tb1218
Journeyman
Reged: 09/19/02
Posts: 70
Loc: indiana
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Hi, I was wondering if anyone out here has this condition. I am trying to help my daughter find answers. She was born 2 months premature and when she was a baby they found that due to being premature she had "degenerative hip disease". I took her to the doctor at about 2 yrs old because she always tripped over her feet and come to find out it was because of her hips. Also found out she was born with extremely "thin disks" in her back probably also birth defect. Anyway she still has like a drop foot syndrome and trips alot, has to have special inserts in all her shoes due to her hips, but now is complaining of a grinding feeling on one side of her hips and although it isnt extremely painful for her yet, Im worried it will progress more. She does have a script for flexeril when her back spasms (she was also in 2 car accidents which worsened the condition). Right now she can not afford to go to the doctor and has no insurance. She is 20 and in college but not enrolled this semister so no insurance and her clinic charged her $80 just to tell her she needs to see a specialist. Does anyone know anything about this condition, the progression and if we wait till fall till her insurance kicks in would it be more permanently damaging. No specialist will see her without payment up front and we just dont have it. Ive tried to research this condition but it seems to always refer to the elderly and not really helping. I know theres a lot of you who are in medical fields with knowledge in laymans terms that I highly respect. Any info would be much appreciated. Thanks!
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sigmund22
Journeyman
Reged: 03/23/04
Posts: 79
Loc: Vienna
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Sorry to hear about your daughter's condition, lack of insurance and pain difficulties. Would she qualify for Medicaid or any kind of State assistance to see specialists.
The diagnosis of "degenerative hip disease" at birth sounded unusual. From looking at some other sources, her hips were probably lacking the connective tissue/cushioning that allowed her hips and the attached bones necessary to walk to function properly.
With regard to the "thin discs" birth defect the quote below might be helpful in understanding the course of this condition.
Quote:
The vertebral disc is an interesting and unique structure. Its primary purpose is to act as a shock absorber. Discs are actually composed of two parts: a tough outer core and a soft inner core and the configuration has been likened to a jelly doughnut.
At birth, eighty percent of the disc is composed of water. With age, the discs dehydrate and become stiffer. This is a natural aging process, although in some individuals, as the disc degenerates it can become painful. The most likely reason for this is that the degeneration can produce micromotion instability and the inflammatory proteins (the soft inner core of the disc) probably leak out of the disc space and inflame the well innervated structures next to the disc (e.g. nerve roots).
Sometimes a twisting injury damages the disc and starts a cascade of events that leads to degeneration (see Figure 2). The disc itself has very few nerve endings and no blood supply. Without a blood supply the disc does not have a way to repair itself, and pain created by the damaged disc can last for years.
www.spine-health.com
You are likely to be running up against information skewed toward the elderly because the discs and hips become increasingly brittle. She is at an age when it is likely that the degenerative process can be slowed down. Check the Links above for several sites on spinal cord conditions as well as ways to cover expenses for her treatment.
Hope this helps.
sigmund22
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"If A equals success, then the formula is A = X + Y + Z. X is work. Y is play. Z is keep your mouth shut." Albert Einstein
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tb1218
Journeyman
Reged: 09/19/02
Posts: 70
Loc: indiana
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Thanks Sigmund22!! Your info is greatly appreciated.
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