limp and pain still after 2.5 years

[kfallen]

OK guys I need help and advice BADLY.  I had the hip resurfacing surgery 2.5 years ago.  The Birmingham was used.  I have not experienced improvement in walking, in fact it worse.  And my limp is very visible.  If I walk to the mail box on my way back I am limping and feeling the pain. I have gone back to the same doctor several times and they seem to think all is well.  I went to another doctor a couple of weeks ago and they cant seem to find anything....but something is wrong.  I know this.  Any advice??????  I am 43 yrs old, work out 5 days a week.....very active....well as active as I can be with my limp.  PLEASE HELP.

[Pat Walter]

Hi

You did not mention who did your surgery or where you live.  You need to get a second and third opinon about your resurfacing.  The most common cause of problems is an acetabular cup placed at a wrong angle.  This causes edge wear between the cup and cap which causes high metal ions.  The only way to know what is going on is to have a really expeirnced surgeon - like one that has done several thousand or more resurfacings - look at your x-ray and have your blood tested for metal ions.  The blood test is not standard and you need to get with one of the top surgeons to have this done.

If you let me know where you live, I can give you some names to contact.  They will be the surgeons at the top of my list that have done over 1000 resurfacings.  Dr. De Smet of Belgium will give you a free email consultation if you send him an email with your x-rays attached in a digital format as a .jpg.  Dr. Gross of SC will give you a free second opinon if you send him the same information.  Dr. Su of NY does a lot of revisions of resurfacing problems.

You can't get an answer from the folks here since we are not medically trained.  The answers you need are from the top resurfacing surgeons.  There have been a handful of cases lately with similar problems to yours due to their acetabular cups being placed at a wrong angle. 

I definitely would not continue to go to the less expeirnced surgeons.  You need information from the best resurfacing surgeons. Most of the other surgeons can't see if your x-rays shows problems and many don't even know where to get your blood tests done.

Here is my list of the top surgeons at the top  http://www.surfacehippy.info/listofdoctors.php

Please keep in touch and let us know what you find out.

Pat