Hip Dysplasia and the Employment Physical Exam

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Specializes in PICU, Type I Diabetes.

I am newly diagnosed with DDH (moderate hip dysplasia) and I have pain in my hip due to degeneration of my articular cartilage and acetabulum. I have a mild to moderate limp when I don't take my narcotic pain med. I just got a job (newly graduated nurse!) in a PICU and I need to do a physical exam with employee health at the hospital. I'm nervous because my orthopedist is saying an arthroscopy is needed and possibly a PAO, but my residency program won't let me take an absence longer than 2 days (surgery and recovery is much longer). For the physical, I'm scared I won't get cleared to work because of this history. My question(s) is whether I need to reveal this hx to the Dr doing the physical, how it may hurt my chances for employment, and if I do get to do the job, if my condition worsens whether I'd be eligible for disability (ADA) protection or not. Honestly, I just don't know what to do. Do I take this job and suffer through until I can take time off for the surgery, or do I quit, get the surgery, rehab, then take my chances (which are long given the state of the economy) on getting a new job? Can I qualify for disability if I get denied this job because of the physical? I'm just so confused and I know nothing about these things, so explanations that talk to me like I'm a child would be welcome!Thanks for reading, I appreciate any info!

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Specializes in med/surg, home health.
i am newly diagnosed with ddh (moderate hip dysplasia) and i have pain in my hip due to degeneration of my articular cartilage and acetabulum. i have a mild to moderate limp when i don't take my narcotic pain med. i just got a job (newly graduated nurse!) in a picu and i need to do a physical exam with employee health at the hospital. i'm nervous because my orthopedist is saying an arthroscopy is needed and possibly a pao, but my residency program won't let me take an absence longer than 2 days (surgery and recovery is much longer). for the physical, i'm scared i won't get cleared to work because of this history. my question(s) is whether i need to reveal this hx to the dr doing the physical, how it may hurt my chances for employment, and if i do get to do the job, if my condition worsens whether i'd be eligible for disability (ada) protection or not. honestly, i just don't know what to do. do i take this job and suffer through until i can take time off for the surgery, or do i quit, get the surgery, rehab, then take my chances (which are long given the state of the economy) on getting a new job? can i qualify for disability if i get denied this job because of the physical? i'm just so confused and i know nothing about these things, so explanations that talk to me like i'm a child would be welcome!thanks for reading, i appreciate any info!

these are pretty much the questions i asked in another thread here "help do i have to disclose..." i got some great answers, i think they will help you too....:nurse:

ps (i have congenital hip dysplasia, my experiences are quite similar to yours)

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