Thanks...But No Thanks.

We visited the orthopedic surgeon yesterday.

That visit can be summed up with: Thanks, but no thanks.

The orthopedic surgeon reviewed Christian's x-rays of his hips and just as I suspected...no hip dislocation. But, he's at risk.

This is what I think about the statement of being "at risk:"

Christian, along with most special needs children is at risk for many things. He's at risk for getting lung infections and pneumonia, he's at risk for scoliosis, he's at risk of never talking, walking, or eating by mouth again. I believe he will do these things, but he's at risk for not doing these things if he doesn't get the therapies and treatments he needs to help him progress.

But this isn't really what we're centering his life around. He's at a higher risk for many things, but that isn't anything to start planning surgeries, cutting ligaments, and arranging for lower body casts.

Yes, I said surgeries, cutting, and body casts. In fact, it's not really what I said, it's what the surgeon said. He suggested cutting Christian's abductors which is the muscle on the inside of his thigh near his groin. He also said we should cut his Achilles tendon. And this will put him in a lower body cast for 4-6 weeks.

Ummm...I don't think so. All of this assessment was based on one appointment with Christian. He moved him around and, of course, Christian was resistant at first. But he has full range of motion and is able to move, get his legs in all different pretzel maneuvers, and his foot can go past 90 degrees while weight bearing. The PT didn't even think he needed Botox injections at this point. Does the surgeon see this? Nope. He sees an uncomfortable Christian after a 25 minute car ride, of which he despises, who doesn't move on command.

I kept wondering to myself...why does this man keep suggesting surgery? I am such a genius. DUH! He's a surgeon! This is what he does. He did say that the surgeries he's suggesting are preventative, rather than necessary at this moment.

So my thought is, again, thanks, but no thanks. We went to find out if his hips were dislocated, and they're not, just like I thought. If a surgery ever becomes necessary, that is when we'll do it. But for now there is more nonsurgical healing to do.

I've been stretching Christian and exercising him as we normally do. He's no longer in pain and he's back to normal. So the beat goes on.

ETA: It is Christian adductors that were suggested to be surgically cut. This is the muscle inside his thigh close to his groin. The doctor also suggested his heel cord which is in the area of the Achilles Tendon.