Our relationships play a significant role in how well we manage our hip dysplasia.
Whether it's support from family and friends, to meeting others with dysplasia, to how to navigate sex when you're in pain - it can get complicated. And then there's pregnancy, childbirth, and children being diagnosed with dysplasia.
But we've got tips and information from experts to help! And we share our experiences, because we've all been there.
When pleasurable, sex can be a really helpful activity for your emotional and general wellbeing.
However, sex is not always pain-free for people with hip dysplasia.
Listen to pelvic health physiotherapist Jilly Bond explain current thinking about what causes and mediates our experiences of pain and why sex hurts.
For some women with hip dysplasia, pregnancy can mask or show hip dysplasia symptoms. For example, Liz put her hip pain down to pregnancy.
If you're pregnant and have a diagnosis of hip dysplasia, pelvic health specialist physiotherapist Jilly Bond has some tips for you.
“Talk to your midwife about following the ‘pelvic girdle pain pathway’ as part of your birthing plan. The actions in this pathway are hip friendly.”
– Jilly Bond
If you're a parent, you might be wondering whether or not your own child has hip dysplasia.
Newborn babies have their hips checked for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) within 72 hours of birth during the NHS newborn and Infant Physical Examination (NIPE).
Any baby for whom there is a concern would be referred for an ultrasound of their hips within two weeks. If you have a family history or other risk factors of hip dysplasia such as those listed on the NHS website you should also be offered an ultrasound for your baby by the time they are six weeks old.
It's important family hip history is shared with healthcare professionals so the appropriate referral can be made for ultrasound. Early identification is crucial because early treatment can be very effective for babies who do need intervention.
The NHS website has more information.
For many of us, our family and friends have been a vital part of our lives and recovery. For some of us, the resources our families gave us through their love and instilling resilience in us is a key part of our story.
For those of us who had diagnosis and surgery as children ‘our’ story is not ours alone, but is that of our parents too.
Katherine wonders what it was like for her parents to have a child with hip dysplasia undergoing multiple surgeries as she recounts what she remembers and what she was told.
And Lena reflects on how the love and support of her grandmother has shaped her as a person – and how in turn, she is able to cope with life’s challenges.
Some of us have found that our families and friends needed support themselves in knowing how best to support us and dealing with how they feel witnessing our challenges.
As you try and understand your symptoms and what hip dysplasia might mean for you, it’s likely they are trying to do the same. Some of our family and friends took part in the Get CreActive project too.
Access to information, supporting their relative or friend to pursue a diagnosis and achieving timely access to health care professionals were their key focuses.
"I wasn't prepared for what care following PAO surgery involved."
"Prevention is key, detection a must."
Listen to Jacob and Ellena sharing how they felt about their mum having hip surgery.
Take a look at our research page to find out how the Get CreActive project has set research priorities for future projects – including thinking about resources for family and friends.
