Brand new to the site. Looking for more feedback on Dr. Gross

[LAB123]

and thanks to you too Mari...

[Jbennett]

I met him today and liked him fine. He spent plenty of time with me and seemed to accommodate any preferences I had as far as medications or his protocols if it was within reason. My only negative and it's really unimportant is the Midlands Ortho facility is not as "nice" as either ortho practice I've been to in Memphis. That's silly I know. A big city prejudice maybe but the big practices in Memphis have very luxurious office space. My first thoughts all related to the facility.Being a realtor I'm always looking at "curb appeal" Ha! I still feel confident of my choice though. He's far more experienced than any Ortho in the country as far as resurfacings. I'll let you know more over the next few days after he gets done with me. Surgery for me is in about 14 hours.  :o

[mslendzion]

Best wishes jbennett

[Aerial]

I met him today and liked him fine. He spent plenty of time with me and seemed to accommodate any preferences I had as far as medications or his protocols if it was within reason. My only negative and it's really unimportant is the Midlands Ortho facility is not as "nice" as either ortho practice I've been to in Memphis. That's silly I know. A big city prejudice maybe but the big practices in Memphis have very luxurious office space. My first thoughts all related to the facility.Being a realtor I'm always looking at "curb appeal" Ha! I still feel confident of my choice though. He's far more experienced than any Ortho in the country as far as resurfacings. I'll let you know more over the next few days after he gets done with me. Surgery for me is in about 14 hours.  :o

Sort of laughed at this.  I live in SC and went for a second opinion at a gorgeous facility in Greenville. The doctor did not live up to the beauty of the facility.  I chose Dr. Gross in a heartbeat!

[hernanu]

I had the same in Boston.

Went into Brigham and Women's and the doctor's office had oak everywhere, all things shiny. He told me that THR was the only option and all of the things I would need to remove from my life. I then went to the (smaller) Newton-Wellesley and a very busy practice with people all over the place and no plush offices, just the examining rooms and some small offices for the doctors.

Got the feeling I wanted from the doctor and signed up for both surgeries on the spot.

[Jbennett]

Certainly my comment was a superficial issue. I'm confident I made the right choice. Dr. Gross makes me comfortable all the way around. I hope I was clear about that. Cool shiny fixtures and cabinetry and furniture don't mean better quality care.
Jeff

[hernanu]

 :)  That was pretty obvious, Jeff, given that you chose substance over style.  ;)

Still, it is nice to see a cool office.

[BrianROC]

Your situation sounds very similar to mine.   In my mid 30's I developed the classic groin pain and loss of motion in my hips and legs.  It became difficult for me to tie my shoes, pick stuff up off the floor and even get into the car.  I stopped playing basketball and running.  I did not have a lot of pain but the loss of motion made doing anything difficult. 

I went to the doctor who told me I had arthritis in both hips.  His brilliant advice was to wait as long as possible, until the pain was unbearable and then I would have to have THR. 

After researching a better solution I came across this site and read everything I could about hip resurfacing.  I made an appointment with Dr. gross.  He told me I was bone on bone in both hips and suggested resurfacing. 

I had my bi-laterial resurfacing 15 months ago, when I was 38.  Today I am doing everything I had to stop doing when my hips went bad.  I have no problems putting on my shoes, picking things up or getting into the car.  I can ride my motorcycle again and I run and play basketball without pain. 

My suggestion would be to get your hip fixed and get on with your life.  Your too young to sit around missing out on the things you enjoy.  I just finished a 25 minute run before checking in here. 

Good luck with your decision.

