Physiotherapy, Hydrotherapy & another check up

....So much has happened since I last posted. Following on from Maisie's last check up, we started Physiotherapy, this consisted of some exercises for us to do on Maisie every day to strengthen her muscles and improve blood flow. Simple exercises were quite hard to do with Maisie as she refused to allow her leg in the positions needed to do the physio! Unfortunately I cannot upload the physio sheets we were given, but if you would like a copy of them please leave your email address in the comments & I will email them over! We were also advised by the physio to buy Maisie a space hopper/exercise ball to assist with the stretching of her legs, this too was no good as she would not open her legs or allow you to open her legs. Even though the physiotherapist could do it to her!....

....Our physio referred Maisie to hydrotherapy, Maisie absolutely loved this, 6 half an hour sessions, this was brilliant and Maisie loved going every week. It did take a little longer than 6 weeks because the heating system for the pool was broken for two weeks. The staff in the hydro team were impressed with how well Maisie did from her first session where she would hardly move at all, to practically swimming on her own and doing most of what was asked of her. All this was great for Maisie, even if she did pull the emergency cord while I was getting her dressed at one of the sessions....

....We saw the physiotherapist after all of Maisie's hydro sessions were finished, Maisie's angle improved 10 degrees, which is great and matches the good leg. Although we were told this anticipation was still in my mind over what the xrays would show on 25th September....

....Maisie's appointment at Royal London, upon arrival Maisie was sent for two xrays, one with her legs straight and the other with her legs almost in the Spica position but ankles together, as always Maisie was great having her xrays done. Once they were done it was back up to clinic to wait to be called by the registrar - they were on a very nice 50 minute delay! Eventually we were seen, however nothing has changed compared to her last xray before the physio and hydro. It is fantastic that nothing has changed by means of getting worse, but the problem is that nothing has got better either! The registrar advised us to stretch Maisie's legs at least twice a day in sets of two for 10 seconds minimum each time, regardless of how much she resists - easier said than done when your not trained to do so! Also we are now going onto consultant lead appointments, which will mean that we will only see Maisie's consultant and not the registrar - which is great for me, I prefer it that way! There is a little muscle what I would describe as being behind the groin, this little muscle needs to be stretched, if left alone or does not get stretched then over time it will push Maisie's femur head out of the hip socket. Lots of exercise or as much as Maisie can handle. We go back in February 2013 for more xrays and a check up to see how things are going, the AVN cannot be left to develop any more. For now Maisie is enjoying life and we are trying to be as "normal" a family as possible, taking away every time she falls we panic and check her over and over, every time she cries for what seems no reason is questioned, our panic over her running or walking too fast, we do pretty well at being a normal family....

Steph xxxx