My life right now is a bit "out of control" so I will try and write brief updates as I can, and will add pictures at a later time. I have this mental block that I can't write unless I have pictures! SORRY!
So, I wanted to update you on our appointment today with the Orthopedic Specialist. I can't believe how anxious I was building up to it, and to think I was just going to "give up." My therapists insisted I get a second opinion, and I'm glad that I did. Today, after Bible Study, we met with a doctor up in Phoenix regarding Chavalah's leg issue. Basically, he noticed her left leg (also her very weak side) was "shorter" than the other leg. He sat and played with her for about 5 minutes making her stand, sit, lay down to measure and move her hips, etc. After his physical exam, he said, with different lengths in legs, they usually take an x-ray of the hip to be sure there isn't some abnormal bone structure there. So within five minutes, the tech came in, we took and got her x-ray, then five minutes later the doctor was back in the room discussing with me that her hips looked great (which was a blessing), however, the leg is still "shorter than the other. He noticed the stiffness in her movement and also quickly noted her left side (the entire side) was weaker than the right. He believes that the reason her leg is shorter (at this point) is because of the nerve damage from the high amount of drugs at birth, and that her muscles are actually so stiff and so tight that it's actually pulling her left leg up making it shorter. So it's the stiffness and tightness to blame. He said that since she's not really cruising (one or two steps at most) and she's not standing up on her own yet, that he recommends we get her a little more developmentally towards actual walking, then he forsees a brace in her near future once she starts walking more, or cruising more. Indefinitely. Could be a short period, could be long! Not sure. Before we left, he also suggested we have an MRI done to rule out why the stiffness (which we already knew) to see if that helps explain things also.
We go back in three months!
I'm wiped! Today has been a VERY LONG DAY! Going to bed now, but hope to post more soon! Again, thanks for your continued prayers through all this! We're getting there!
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Wow, Joanna, I'm so glad you were able to get some more information! After my hip replacement, my leg was CONSIDERABLY shorter than the other. My family and I were scared to death. Because I had adapted to my deformity, when they put a new hip in, the muscles didn't fit right. Jo, within a month, my physical therapists had completedly changed my muscular structure, that had been there for 30 years, and my legs are almost identical now. I just wanted to encourage you, that if it is just a muscular issue, physical therapy can help tremendously! Love you hon! And your kiddos!
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