Can't beleive this is going on...

[Pat Walter]

One other point I want to make for people on the fence - thinking about resurfacing or trying other methods to solve their hip problems.

Hips can deteriorate to a point that they are beyond hip resurfacing. There is a definite window of opportunity - if your hips go beyond that, you can't have a hip resurfacing.  Sometimes PAIN is not the best indicator of the condition of your hip.  Some people feel a great amount of pain and their hip condition is not too bad while others feel much less pain and have hips in very bad condition.  We all feel pain at different levels. So the only way to really know what shape your hip is in and if you are a candidate for hip resurfacing is to get an expereinced hip resurfacing surgeon to read your x-rays.

You can have great mental power and be very stoic- but meanwhile your hip might be going beyond that "window of opportunity for a hip resurfacing"   Some people have waited to the point that Dr. De Smet had them come IMMEDIATELY to Belgium for their hip resurfacing.  Waiting even a couple weeks would be too long.  He never does a hip that does not need to be done. I know because he says my right hip is not bad enough yet and has told others the same thing.  He has done over 3000 hip resurfacings and over 3000 thrs - he does not need to create business.

So in my experience of reading stories from people from the really experienced surgeons - they will do no hip until it is ready, but sometimes you are not able to determine if it is ready to do.

Pat

[Kal]

Great points Pat.

Ronan Treacy also advised that I hold off on the left hip as it is not nearly as bad as my right hip.  He mentioned with AVN there is really no telling what will happen - it may get worse after the right is resurfaced or may subside and may not need to be resurfaced for years...  Having done 4,000+ resurfacings as well, he certainly is not in any need for business either.

You know he knows DeSmet, Bose and of course Mcminn - all three had a different approach after reviewing my xrays/mri/katscan - Desmet was probably the closest to Treacy's opinion.  So, again, you can talk to several different docs and get a varying opinion from each.  Having met Mr. Treacy and having a face to face - I felt confident that he was the best for my situation so I will be seeing him on Jan 23 for pre-op and then go under the knife on Jan 24.

Another interesting fact about Treacy:  I think he is the fastest surgeon at this procedure as when I asked how long he stated probably "between 25 - 45 minutes"...

Kal

[DAN]

Absolutly Pat, i am taking glucosamine as well as osteoking, like i said worse comes to worse i will seek a second opinion i would rather suffer with pain that go through a thr, re surfacing would be the only way to go for me especially for my age and activities, i have been alot better with my hip the pain that i had last november has disapeared i'm doing more things now but i haven't hit the skates yet. I was never supposed to play high impact sports anyways, but i will give it a shot after i go through the 3 months cycle of Osteoking, what do i have to lose right. Good news by the way my wife is three months pregnant, my 14 month old son keeps my hip from getting stiff now HA Ha HA

[Pat Walter]

Hi Kal

Mr. Treacy is one of the best.  You are lucky to be able to use him.

I have a couple of his patients stories up  http://www.surfacehippy.info/hipstories.php#Dr.%20Treacy

I hope you will write one for me to post too after your surgery.

De Smet is pretty fast - 45 minutes normally. I heard Treacy was really fast too.  I guess you just get good after doing thousands.  I don't think it makes a difference how fast your surgeon is for most people.  De Smet feels the faster he gets in and out - the less anasthesia he needs to use and the faster you recover.  Just his theory.

I wish you the best.  Keep in touch.

Pat

[DAN]

I did look at your site Pat on available doctors  her in Calgary,one that you had displayed was Dr, Mackenzie, he does hip resurfacings ,but he didn't want to do it to me, and honesty i did not like his personnality i found him cold, but i will seek a second or third opinion in the near future so thanks for your help i will keep you posted, like i said i will not get a thr, a resurfacing is my only way to happyness

[Pat Walter]

Hi Dan

Sorry about Dr. Mackenzie. Someone must have written to me that had used him and suggested him.  That is how many of the doctors get on the list.

I agree with you that you should get several other opinions if you want a hip resurfacing.  I think you will find someone that can give you one.

Many of us had doctors tell us no or said hip resurfacing is not a good procedure.  We just kept looking.

Pat

[drmike-s]

If your bone quality is good (i.e., no osteoporosis) you are a candidate for resurfacing.  Make sure you consult an experienced surgeon.   The best ones, in my opinion, are Drs. McMinn & Treacy in England and Koen De Smet in Belgium.  Dr. De Smet did my Rt. hip almost 4 years ago and my total experience, from start to finish, was absolutely wonderful.

