Stop limping Annabel!

I have to write this diary retrospectively as I should really have started from the beginning. But as I am quite a disorganised person I start today. You see I wanted to write about my family's experience with Perthes Disease, as I couldn't find any information about it at the time of diagnosis This diary may give an insight into treatments and coping with a child with Perthes.

Sept 2007 - Stop limping!

My daughter Annabel was a normal 6 year old little girl. We had had a great summer (it did rain a lot though), been away on holiday, down the beach and out for long walks. You see in September, I had noticed she had developed a limp. This had gone on for one or two weeks and had got to the point of me saying "stop doing that"! I did at times think she was putting it on - doing it for attention. As it went on, I thought that it was too long for just "putting it on" and it had consistantly been one leg (difficult for a little girl to do ALL the time!).

So a trip to the doctors was arranged, thinking perhaps it was growing pains. The doctor took it seriously. She thought it was something called 'Irritable Hip', sending us straight to hospital for an x-ray. Oops mum was wrong - and started to worry!

After a long wait we finally had some x-rays done and waited for the results. The orthopaedic specialist said that he couldn't see anything, here was some Calpol and off you go. If the limp continued, to go back to the GP (doctor).

October 25th 2007 - the bombshell
An appointment had been made at the fracture clinic, where more x-rays were taken. We waited. Can I just say at this point that be careful with the x-rays, remind them to use a plate in front to protect their ovaries etc.

So the doctor looked at the x-ray. "I can see what it is straight away". OK I thought. "Annabel has Perthes Disease", he said. He was so pleased with his diagnosis, he called another specialist in to take a look - all while my jaw dropped to the floor in shock. He did pipe up though saying "at least it's not cancer". Great, I thought - I really wanted to hear that. The x-ray had shown that the top of her femur (the ball) was slightly flattened (i'd say a couple of millimetres).

All I can say is that I don't remember getting to my car. He had not given me any advice or information about the condition, but simply wrote it down on a piece of paper and to look it up on the internet! This is why I'm writing this to hopefully give advice, support, piece of mind, and an insight into how our experience has been.

NOTE: Yes do look on the internet for information, but don't get bogged down with it, as the way it is treated in the UK varies and is a LOT different to the USA.