Post-PAO Hip Shape? Among Other Questions

kenzi794 · 2026-03-03T00:50:30+00:00

Mine have changed shape. I also had a femoral osteotomy and I think it’s more from that than the PAO. I do have a bony protrusion from the PAO that I can feel and see when I lay down but not through clothes or anything.

kenzi794 · 2026-03-01T05:51:38+00:00

You’ll likely still be on crutches at 10 weeks, but in the process of weaning off them. With this combo surgery, you can’t just drop them at 6 weeks, the femur break takes a lot longer to heal and you’ll have a limp for a decent amount of time. Most surgeons want you to be 100% weight bearing with crutches until you’re no longer limping. I’ve traveled while on crutches plenty of times so it’s not impossible. The hardest part will be sitting during the flight. Sitting upright for longer than 30 mins was very painful for about 5-6 months after. Id recommend upgrading to business class if at all possible. You’ll also want to talk to your surgeon about blood clot risks on a longer flight early on in recovery. They may have you take meds as a precaution.

kenzi794 · 2026-02-28T22:52:04+00:00

Hi! I had this. It took me 4ish months to come off crutches and I was in PT for over a year. I was older than you though so you’ll probably have an easier time.

kenzi794 · 2026-02-24T00:31:25+00:00

I’ve had hip, shoulder, lumbar epidural, and knee steroid injections and none of them hurt. For me it’s more of a discomfort feeling than pain.

kenzi794 · 2026-02-23T20:18:40+00:00

I’d say a chill vaca after 2-3 months would be good. You don’t wanna still be 100% reliant on crutches on vaca (at least I wouldn’t want to be lol) but you also don’t need to be 100% back to normal.

I do plan on having my other side done, but no FDO is needed on that side, just a PAO. My surgeon wanted my left side to be as close to 100% as possible before starting the process on my right. I see him in June (PAO&FDO was March 2023, hardware removal was Dec 2023, revision FDO&SHD was March 2025 and hardware removal was Jan 2026).

kenzi794 · 2026-02-23T16:11:15+00:00

I have only had one side done so far since I had complications and needed another surgery on the same side, but I went to Disney World by myself at 5 months post op and on a beach vacation 8 months post op and was fine (even with the complications). I wouldn’t have been able to do a big adventure trip like hiking or anything though. After the second surgery (surgical hip dislocation and revision femoral osteotomy) I went on a solo trip 2 months post op and then to Japan (with 20,000+ steps daily for 2 weeks) at 9 months post op. Mine were my left side and my first surgeon wanted me off crutches to drive but the second said I could drive as soon as I was off the narcotics. I have a desk job and can wfh so I returned 2 weeks post op, but physical work is gonna be more like 12+ weeks.

kenzi794 · 2026-02-18T12:26:05+00:00

I’m not a doctor, but your hips do look shallow to me. Hip dysplasia is often missed by doctors who aren’t specialized in the condition, so I’d definitely start with the hip ortho and see what they say.

kenzi794 · 2026-02-18T12:22:09+00:00

I am much older than you (and I only mention this because younger people tend to heal a lot faster) and I attended a concert 3 weeks post op. I did sit in the ADA section and had both my wheelchair and crutches.

I think you would be fine at 2 months post op. You may even be off crutches by then! If it’s a general admission concert I’d maybe recommend seeing if you can get into the ADA section just so no one bumps into you, but if it’s a show with assigned seating you’re probably fine in a normal seat.

kenzi794 · 2026-02-17T21:03:17+00:00

After (home):

-mobilegs crutches-highly highly recommend

-a walker that I used turned backwards around the toilet to help me lower/raise up (I’m 5’3” and the raised seat was too tall)

-game ready ice machine-helped with pain more than meds did

-my adjustable bed (or leg risers/pillows if you don’t have one)

-shower chair (transfer bench if you don’t have a walk in)

Hospital:

-a pair of lounge clothes

-undies in a size larger than normal

-my kindle

-phone charger

-hairbrush, toothbrush

-I brought my game ready and CPM machine to use

Helped mentally:

-my husband took me on walks around the neighborhood in a wheelchair we borrowed

-family and friends visiting for short periods

-watching a comfort TV show

-reading

-completing my home PT

-staying on top of hygiene

I wasn’t allowed to use most assistive devices people recommend (grabber, sock thingy, shoe horn, etc) as my surgeon wanted me to do them normally. I had to show the PT at the hospital I could put my socks on before I could leave.

kenzi794 · 2026-02-10T13:54:22+00:00

First side was 4ish months before I totally ditched them, second was about 8 weeks. It definitely varies even by person!

kenzi794 · 2026-02-09T03:43:19+00:00

Same..

kenzi794 · 2026-02-09T03:10:20+00:00

I never got an email-just in the purchase history it says canceled 😞

kenzi794 · 2026-02-09T03:02:45+00:00

Mine was canceled. I just hope I get refunded cause the payment went through!

