Where do I begin? Well it all started when I was a freshman in college, let’s say about 4 years ago (2006/2007). I was walking home from campus and felt a grinding pain in the joint of my left hip. As strange as it felt, I just chalked it up to walking too much in heels around campus and suggested to myself to wear comfortable shoes tomorrow. This pain happened on and off for the next couple of years; I ignored it as I have had similar pain in my left knee since high school and was told it was nothing a little rest wouldn't heal. It wasn't until about my junior year in college, almost two years later, when I starting to notice my strides becoming sorter and my pain coming on much sooner after a walk around campus.
Then came the moment that I think changed it all. On January 6th, 2009, I caught the left heel of my boot on the stairs twisting my leg around and causing me to fall down an entire flight of stairs, head first (This is not the first time, might I add. I am quite the calamity). Despite the giant welt on my forehead, I relatively felt fine and just took it easy for the rest of the night. It was shortly after this event when my pain began to worsen and I began to think to myself, "something just isn't right." I assumed some sort of arthritis was developing in my joint as I haven't drank milk since I was about 12 years old -- I began to research.
In about November/December of 2009 I finally got an appointment to see an orthopedist in Atlanta. A few x-rays later, the doctor strolled in and he and I both saw something a little off about my left hip; the socket almost looked jagged. Of course, knowing nothing about x-rays, I trusted him to tell ME what was wrong; it appeared he had no clue. He ordered an MRI. A few days later I was back for an MRI and received the results just a few days after that. I was told I had bursitis; the prescription: physical therapy. Long story short, after weeks of PT and no improvement I went back for a cortisone injection. The cortisone shot did nothing for the pain and increased my blood pressure so high that I was kicked out of PT for a few days until I "recovered." In my return, my physical therapist noticed my lack of progress and decided to give me a exam of her own, she agreed, it was definitely my joint.
Fed up with dealing with this nagging pain I made an appointment with a second doctor in May (2010), he also looked at my x-rays and saw... nothing. He ordered an MRI with contrast this time concluding that it is probably a labral tear and he will see it better with contrast. Unfortunately, I had planned a trip to live and work in Scotland for the summer and my flight left earlier that next week. Needless to say, I never got the MRI.
After months of trudging around Scotland with a bad hip I came home more determined than ever. I was recommended, by my PT, this hip specialist in Statesboro, the town I attend Georgia Southern University, Dr. Whelan. Dr. Whelan was my savior! I walked in, explained my symptoms, and was whisked off for yet again, more x-rays. (Between my hip and my sinuses I'm sure to have my fill of radiation for the year!) As I sat there and waited I just imagined all the BS that was going to be thrown my way... at this point I was fed up with all doctors and seriously considered if they actually knew anything. Boy I was wrong. Dr. Whelan came in and sat down, papers in his hands, and said, "You have Hip Dysplasia and will need surgery to correct it," and then handed me all sorts of article on it. I was shocked. Partly because he seemed so sure of himself and partly because this was something I only heard of my Golden Retriever having. On the other hand, I was so glad that I finally had a reason for my pain and that it was fixable! He handed me an article, at the top it read: "Children's Orthopedic of Atlanta, Dr. Tim Schrader," (wait... he know's I'm 22, right?) and he explained to me that he was the only man for the job. He explained that he was a pediatric doctor but did PAO's on the side with young adult patients suffering from hip dysplasia..... and this is where my journey began.
I will stop here for now but will come back soon to explain how making an appoint with Dr. Schrader worked out ;)
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