed her in the waiting room.  He watched her stand and hobble towards him and he knew.  He introduced the term hip dysplasia into my everyday vocabulary. He talked me through the signs and symptoms of hip dysplasia and showed how Erin had those symptoms.

He was shocked that nobody else knew.  He told me that an investigation would be carried out.  I don’t know if there was – I was certainly never part of it.  We were then fast tracked to her surgeon,  a man who Erin regards as a hero.  The man who over time has spent 12 hours operating on her little bones. The man that continues to watch Erin develop and grown and to Xray her each year until she stops growing.

Yet there is still so little help out there.  So little for parents to teach them this new vocabulary, to educate them in the practical and emotional side of ddh.  However, a new book has been written by my friend Natalie.   Natalie, like me, is passionate about DDH.  With a strong family history and a son about to undergo yet more treatment, Natalie penned the book Cast Life that so many need.

Cast Life is available from Amazon at £9.99 it is a book for everyone wanting to know more about DDH. Erin and I are featured as a case study and I have talked to Natalie throughout her writing of the book.

When a child is diagnosed with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) parents experience a range of emotions and responses. They want to understand not only the condition, but also what the future holds for their child. This comprehensive book covers everything you need to know about DDH, from symptoms and explanations of the condition to details of the treatments involved. It also looks at what life is like when your child is in a cast as well as the emotional side of DDH, an area that is often overlooked. Natalie Trice, whose son was born with DDH, wrote Cast Life specifically for other parents as she knows only too well the questions that run through your mind when a diagnosis is made. This essential book doesn’t bombard you with medical jargon, but equips you with the knowledge and facts you need to understand and get to grips with DDH. 

I personally know many of those children mentioned as they are parents like me.  I want to thank Natalie for getting the word out.  When people find out more and spot the symptoms of DDH because of blogs and books it can only be a good thing.  I know parents and carers are searching for this information, I know that from the hits on my blog posts, the emails I often get asking for support.  Thankfully this resource will help fill the gap, if you are looking for Spica Cast Care for Beginners check out this post by clicking the link.

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