u/therightwayaround_

I’m 22 years old
PAO isn’t possible in my case - the doctors say it’s up to me to make the decision between osteotomy and hip replacement

What speaks for the triple osteotomy is keeping my own joint longer (I’ll eventually need a hip replacement, but later in life) which is advice but that’s the only thing for me personally which speaks for the operation

Contra side is four medium/large scars (I’ll also need a femoral osteotomy), a long recovery and still having the risk to not be pain free afterwards

And that’s the main point which makes me rather want the total replacement now than to gain a few extra years (10/20/30?) with my natural joint but still be at risk of being in pain - even though I have to switch it probably sooner/more often

I know that there are also negative sides of the replacement but right now I can’t see that the triple osteotomy is the better choice

The condition of left my hip is as followed:
- LCEA: 15°
- Borderline dysplasia on the right (LCEA 24°)
- Mild superolateral femoral head decentering/subluxation
- Degenerative anterosuperior labral tear
- Focal cartilage thinning
- Focal cartilage defects in the weight-bearing zone
- Subchondral bone marrow edema
- Subchondral cysts in the acetabular roof
Joint space: 2 mm
SI joints normal

Now my question is - has anyone been in a similar situation (with a similar hip condition?) and regretted choosing the osteotomy over the hip replacement/the other way around?

I just have to vent for a second

I talked about the MRTs with my orthopedic today and it turns out the appointment I have in July for my left hip which is way worse than my right to get a triple osteotomy (PAO isn’t possible in my case) probably isn’t necessary anymore because apparently I need a new hip due to severe hip osteoarthritis

I’m 22

She still advised me to go to the appointment with the hip specialist to discuss if we could do the triple on my right hip instead and also to get a second opinion but she already told me not to get my hopes up because my left hip is just so damaged

I’ve been crying the whole day, I feel so damaged

Everything hurts - my labrum, my hip, my knee, my other hip, my other knee, my lower back

For the past four or five years limping so badly and my leg sometimes gives out under me

On some days I can’t even put socks or pants on because my range of motion is so limited and I can’t lift my leg properly

Painkillers barely do anything anymore

There will be big scars and I’ll lose a part of my body and that’s honestly so disturbing to me

I know I’ll probably be way better afterwards but why did it take several doctors 14 years to discover my dysplasia
No one took me seriously
„You have hip pain? Oh, but you’re still so young, just exercise more!“
So I also started to just accept it and thought it would go away eventually

I had hip pain since I was 8 years old
I was diagnosed with a slipped vertebra when I was young and everyone focused on my spine
Meanwhile my hip dysplasia kept getting worse

Now I have a labral tear, cartilage damage, bone marrow, edema cystic changes and apparently severe hip osteoarthritis and dysplasia at 22

I’m angry I’m sad and I feel broken and honestly betrayed by the healthcare system right now

Why did it have to get so bad to finally be taken serious?

I keep thinking that maybe things would be different if someone had listened earlier and I just needed to get it out somewhere before I lose my mind completely