How my DDH has affected my life, and my children’s

This week I have shared some personal stories from mums those children have DDH.  When chatting on twitter a few weeks back I actually found an adult that had been through this.  I asked Jax if she’d share her story and she agreed, so let me introduce and say thanks to Jax.

I was due to write this post a while ago, but instead I had a baby. Pathetic excuse for not getting it done, eh?

I was born way back in 1970. I was born with a dislocated hip, but it wasn’t spotted for some time. Once it was spotted I was put into a frog plaster according to my mother, as far as I can tell, that’s the SPICA that ppl talk about now. I walked late, and to assist with physical therapy, I went to water babies and learnt to swim before I learnt to walk. And it’s a family story that even after the plaster was removed, I was happy sitting in the splits with my legs sticking straight out to either side.

I’m unusually flexible. I fit some of the descriptors for Hypermobility syndrome, but not sufficiently that it causes me pain. Instead, it gives me difficulty during pregnancy as my already slightly over mobile hips and pelvis wander all over the place.

That hasn’t been the worst legacy of my dislocated hip though. Instead the main problem I’ve had is pain in my hips and most specifically my left knee. This has been a problem throughout my adult life – I’ve been repeatedly to doctors and physiotherapists, had Xrays, blood tests for arthritis and been told that I had no problem other than knees which hurt.

Then, when pregnant with Smallest three years ago, I saw an antenatal physiotherapist who gave me a thorough examination. And as part of her findings, before matter of factly putting my spine back into position with some odd manipulations, she mentioned that my legs are different lengths and that wearing a raise in my left shoe would solve many of my problems.

I’m still struggling to understand how so many medical professionals have missed this before. After Smallest was born I saw a podiatrist who gave me a full examination and diagnosed a 1cm leg length difference. I wear a raise at all times now – never get to walk barefoot any more 🙁 and it’s hugely cut down on the problems I’ve had. I’ve even managed to take up running, and ran my first 10k just before discovering I was pregnant with tigerboy. I’m looking forward to getting back to running in a few weeks when my body is sufficiently repaired after his birth.

Because of my history with DDH, my children have always been automatically screened with higher priority than most. Big was referred for ultrasound as her hips were clicky. Smallest similarly. Small I don’t remember having been referred, I think he must have been thought to be fine – and he is. Tigerboy was checked by a paediatric doctor instead of a midwife because of my history, and has been automatically referred for ultrasound even though his hips were stable at new baby check. So far none of my children have had hip issues, although Small is slightly hypermobile and has other difficulties with his wrists accordingly.

What I would say to parents with children with DDH now is make sure as they grow that it is taken into account, and any problems with hips, back or knees are taken seriously. And make sure that ppl check things like comparative leg length. It’s important, trust me. I could have been saved at least some of 20 years of pain if someone had noticed my issue earlier.

Jax is a home educating mother of 4, definitely old enough to know better, who divides her time between children, education, books, crafts, twitter and blogging at Making it up.. Not necessarily in that order 😉

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