[23109VC]

Scott-

I'm 39, and Dr. Gross did my left hip last year.  I am JUST past the one year mark!  I haven't posted my "one year follow up" post yet.. as I"m trying to put together a video to "show off" how mobile I am!  :)

I live in California...and I opted to see Dr. Gross over all others.  There were a couple doctors local who I could have seen... but honestly, after reading a LOT on this site, I was sold on his high level of experience, and I was interested in the non cemented approach.  No one really can say if the "no cement" method is truly better..but Dr. Gross seems to think so.  That doesn't mean he's right...but it sure sounds logical.  Metal in your hip is not natural.. neither is cement.  If you can minimze areas that can fail it sure sounded good. Another devil's advocate position is the true reality that I"m sure he has a major financial incentive/investment in this device... but having met him, he sure seems like a down to Earth guy.  In the end.. you have to make the best decisiion you can based on the available info.. and knowing that he has done THOUSANDS of these operations - with mostly all positive results was the main selling point to me.  I don't want to be the guy the doctor is learning on... with Dr. Gross.... he is a pro at this point.. so you know you are in good hands.

My experience was great.  The whole process really frightened me as I got closer and closer to surgery.  The idea of someone opening up my body, dislocating my hip joint, using power tools on my bones, and pounding metal stuff into my body was not a good thought...  but let me tell you this - the sensation NOW of being pain FREE is amazing.  And the truth is, the process was pain free.  the most painful thing I experience in the whle process was the IV, and a blood draw!  yes.. post op there was some swelling... soreness.. but nothing major.  i was afraid i was going to bre subjected to big needles, painful shots, or thingsthat would "Hurt".  looking back on it - it was a cake walk.  I had hernia surgery 6-7 years ago.. that hurt WAY MORE than the hip surgery.  i was suprised adn how little pain I was in.  sure.. after the surgetyr your hip will be weak. you will be gaurding it.. but you are not going to be in agonizing pain.  i sure wasn't.

at one eyhar post op I feel like a new man.  I can run, jump, spin around... I can truly say that  my new hip is pain free.  the only thing that I feel limited in is that for me.. if I run.. after about half a mile i feel some soreness...  so had I been a jogger.. maybe I'd be bummed out.. but for me.. i don't jog.  i do the treadmill and elliptical and I go crazy on that thing 3 x a week - pain free.  not long ago i took my son to play "airsoft".. kind of like paintball... and ran all over the place for teh entire day.. no hip pain.

it is a miracle cure when it works right.  Dr. Gross has a great track record.  if you are nervous about the process - don't be.  it will be easy, and I swear to you, once you are post op - you will wish you had done it sooner.  i suffered with hip pain for years.. probably like you have.. It slowly and slowlyh got to the point where trying to tie my own shoe on teh bad side was so hard... i couldn't reallyh cut my toenails on that side.. i was in pain a lot.. even in bed at night.. just laying down still.. i'd have throbbing pain in myh joint.. i can remember that pain so distinctly... and now I feel like my hip is "quiet".....  if you are in pain.. get it fixed.  go to whoever you feel comfortable with.. but I woudl 100% recommend Dr. Gross.  if my other hip goes bad.. which it could.. I will be back to Columbia, SC!

Good luck!!

[ctb]

Hi Scott - I love love love Dr. Gross, and his entire staff.  Unlike most doctors I know, he spends as much time with  you going over the procedure and addressing any concerns/questions you have.  I'd gush some more, but I am one day post op and was just given some happy pills, so I am fading fast.  Good luck!  :)

[imgetinold]

Congrats, CTB.

Good luck, Bosox!

[bosoxgordon]

Hello again all, Thank you so much for all the great responses. I know you don't have to take the time to respond and share your stories with me but I am glad you all did. I have to say that after all my research and soul searching, I think Dr. Gross is the best choice for me when that time comes. I have to be honest I don't particularly fear the surgery. Based on what people are saying about Dr. Gross' process and staff it seems like a fairly easy process. What I truly fear is the fact that as soon as I make the choice to get a new hip the clock starts ticking. Yes the new hip could last me 20 or 30 years but the odds are that I will be facing at least one more revision surgery at some point in my life. While it seems as though the vast majority of these procedures go well, not all do. There are a number of things that can go wrong and no matter how well it goes the components start wearing out from day one. Will they last 5 years, 10, 20 or more? That is all an educated GUESS. Believe me I am very sympathetic to the relief that HSR can bring to those suffering from hip pain but I have to find a balance between my current condition and the process initiated by surgery.