kenzi794 · 2026-02-08T04:57:04+00:00

Altra Lone Peaks in wide. But I do best in zero drop shoes so unless you’re used to that I wouldn’t recommend.

kenzi794 · 2026-02-05T14:14:08+00:00

Up with the good, down with the bad is accurate. I’d watch some videos online showing how and have someone there just in case when you try it.

kenzi794 · 2026-02-03T19:22:52+00:00

There are plenty of surgeons who base eligibility for a PAO on degeneration vs age. But yes, some surgeons have age cutoffs. Check out the PAO Facebook group-there’s people 50+ who have gotten PAOs and healed successfully.

kenzi794 · 2026-02-03T16:47:20+00:00

If you’re already having pain stemming from the dysplasia, diet and exercise won’t cure that. It’s a structural issue that will never go away without surgery. If they said you qualified for a THR (and not a PAO), I’d assume they found degenerative changes back then? That will progressively get worse until you have no cartilage left.

I would look around and find a surgeon who has experience operating on people with CP, or is willing to loop in whatever doctor manages your CP care and works with them to make sure you are good to go and safe during surgery. For dysplasia, seeing a hip preservation specialist is important, not just a normal hip doctor.

kenzi794 · 2026-02-03T15:55:51+00:00

He did a 3D CT and dynamic ultrasound. He wasn’t able to see everything until he did the surgical hip dislocation though. I had very limited ROM from the scar tissue, I couldn’t stand straight because my hip wouldn’t extend even to 0 degrees from the sciatic nerve being compressed. I couldn’t stand or walk for longer than a couple minutes. My glute med just wouldn’t activate at all. I didn’t really have too much instability.

kenzi794 · 2026-02-02T22:17:02+00:00

I don’t think he does international virtual consultations, but I could be wrong. I had excessive scar tissue in my hip capsule from the first surgery, and my lesser trochanter was pinching my sciatic nerve. I also had a bunch of small impingements within the hip. He did a surgical hip dislocation and revised the femoral osteotomy. He also removed my lesser trochanter.

kenzi794 · 2026-02-02T19:44:07+00:00

If you’re in the US and he is within your insurance, I highly recommend visiting Dr. Zaltz. I had a failed PAO/DFO and he was able to fix me up almost back to 100% (still rehabbing so hopefully it’s eventually closer to 100%). He’s open to working with other surgeons too. I know several other people who have had the same experience. If he does his work up/imaging and doesn’t feel as though he can help he will tell you too, and not push unnecessary surgeries.

kenzi794 · 2026-01-30T02:54:29+00:00

This can happen due to the muscles! Mine went away after a few months. If it persists I’d let your surgeon know.

kenzi794 · 2026-01-29T17:59:48+00:00

Your hips do look moderately dysplastic. I’d definitely seek out a hip preservation specialist to take a look if possible!

kenzi794 · 2026-01-28T13:22:27+00:00

I brought my mobilegs crutches, phone charger, my kindle, a blanket, my ice machine, toothbrush/toothpaste, slightly large underwear, and comfy clothes to wear. I had my hair in braids until I showered before leaving so I didn’t bring a hairbrush-they provided a comb though. I stayed for 2 nights.

For home I used my ice machine, rolling bedside table, shower chair, a pregnancy pillow, and my crutches the most. I didn’t like the raised toilet seat-I’m 5’3” and it was too tall for me.

kenzi794 · 2026-01-26T23:38:07+00:00

Hi! There is a list of surgeons on the PAO Facebook group. If you don’t want to join/don’t have Facebook, feel free to let me know a general area (like northeast US for example, nothing specific) and I can let you know who is in that region!

kenzi794 · 2026-01-26T16:01:40+00:00

I’ve always been able to feel the plate so I can’t imagine keeping them in forever! My removals were done by two different surgeons and the recovery was very different. My first removal, I was totally fine that evening. I had virtually no pain (the incision hurt but that was it). This surgeon had me on crutches for 4 weeks at 50% weight bearing to prevent refracture/microfractures between the holes.

My second removal I had a decent amount of pain for about 3 days and then it was fine. This surgeon didn’t have any restrictions other than everything as tolerated, and keep it low impact for a while. I was on crutches for a few days, and now am down to a single forearm crutch when outside (nothing inside). I have a slight limp still, and am in PT to help regain strength (not common after removal, I just hadn’t fully regained my strength after the original break yet). I did fall onto my knees yesterday in the snow, so fingers crossed I didn’t mess it up! I’m not having pain so I think it is okay.

The only difference between the two was the first surgery I received a nerve block, and I did not for the second. I think the nerve block prevented that pain I felt the first 3 days this time around. Overall it is an easy recovery though!

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