Hey REGGAB, I my self had a pretty hard teenage life. At the age of 14 I was diagnosed with AVN (too lazy to spell it all out). So I know what pain is involved with that, at the age of 24 (5 years ago) I had to have a full left hip replacement, and had to relearn to walk at the same time my nephew was learing. So what that lead to too was many days of a train consisting of myself, my nephew, and my 16 yo Shih-tzu doing laps back and forth in the house. To endure all your daughter has is remarkable, and I hope it only improves, if she ever wants anyone who as been through the same troubles and pains as herself tell her to drop me a line at uncbaboy@gmail.com. I may not have neem through all she has but I have a good idea. You and your family are in my families thoughts, good luck and good health.
Tommy
Hi Tommy! Thank you very much for your warm thoughts and wellwishes. Sounds to me like you had Perthes Disease, which is non-trauma induced Avascular Necrosis (AVN) of the hip. As previously mentioned, Stef's AVN was trauma induced. As you can see from the huge exfix on her left hip, she is going through the Perthes Disease treatment protocol, which was basically the only rehabilitative procedure she hasn't endured, since everything else has either failed, or caused other undesirable effects. The reason she is going through the Perthes Disease protocol is to help her regain the ROM she lost during her Free Vascularized Fibular Graft of FEB 2005. She couldn't extend her leg more than 10 degrees from the verticle, so her orthopod consulted with colleagues, and it was decided that the tendon releases performed during the Perthes Disease protocol would greatly increase the ROM in her hip. It looks like she is going to have success this time, because when that lock bar is in, she is as straight as a piece of calibrated granite. Anyway, I'll pass your info to her. Thanks again for your wellwishes.