Hi Bill. I’m writing today because, at the age of 72, I’m still going through treatment for hip, legs and feet pain. It occurred to me that you may also have related hip problems following your childhood diagnosis of hip problems.
I’ll tell you my short story in the hope that it may be useful to you.
When I was a baby, not yet walking, I was put into hip /leg casts for a year. Though I don’t remember any of that time, I can now put it all together. My hindsight is that the cast didn’t correct any birth defect / hip or leg malformation.
I was told that I also have “occult spina bifida” which is an unusual defect of the lumbar vertebrae, but the Dr. said it wasn’t causing the leg/feet pain. Consequently, one leg is shorter than the other.
My legs and feet began to hurt daily when I was working as a nurse full time, about age 32. I remember going to one doctor after another with the complaint of constant, daily pain. One Dr. didn’t believe me and suspected I was trying to get out of work and get disability.
2 Drs. diagnosed plantar fasciitis and told me to wear orthopedic shoes. Another Dr. wanted me to have surgery cutting the tendons crosswise on the sole of each foot. Yet another Dr. told me not to have that surgery or my feet would “flop.” After many years of seeing doctors for a diagnosis and treatment, nothing has helped.
Pain pills, analgesics, have never alleviated the pain. Muscle relaxants may help, it’s difficult to tell since the pain persists.
Last week I finished a 6-week treatment with a chiropractor and her physical therapist. She dismissed me, stating that her treatments were not effective in easing my pain. She had been applying pressure to the hip muscles to relax them. That treatment was very painful and not effective. As usual, the PT didn’t help either.
So now I’m 72, no longer employed and my legs, hips and feet hurt every day. The pain worsens the more I stand or walk so I sit whenever possible.
Because I remember seeing you in braces, I wonder if we each have an inherited, familial defect. Though I don’t know if this to be true, I suspect the coincidence is strong that it is inherited from the Bassett / Johnson side of our family. (I believe other harmful inherited traits also exist in our family tree but don’t know that you are burdened with any of them.)
If any of this information applies to you, inform your Dr. that your aunt has a similar problem. It may be helpful.
But, of course, I hope you do not have a continued problem and that you are all healed and healthy now. That would be the best news!