Resurfacing vs. total hip in post menopausal women

[winnergirl]

I am scheduled for hip surgery in April.  I will be 53 at the time of my surgery and am not certain whether to have a total hip or a resurfacing.  My doctor is Dr. Edward Sparling in Vancouver, WA and he has done over 250 resurfacings.  He asked me a lot of really good questions that I had not been asked by the prior doctor I saw.  I am post-menopausal and significantly over weight, 5’3” and probably 210 by the time I have surgery.  He said that he has had four problem cases with resurfacing and all of them were women, with 3 out of the 4 being post-menopausal like me.  He said that he can begin the surgery to do a resurfacing, but if he gets in there and the quality of my bone does not look good he will do a metal on metal total hip.  He told me that he can do a total hip with a larger ball that will give me the same freedom of movement that a resurfacing would and that the larger size makes it much less likely to dislocate.  He asked me how I would feel if I had a resurfacing and two weeks after the surgery my bone snapped off at the bottom of the cap.  That made my stomach drop.  Osteoporosis runs in my family.  My mother had multiple compression fractures in her back over the years.  I have shrunk an 1 1/2” and my older sister is an inch shorter than she used to be.  With that said, my mother never exercised and was a heavy smoker.  I have always exercised and even now do 45 minutes a day on a recumbent bike and I use our BowFlex every other day.  I have a very low thyroid and take medication for that and I am diabetic, though I control it with diet and exercise.  I was leaning toward the resurfacing but now I am not sure.  I know that once I get a new hip I can be much more active and will once again get most of this excess weight off.  Are there any other women like me out there that faced similar problems?

[momzer2]

Welcome Winnergirl:

Has your doctor suggested having a bone density test?  This would give him an accurate assessment of your bone density in your hip, femur (large upper leg bone), and your spine.  This I feel would be a must have test for you.  Your mom had osteoporosis, but she smoked and didn't exercise.  These are two big minuses for good bone strength.  Actually, being overweight is sometimes good for bone strength since your frame has to 'carry' around a heavier load.  I'm not trying to be funny here, it's true.  However, I would never suggest a person be overweight since there are too many health problems  associated....  That being said, I say ask for the test.  You are definitely not too old or too heavy...   Good luck.  Keep us posted.

Karen 9-18-07 LBHR Barba