<p>My advice after watching my poor mom go through hip replacement: Shop carefully for your surgeon. She went to a surgeon who basically did hip replacements constantly, a veritable hip replacement factory. That can be a good thing but in her case it was a bad thing. My mom got no pain relief, in fact it got worse. The surgery was tough on her (she was in her late seventies). Then there was a class action against the surgeon for doing needless hip replacements. She was approached to participate and declined, said she didn’t want money, just wanted the pain to lessen.</p>
<p>Hip replacement is a big source of revenue in health care. Just make absolute certain that the surgery is really warranted and likely to help. Second opinions are a good idea for that sort of invasive surgery.</p>
<p>Knee surgery is MUCH more complex than Hip surgery (and so is shoulder surgery). Analogies are not really applicable.</p>
<p>I second that one should get MULTIPLE opinions on any joint replacement. Because the Surface Hippy/Hip Resurfacing Community is global, online, and limited to a certain set of docs, I was able to get a pretty good read on each doc’s approach and successes/failures. I consulted with over 4 based on my x=rays. And I met numerous (over 30 in two settings) Surface Hippies of all ages, from all walks of life, with all levels of activity- all happy, with different devices and various surgeons.
Hip resurfacing is in a “sweet spot” of number of surgeons and procedures- we can track it almost like a registry.
Unfortunately, the Total Hip Replacement industry is much larger and more dispersed. You need to go by word of mouth and referrals. But it is harder to hear of the unsuccessful stories. A great source, if you can get it, is OR nurses- they know which surgeons are the best!!! and the worst (they call them butchers)…
Best of luck to all.</p>
<p>1down - I predict your H will wonder why he did not have it done years ago after he has it done. What we go through trying to avoid it is worse than pretty much anything that will happen after. I couldn’t lift my leg to put it over my horse to mount or dismount so I taught him to stand like a statue next to a mounting block that was as tall as he was while I draped myself over him and slowly nudged my body almost in line in with his and inched my right leg over. As I eased down into the saddle, it was all I could do not to cry out in pain. After about 10 minutes I could relax enough to ride but it still was very uncomfortable. That is how much I loved riding but, looking back, what a mess I was. I was also a avid dancer - ballroom/swing - and was worried sick I wouldn’t be as mobile. I cannot tell any difference when I dance since the surgery - except for the lack of a feeling of an icepick jabbing me in my hip.</p>
<p>^^I’m sure you’re right that he will wish he had done it sooner. You must be thrilled to be able to ride again with no pain. We had visited a dude ranch some years back with family friends, and it’s still a running joke that my H requested a skinny horse!!</p>
<p>We will be getting several opinions and asking lots of questions, but it seems the likely way to go. We’re hoping he is eligible for the resurfacing. Poor guy can’t get a break with body breakdown issues lately…he just called after leaving a retina specialist who did laser surgery on his eye today. Ain’t grownin’ old just grand??! Better than the alternative for sure.</p>
<p>I wonder if I could have had resurfacing. I just didn’t know enough about it to look into it, but I definitely would now. The minimally invasive was all the rage then and you had to find doctors who had done multiple ones as opposed to the traditional. The only downside is that I have to do the full body scan when I fly and when there is no body scan machine in the airport, I get the pat down. I’ve never found the pat downs to be a big deal though - just the source of humor to my friends as they watch and make jokes later.</p>
<p>With my HIP RESURFACING, I do have to get special “treatment” at airport security… GRRR
I ALWAYS go for the new radiation machine to avoid the new invasive pat-downs. But BION there are still airports/airlines that do not have one of the new scanners. That is when I have to spend about 10-15 extra min getting though security, and put up with a less than pleasant experience with the TSA…</p>
<p>It is really weird- my device ALWAYS sets off the Gate Alarm, but NEVER sets off the Wand- go figure!!
Small price to pay for getting my mobility and pain-free life back, though.
GRRRRR!</p>
<p>My pat downs have been the source of many jokes - my friends and I practically re-enacted it as a comedy scene. How can you not laugh at “I am going to move my hand up your leg until I meet resistance.” and " Using the back of my hand now." We added in “Finding my way around the muffin top now.” and “Nice resistance.”</p>
<p>Just a quick followup on recovery - DH went for his one month checkup last Friday and the doctor gave him an “A+”. Dr lifted all restrictions and said DH could “do anything he wants”. That was repeated several times - the only caveat to avoid high impact and twisting. I said “Can he mow the lawn?” and the answer was “he can do anything he wants”. So DH stopped the cane and took away the elevated toilet seat. And was up on a ladder trimming trees on Sunday. He’s going to PT twice a week for a month. He had gone for advance therapy last winter and apparently those exercises helped his swift recovery. He never needed any pain pills, which surprised everyone.</p>
<p>He’ll be flying later this month and it will be interesting to see what happens. Is there any benefit to having a card from the doctor advising of the artificial hip, or does it not really make any difference?</p>
<p>Marilyn that’s wonderful and encouraging news! And he went right from the cane to the ladder?? Wow! …time for the honey-do list ;)</p>
<p>Did he have resurfacing? DH and I are headed to the specialist on Thursday to see if he is a candidate. We are hopeful since he is so active and still relatively young. It’s been very rough for him these past couple of years so we are hoping this will give him a new lease on life.</p>
<p>He got an actual replacement piece- I took pictures of the X-rays so I know it’s really in there! (The doctor left them up on the monitor when he was done.)</p>
<p>He went to a conference yesterday evening and today in the area, and has been feeling sore after sitting all day. So he’s icing the hip. Incidentally, I tried to stop him from going on the ladder and got yelled at. No miracle change to Mr. Nice Guy, I guess!</p>
<p>go to the doctor that you think is the very best.
you will always have “some” pain.
