What To Do To Be "Hip"

Jordan's pending hip surgery is really giving me pause for thought! A three hour surgery, ~5 days in the hospital, and 6 weeks in a spica-cast are just the beginning. When Devon and I talked about it we decided that yes, she should have the surgery if her hip is causing her pain. Of course the problem with that is: Is it causing her pain? Will it cause her pain? Some people live with hip dysplasia without pain for years, and other suffer from the very onset. I wish we knew before we made such a big decision.

Jordan's already had general anesthetic 5 times, and done well with it*. Of course, though, now that we know a little more about her, I'm worried that being under general & the stay in the hospital will not only cause a temporary regression in abilities, but in some metabolic kids, an event like that can mark a downturn in their general health. But, as I said, she's already been fine with it 5 other times, so there's no reason to think it would be any different this time. Just something else for me to worry about.

Even the idea of getting a second opinion is almost too much for me. Jordan has already seen over 30 doctors in her life, and not 2 of them have agreed on much of anything about her. "She won't live to be 2" versus "better get finding a nursing home because she's in this for the long haul." "Yes she's having seizures" versus "no, she's not seizing at all." Genetic versus metabolic versus neurological. You name it, the doctors disagree about it.

So, although we are going to get her a second opinion before she has the surgery, I've already resigned myself to the fact that the next doctor will think her hip is fine & will suggest just living with it. Or having the surgery, but not the cast. Or, or, or. But, in the end, as usual, we'll just have to go with our gut on this one. Right now my gut is leaning toward fixing her hip & hoping that will give her some relief, some strength, possibly de-sensitize her a little bit, and maybe even keep her scoliosis from progressing at such a fast pace. Or, it might just be the beginning of the end.


*Except for having the record for the longest kid "out" on chloral hydrate at Children's Hospital of Michigan -- but she was okay when she finally did wake up.