I am facing the same difficult decision everyone here has. WHEN? In the beginning my pain was getting very bad. My loss of ROM was significant and I stopped all exercise, was depressed and grumpy all the time. I have since been on Celebrex and some supplements and I have to say that my hip is feeling much better. I still have pain but nothing like before. I still don't run and find it difficult to ride motorcycles for any long rides but when is it too much. For the most part my hip is OKay. It's not great but okay. I actually played 18 holes last week and I expected it to bother me that night and the next day but it was okay. My x-rays say I am bone on bone but it seems my symptoms are not as bad as many of you before you had the surgery. There are some limitations on what I can do right now but nothing too severe. I am not sure when I will be forced to go under the knife, but I don't think that time is now.

[imgetinold]

Hey, Bosox,

It sounds like you've got a good handle on things.  Again, I was much like you, good periods and bad.  If you're not ready, wait.  But keep close tabs on your bone health so that you don't damage the bone to the point you're not a candidate.

You'll know it's time when you can't stand the limitations anymore.  When that time comes, Dr. Gross will take care of you.

Keep in touch, and good luck again.

[morph]

Hi Scott, I am in exactly the same situation you are in at the moment. I am 38 with an 18month daughter and my wife is pregnant with twins. I have a consultation on 20th April with Mr Holland. Over the last 4-5 yrs I have been suffering, I have good and bad days but it is getting worse and my quality of life is seriously affected. A bad limp, very poor ROM, I can not drive for long distances and can not walk for long distances, although it does not affect me when resting. What is more it is having a detrimental affect on other parts of my body. The other hip is put under more stress, I have slight scoliosis of the spine and just recently in my good leg my achilles tendon has been very sore. All of this plus the fact I want to spend quality time with and help my wife with our kids helped me decide now is the time.

TBH this time last year, although I was in pain, I was uncertain to whether I wanted to go through with it just yet and was anxious about losing my natural hip and all the emotional stuff. I was quite prepared to persevere with pain at least for a few more years until I was forty. Very quickly I changed my mind this year due to everything getting worse. I figured the way things were going I would only be able to hold out for a couple of years max and in the mean time risk damaging other healthy joints so in the grand scheme of things is not worth it.

I wish you all the best and you never know we may be recovering at a similar time.

Neil.

[einreb]

Hi Scott, I am in exactly the same situation you are in at the moment. I am 38 with an 18month daughter and my wife is pregnant with twins. I have a consultation on 20th April. Over the last 4-5 yrs I have been suffering, I have good and bad days but it is getting worse and my quality of life is seriously affected. A bad limp, very poor ROM, I can not drive for long distances and can not walk for long distances, although it does not affect me when resting. What is more it is having a detrimental affect on other parts of my body. The other hip is put under more stress, I have slight scoliosis of the spine and just recently in my good leg my achilles tendon has been very sore. All of this plus the fact I want to spend quality time with and help my wife with our kids helped me decide now is the time.

TBH this time last year, although I was in pain, I was uncertain to whether I wanted to go through with it just yet and was anxious about losing my natural hip and all the emotional stuff. I was quite prepared to persevere with pain at least for a few more years until I was forty. Very quickly I changed my mind this year due to everything getting worse. I figured the way things were going I would only be able to hold out for a couple of years max and in the mean time risk damaging other healthy joints so in the grand scheme of things is not worth it.

I wish you all the best and you never know we may be recovering at a similar time.

Neil.

Your story sounds so familiar to mine 2 years ago.

Dr Gross did my hip last year.  I'm only a touch older than you... the non-hip specific benefits have been the huge surprise upside.  I'm in no pain, so much less cranky... in better shape now than I've been in years, etc.  I'm biking a good bit (150-200 miles a week) now and feeling great in general.  Long walks with the family are now pain free.  No more stopping every couple hundred yards doubled over in pain.  The recovery process had its ups and downs, but my decision to go with Dr Gross was one that I do not regret in the least. 

-Bernie