Can corrected infant hip dysplasia cause problems decades later?

April 21, 2007 3:32 PM

I'm having pain in my hip joint. This isn't unusual for a pregnant woman, but it does seem unusual that it's coming so early in the pregnancy, and occuring on one side only. Could this be related to having hip dysplasia as an infant? And is there anything that I or my doctor(s) can do about it?

When I was an infant, I apparently had hip dysplasia. I don't have a lot of information about it; I was too young to remember, my mother is deceased, and my father's memory of it is fuzzy, so I pretty much have to rely on my memory of things I was told. I was born frank breech and my mother always said this was why my hip was dislocated, although my father recently told me he remembered it as being something more to do with the hip joint being immature or underdeveloped in some way. From descriptions I was given, it sounds like I was wearing a Hewson brace or something similar. Apparently the brace would give me leg cramps which caused me to scream in pain, and therefore my mother did not keep it on me as much as she was told to. (I also recall her mentioning that the doctor couldn't or wouldn't give me anything that would help or prevent the cramps.) This would have been in 1971-72.

I haven't previously had any problems with the hip, other than having moderate hip pain in the last months of my second pregnancy, but I understand that that is fairly common and not necessarily related to prior hip dysplasia.

I had no hip problems in my first pregnancy (in 1989), but now only 13 weeks into my third (and very, very likely final) pregnancy, I am having some pretty bad hip pain, With the second pregnancy (in 2003-2004) I didn't have the problem until about 7 1/2-8 months, not as badly, and on both sides. Now it only seems to be in the left hip (which I think was the dislocated one, although I'm not 100% sure).

There doesn't seem to be a lot of information on this either on the internet or in the books I have. My pregnancy book (Sears) takes the position that this is just a minor discomfort of pregnancy that you just have to endure until you deliver. Online sources are conflicting. Some pages say it's very important to rest as much as possible. Others say that inactivity will only make the pain worse.

Is it worth going to the doctor, or are they just going to tell me the same thing as the doctor who wrote my pregnancy book? If I do go to the doctor, do I see my OB or my family practitioner? What can I do myself to help this?

posted by Shoeburyness to Health & Fitness (8 answers total)

go to your primary care provider. i doubt it will feel any better when you're eight months pregnant.
posted by thinkingwoman at 3:54 PM on April 21, 2007

Go see your doctor. It will just be harder when you are stooping with the weight in 5 months. You might be able to do some strength-building activities or go to physio to correct the problems.
posted by acoutu at 4:04 PM on April 21, 2007

it's probaby just the relaxin. but a doctor will give you some exercises to strengthen the muscles that support your hip. it sucks but it will pass (when you give birth).

don't let it go. i wouldn't make a special appointment to see the obstetrician, but would mention it at my next regular appointment, if it were me... unless i were in AGONY and then i'd get myself to a physio really fast. best of luck, lovie.
posted by taff at 4:44 PM on April 21, 2007

I get something just like this every time I'm pregnant. I have been told it is probably symphysis pubis dysfunction. It's only on the left side, and it starts at the beginning of the second term. I can't stand on one leg and keep my balance, it's way too painful; I get loud stiff cracking and popping in the joints and it hurts; it aches in my lower back, inner thigh, out along my hip, and where the femur fits into the hip/pelvis joint.

My midwives recommended chiropractic and it helped. Once I have a few adjustments in rapid succession (say, six in two or three weeks) I get maintenance adjustments for the rest of the pregnancy (right now I'm going once every two weeks - I'm cheap, the chiro would have me in twice a week if he got his way, but I don't see that much difference if I go so often or not, besides in my wallet).

It doesn't fix it, nothing fixes it until I deliver, then I'm fine; but it makes it bearable and easier to function normally - if I leave it go a while without getting adjustments, I eventually get to the point I can't walk! Light exercise helps and not too much sitting around because it's worse after I sleep, lay on the couch, or sit at the computer too long.
posted by Melinika at 6:16 PM on April 21, 2007

You could call your regular doctor, or the advice nurse at your OB, and ask who should see you.

I just wanted to add that I was also born with a dislocated hip (I think it's more common than I used to believe), and I did not have any hip joint trouble during pregnancy. But then again, neither did you with your first, and I've only been pregnant once.

Is it definitely the hip joint? I had terrible, terrible IT Band pain during my pregnancy, and it radiated from my hip all the way to my knee. I've always had trouble with it and I think my joints relaxing just made it worse.
posted by peep at 7:30 PM on April 21, 2007

My bet would be that it is indeed related to your earlier diagnosis of hip dysplasia but IANAD. I had similar problems in my pregnancy with both symphysis pubis dysfunction and hip joint pain. When I went to the doctor after the problem continued after pregnancy, they did an x-ray and found borderline hip dysplasia. I was told that core strengthening exercise like pilates would help stablize the hip area and would help prevent the slipping and sliding of the hip joint and socket that causes the nerve pain. Hope that helps.
posted by echolalia67 at 4:16 PM on April 22, 2007

Hip dysplasia both sides here. See your doctor now, especially if he happens to be an Osteopath (You may have to remind him about those "Manipulative Medicine" classes he had to take).

I could be wrong about this, but I don't think exercises now are going to solve the problem. Years ago? Only maybe. Exercise of any sort is only going to get more difficult as things progress. Besides which, we are working under the assumption that you have a bone problem (not a muscle problem) and muscles can only do so much towards keeping bones in line if they are already somewhat out of whack.

I had Osteopathic doctors, and I remember more than one adjustment ("Hmph, you're waddling again, lay down on your side...."). If no real Osteopaths are available, a Chiropractor is better than nothing. Don't forget the virtues of a small pillow as you get bigger.

**Hugs**
posted by ilsa at 4:22 PM on April 22, 2007

I had pain in my hip when I was pregnant and it wasnt till after my son was born that I was diagnosed with hip-dysplasia. My husband works in the orthopaedic field and we saw 7 doctors, all of whom recommended a triple osteotomy. It is a pretty intensive surgery and very few surgeons even know how to perform it. There is a Dr. in Switzerland named Ganz (who invented the procedure) and also one in Reno, NV who studied under him. I put off the surgery as long as possible (dont make that mistake) and then flew to Reno. The surgery went great as well as recovery. The doctor, staff, hostpital were all outstanding. His name is Dr. Jeffrey Mast (he has a web site under his name i believe). I just waited too long -there is a "window" of when it needs to be done. I now have pain still, but my leg doesnt give out. I go to a pain clinic to help with the pain. Let me know if I can be of any help!
posted by BaugusC at 6:33 PM on April 25, 2007