Name : Jack S. Damico
E-mail : jsdamico@louisiana.edu
Adult: 57 years old
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana
Area(s) affected: Left femur and hip
Personal History:
In my early twenties I noticed a bulge on my left outside thigh.
Manipulation indicated a fairly hard mass that tended not to be painful. I just
assumed it was a muscular malformation and I did not remember any injury to the
spot. I was always fairly active physically playing sports, running and hiking
and experienced only some pain.
Over the past 30 years or so I did occasionally experience pain at the location
of the left femur that I would characterize as “deep bone pain” but it was
fleeting. Several years ago I began experiencing more constant pain in the left
leg within the thigh, thinking it was due to muscular strain or ligament/tendon
problems since I have always had tight tendons and little flexibility and felt
that perhaps a reduction in exercise resulted in strains or reduced
flexibility. I did go to a Physical Therapist on the recommendation of my
Physician for possible Trochanteric Bursitis and/or Sacroiliac Joint
Dysfunction. Physical exercises, stretches, and cold compacts were employed.
The relief was only temporary. Over the past two years, the pain became more
noticeable. The “deep bone pain” occurred more frequently and there is always a
burning kind of pain.
Over the past 18 months the pain has become constant and affects my sleep since
the hip/thigh hurt and at night I generally only sleep a few hours at a time.
Approximately fours months ago I observed a bulge in my left hip and pointed it
out to my Physician who immediately had x-rays and a referral to an orthopedic
surgeon. After x-rays, CT-scans and bone scans a malignant neoplasm was
suspected and I was referred to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. After
extensive tests there, the diagnosis was benign tumor due to melorheostosis of
the left femur and hip.
Current treatment is to watch the hip tumor/growth with a six month review and
pain management. Currently the pain management is with Advil and with
Hydrocodone or Propoxyphene (still trying them out). The pain is continual but
not debilitating and the hip growth continues. My Physician at M.D. Anderson is
willing to shave the growth on the hip if needed but that may result in some
damage to the muscles involved with walking so I am reluctant.
I am trying to learn what I can and establish a way to deal with the pain. I am
walking everyday for about an hour and have started yoga to try to keep the
muscles strong and the leg as flexible as possible. I am still within 6 weeks
of the original diagnosis of melorheostosis and don’t know what course the
disease will take.