straight from the hip...

[Lori Cee]

August isn't too far away.  It will be here before you know it.  (Maybe it's just me but this year has flown already!)

Make sure you start to write your list of questions to take with you.  I know that Pat had a really good list at: http://www.surfacehippy.info/questionsfordoctor.php that has a lot of questions to consider.

[kajubones]

Hey Dan,

Thanks, I can use all the luck I can get :). I gather you have not had your operation yet either, right? Well, if not then I wish you luck also.

Hey Lori thanks for the advise, that is a great idea! I will definitely check out that link to see those questions. :).

[ScubaDuck]

You don't need luck, the surgeon does.  I believe we make our luck by doing our research and picking the best surgeon possible.

I will have my surgery on August 1st with Dr. Pritchett in Seattle at some ungodly hour of the morning.  I hope my surgeon is a morning person. 

Look forward to hearing from you on the other side.

Dan

[Lopsided]

You don't need luck, the surgeon does.  I believe we make our luck by doing our research and picking the best surgeon possible.

I would say there are four steps to getting it right:

• Choose the right device.
• Get a good surgeon.
• Do all the PT.
• Your commitment.

[Dayton96]

Good advice provided above.  I'm sorry to hear your employer's insurance is too expensive and your wife's insurance limits your options.  Have you considered returning to your employer's insurance for a year or two, just long enough to cover a top surgeon (assuming it will do that)? 

What about Dr. Bose in India?  He is one of the best in the world, he will respond to emailed x-rays, and surgery at his hospital is much cheaper than here.  Some U.S. insurance companies will pay for that trip to India since it does save them money, would your wife's insurance company?  Is it worth asking?

Mac

[kajubones]

Hey Dan,

I hope it is skill that the doctor has and not luck but I hear you, LOL. It will be great talking about this on the other side like you said.

D,

What do you mean by choosing the right device? I hope that does not mean that there is a wrong one as in a bad one?! I am kind of sold on the Birmingham at the moment but I like the idea of the CAS Computer aided surgery and I hope the doctors that perform the Birmingham uses that as well?

Mac,

That is an interesting idea! I will talk to my wife about that and look into getting information as to whether or not our insurance will let us do that. It is always great to have more options.

[Lopsided]

What do you mean by choosing the right device? I hope that does not mean that there is a wrong one as in a bad one?! I am kind of sold on the Birmingham at the moment but I like the idea of the CAS Computer aided surgery and I hope the doctors that perform the Birmingham uses that as well?

K,

There are most definitely right and wrong devices. This might depend on you, and your surgeon, as much as the history of the devices. The Durom had sharp edges and was found to be a bad device. The ASR was too difficult for many surgeons to place correctly. Some patients' bone stock is not so good and they need mini hips. Some surgeons prefer a certain device because they have been trained in it or even developed their own tools for it.

The Birmingham has the longest history, and is no doubt a good device. But is it the best? My surgeon considers the C+ better than the Birmingham, and there are papers about this.

I specifically wanted an uncemented device, and Birmingham do not do one.

From what I gather, none of the top resurfacing surgeons use computer assisted surgery. Their own skill is better.

All devices are not the same, so do your research.

D.

[kajubones]

Hi D,

Wow, I feel overwhelmed with the amount of info out there. My fear is that I am going to keep putting this off until everything is perfect (like I always do with everything because my wife says that I am a perfectionist). I need to get this done soon because my health is suffering. I really like what I have been hearing about the Birmingham. How do I find out if it is the right one for me? LOL, I feel like I am dating again but this time with a hip device.

By the way I have another question that I have been afraid to ask. These devices don't last forever (like how us martial artists will) so if it wears ahead of time then do I have to get a total hip replacement after that or can they just go in and replace the parts, you know kind of like changing the breaks in your car? If they have it, I would like to have a Bionic hip and send my sparring partner through the wall, just kidding. ;D

[Lori Cee]

... so if it wears ahead of time then do I have to get a total hip replacement after that or can they just go in and replace the parts, you know kind of like changing the breaks in your car?

It depends on what wears out and what the quality of the bone is when they remove the old parts.  A good surgeon is going to revise with the most bone conserving option based on the condition of the bone remaining.

The device I have is called a Birmingham Mid Head Resection (More info here: http://www.mcminncentre.co.uk/birmingham-mid-head-resection.html) which is another step between a resurfacing and a total hip.  It's used if the bone quality no longer supports a resurfacing and is likely going to be the next step for people who wear out their resurfacings in the next 15 - 20 years :) (I had to go straight to this option as my bone quality wasn't good enough for the BHR)  It isn't yet FDA approved for use in the US, though by the time you need revision there might even be other options available. 

When it comes time, check out what the top guys are doing in the field and they'll give you what the best options are whenever that may be. 

[gary2010]

If it wears out you get a large head MOM total hip, keeping the acetabular component. Do you know Sifu Marc McFann? Pro JKD/MMA coach, known for his Silat as well; he's got a large head THR one side.

[Lopsided]

A well placed resurfacing should last for life.

Don't put it off. And yes, it should be perfect.

D.

[kajubones]

I guess it depends on what happens internally huh? I hope by that time there will be something new.

Hey Gary I have never heard of Sifu Marc McFann but I will look him up. I heard rumors that maybe Chuck Norris also got something done with his hips, but that could be untrue.

[Lopsided]

I guess it depends on what happens internally huh?

I would say what happens internally depends on how well the device is placed.

[gary2010]

Especially if it's a claw hammer

[Lopsided]

Especially if it's a claw hammer

Yes Gary. You know what condition my hip was in before the operation by the type of implant. In fact, before the operation I could not cut my own toenails, now I can pull bash my nails in and lever them out quite comfortably.

[hernanu]

I guess it depends on what happens internally huh? I hope by that time there will be something new.

Hey Gary I have never heard of Sifu Marc McFann but I will look him up. I heard rumors that maybe Chuck Norris also got something done with his hips, but that could be untrue.

I'm sorry kajubones, I just couldn't help this - there's been a whole lot of jokes and web sites that have sprung up about what Chuck Norris can do, if you add the new life he could get from redone hips, there'll be no limit...

Here's a sample:

When Chuck Norris was born, the only person who cried was the doctor. Never slap Chuck Norris.
   
Chuck Norris doesn't churn butter. He roundhouse kicks the cows and the butter comes straight out.
   
Chuck Norris walks to keep the Earth rotating on its axis.

Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.
   
... and so on.

Now I'm going to have to think of something with Chuck Norris as a hippie.

   

[FlbrkMike]

Chuck Norris resurfaced his own hips.

[moe]

Chuck Norris resurfaced his own hips.

You win!  ;)

[hernanu]

Chuck Norris resurfaced his own hips.

Hilarious. Then he revised himself... just for the fun of it.

[FlbrkMike]

Chuck Norris resurfaced his own hips.

Hilarious. Then he revised himself... just for the fun of it.

;D ;D ;D