-Hetertopic Ossification

[Guest guest]

Hi -

I was stick in a 60 degree angle for about a year after my onset with " the

dragon " . While I was in the ICU for 7 weeks I was in a fetal position.

While I was in ICU, in a medication induced coma, I developed Hetertopic

Ossification. I also had no pain, which I have read that it can be very

painful. I wasn't able to stand up straight and everywhere I went I had to

be in a wheelchair.

I got 5 " second opinions " because I didn't like the first four, I was told

that I would have to wait it out while the bone matured. Because if the bone

was take out before it was matured it would just grow back. " They " say the

it takes upto two years for the bone to mature.

Finally the 5th opinion, whom was a pedatric Ortho surgern & specialized in

children who had celbral palsy, said that after MANY x-rays and bone scans we

could go ahead with the surgery and take out the bone. It took him an hour

longer than he thought because the bone was harder then heck. He said that

the bone was on both sides (worse on the right) and was as thick as my thumb.

While I was in surgery they had to also cut my thigh and hip muscles because

they had atrophed from me being bent over for so long. Then...... I had to

wear casts that went from my thigh to ankle (NOT FUN!!).

But I am happy to say that I am doing great, now. I am out of my wheelchair

and there is no signs of Hetertopic coming back, yet..

I thought that I would share with you how I got Hetertopic. I've read that

sometimes when our bodies go through trauma, our brain will send a signal to

grow bone.

I hope that you will have painfree days and that you will have no

complications with the Hetertopic that you have on your hips.

Take care!

Love & Support,

Keri