If you do not make the extra effort to go to who you think is the very best, then you will always think that if you had done so the pain would be less.
However, if you do go to who you believe to be the very best then you will always think that the pain would be even worse had you gone to another surgeon.
I have had a replacement for 24 years. I am mid 50’s. I have jogged, played tennis, snow skied, etc.
I am beginning to have a little trouble and may have to have something done pretty soon. I was very hard on my hip. Lifting weight or being over weight are the two things that will give you the most trouble.</p>
<p>Smile, the biggest things that cause problems with implants are high impact aerobics and impact sports. The jarring movements cause the problems.</p>
<p>We visited our first doctor today who specializes in hip resurfacing (has done over 300) and were less than impressed with his personality. We know that isn’t everything, but when that’s all you have to go on, you have to honor your instincts.</p>
<p>This doc made us feel rushed (after waiting almost an hour and a half), did not go into any detail about any procedure and came off as slightly arrogant. After my H went into great detail about his history and complaints, the doc just sat back, kind of smirked and said “And what exactly do you want me to do for you?” Uhhh…suggest plans of action to deal with the pain? huh?? At one point he looked at my husband and blurted “How did you get the necrosis?!” (a deadening of bone cells)…my H just sort of looked at me like “Is this guy nuts?”…and he said “I don’t know! You tell ME?” But he didn’t. Very odd.</p>
<p>The good news is H is a candidate for the resurfacing procedure, but there’s a window of time before the necrosis gets too advanced to do it. Dr. wanted H to do a month of therapy and anti-inflammatories before considering surgery. For the reasons listed above, we pretty much ruled this doctor out and now need to look into others.</p>
<p>If any of you guys know of docs in NJ or Phila area who specialize in resurfacing, would you please share or PM me. We both appreciate and value your input.</p>
<p>In NYC one of the very very best now in US for hip resurfacing is Dr Su at Hospital for Special Surgery. Several of my friends have used him. If/when I have my other hip done, I will consider only Dr Su in the US. YMMV</p>
<p>Check out surfacehippy.info and hip resurfacing websites.
There are two sites that have lots and lots of info about all the hip resurfacing docs in the world and list number of surgeries done, and you can read the forums to get an idea of who is having problems and who is not. They constitute what is the closest thing we have to a registry in the US for this procedure. There is much discussion about the various devices and other important issues on the forum, as well. I sent a few months reading them before I selected my surgeon.
Sorry, but 300 surgeries is not all that many (better than less, but this is a tough surgery to learn). I would look for closer to 1000.</p>
<p>I went to a surgeon in Belgium who has done over 10,000, and designs the tools to help the surgeons do a better job. He is in Ghent- Dr de Smet. He also revises a lot of the bad jobs. Been over three years- absolutely no problems, no pain, no restrictions (fingers crossed!).
You need to send xrays by mail or digitally to each doc you are thinking of using. Each one (they do seem to be 99% men- sorry) will tell you if he considers you a candidate (they do not always agree), what device he recommends, and when he has an opening. For free. Without you traveling to see him. Promise. That’s what I did with 3 before deciding.
Then you need to find a local ortho who can your post-surgical follow-up and future xrays, or just go back to the surgeon for that.</p>
<p>Good luck- you are getting closer to a pain-free and free-to-move existence!!!</p>
<p>1down-
if you are looking at ny, look at this place:
[::</a> Welcome to Insall Scott Kelly® Institute ::](<a href=“http://iskinstitute.com/physicians/cushnerbio.html]::”>http://iskinstitute.com/physicians/cushnerbio.html)
I knew Dr. Cushner when he was a resident, very compassionate and kind, and does resurfacing. He may not do hips, but I am pretty confident that as the director of the facility, he has good staff working for him. </p>
<p>Also, I have really liked the interaction I have had with Rothman in Philly. Takes a while to get in. They do resurfacing according to their website. I have used them for pt’s with shoulders in the past. So I do not know the hip doctors specifically.</p>
<p>Smile, the biggest things that cause problems with implants are high impact aerobics and impact sports. The jarring movements cause the problems.</p>
<p>I understand.
However, at 28 years old I was willing to risk it all.
Fortunately, I have gotten away with it for 24 yrs.
My view on things have changed now and I tend to be more cautious.</p>
<p>IMO, ALL the docs at Hospital for Special Surgery are tops. My DH used two different docs for his two hip replacements (not resurfacing) – Pellicci and Salvati. He used Pellicci first and would have used him again except the guy was out of network.</p>
So DH stopped the cane and took away the elevated toilet seat. And was up on a ladder trimming trees on Sunday. He’s going to PT twice a week for a month. He had gone for advance therapy last winter and apparently those exercises helped his swift recovery. He never needed any pain pills, which surprised everyone.</p>