Good luck!

Mike Sulman

[DAN]

I am going to seek a second opinion in the very near future, funny thing is that one of my co workers had a re surfacing done 3 years ago, his doctor is about 40 years old so i will go see Dr Jason Weerly her in Calgary, unfortunalty i don't have the funds to go meet Dr Bose in India but i will keep you guys posted ,resurfacing or nothing !!!!!!!!

[Pat Walter]

Good Luck Dan.

Pat

[Kal]

Right BHR by Ronan Treacy on June 24, 2008

So, I left San Francisco on June 19 on upper class ticket with Virgin-Atlantic non-stop (10.5 hours) and arrived on June 20 in London.  My girlfreind Debbie, her daughter and my daughter accompanied me and we stayed the weekend in London and left to Birmingham(2.5 hour drive) on Sunday June 22 - rented an apartment in city centre near shopping center known as Mailbox.  Nice area with ample restaurants and grocery store within walking distance and only 10 minute cab ride to hospital.  Checked into Priory hospital following day June 23 at 11am, which is a day prior to surgery.  Mr. Treacy has all his patients check in a day prior, which seemed to be a good idea as they did blood draws, met his assistant, the anestheseoligist and others to prepare for next day surgery.

The hospital was GREAT with attentive staff and very good food, which I was able to select from various items daily for each of my three meals.  Having never been in a hospital before I was pleasantly surprised as I have visited freinds/relatives in the hospital, which frankly left a bit to be desired in regards to the accomodations, food, staff, etc.  I had my own room, with full bath, tv and nice large windows for view outside.

I was wheeled into the "theatre" around 11am at which time an IV was placed on back of my hand.  Mr. Treacy came up and saw me breifly prior to being told by the anesthesiologist that I would feel my arm get cold after which I would be out by the time I tasted the drug in my mouth.  Once that happened sure enough, I don't remember anything other than waking up at what appeared to be the same spot with the same people around me...  Turns out I was out of my room for only about 2 hours total, which means Mr. Treacy completed the actual surgery in less than an hour - probably 30 - 45 minutes!

They took me back into my room, where I stayed until Monday July 1 at which time I checked out.  During my stay I began walking with a walker the first day - just a few steps around the room.  Then every day thereafter I walked further and further, including stairs starting the second day with crutches.  Mr. Treacy advised that the surgery went well but the AVN had left more damage then originally thought and that probably 8 out of 10 surgeons would probably have completed a THR but he proceeded forward with the BHR.  For this reason he recommended that I be extremely cautious the first six weeks and continue using the crutches.  I felt fortunate that one of the top surgeons in the world did this procedure versus having a THR done during the surgery without my knowledge.

Friday, July 4th I returned for postop visit with physiotherapist who was concerned about swelling of my leg.  I went back into a room and the staff completed a scan of my leg - similar to ultra-sound and cleared me from having any DVT and sent me back to my room or removal of staples from my scar.  After which, Mr. Treacy visited me in the room and said to simply take it easy as the swelling was due to over doing it and to slow it down a bit.  They gave me TED stockings, which I must say are a true pain to wear - but they controlled the swelling.  After being given my meds, which consisted of a pain killer similar to Tylenol, an anti-inflammatory and baby aspirin I was sent on my way.

We left for London the following day and checked into the Marriot executive apartments in an area known as Canary Wharf and stayed until our flight back on July 9.  During this time, I experienced daily improvement and up to now continue to get better daily.  Tough being tied down to the house but am trying to deal the best that I can.

My left hip also has AVN but not quite as bad as what my right was so Mr. Treacy recommended that I get back in touch with him after 90 to 120 days and see how it is holding up.  He said that if necessary I could get an xray and send it to him for review to see if it has progressed or stalled.  I can say that I do notice more pain in left hip now as my right hip does not have any pain other than from the surgery / incision / etc, not the joint.

In summary, I can tell you that Mr. Treacy handled my problem in a professional and courteous manner.  He was very informative and helped me remain calm and to be real honest with you I had little to no anxiety prior to going into surgery. Of course in the weeks prior to as anyone, I had bouts of anxiety as I am sure everyone does but once I arrived at the hospital, dealt with his staff and meeting with him, the anxiety was minimal to none.  I HIGHLY recommend Ronan Treacy to anyone considering having a hip resurfacing. 

If anyone has any questions about my experience with my resurfacing with Mr. Treacy feel free to contact me.

Kal