Surgery Scheduled for May 9th.

[akat01]

I had written a few weeks back regarding Dr. Rodriguez from Lenox Hill in NYC. Since that time Ive received a second opinion and was told once again that the only option I have to relieve the pain Ive had is through a resurfacing or thr. I met the ortho dr from my job and she assured me that he is at the top of his field.I was also put in contact with a few other fireman who he has operated on.They are both doing extremely well.Full range of motion,no restrictions,no pain.The only down side is that with our job I was told that I would never be able to return to full duty.This has been the hardest part of this whole ordeal to swallow. Never the less at this point the pain Im having is so severe that I can barely bend down to pick up my children,or even get out of a chair. I have scheduled surgery for May 9th.I was told Id be out of work for 3 months and then resume a light duty position. I spend alot of time reading other peoples stories.I want to say that this site has helped make this decision a bit easier.Thanks

[Neild5]

Welcome!  This is a decision you will not regret!   

[hernanu]

That's great. Congrats and my best wishes for a good outcome.

[imgetinold]

Glad you've made the decision.

When you get a few weeks from the surgery, you may find yourself second-guessing that decision, like many of us did.  Don't let it get the best of you.......life without the pain is so much better.

Good luck.

[akat01]

Ive already had arthroscopic surgery on same hip to repair torn labrum and remove loose bone fragments.I was told at the time that the rehab from that suregery was far worse then that for resurfacing. It was grueling and painful and after 9 mos of 3pt appointments a week plus accupuncture twice a week I was worse off then pre op.Has anyone endured both of these surgeries and do they compare?

[imgetinold]

I haven't, but I have yet to read a post about surgery for torn labrum that had a positive outcome.  If memory serves, there are at least 6 or 7 folks in this forum who've had similar outcomes from a labrum repair.  I hope they chime in.

I wonder what the actual success rate is for that type of repair?  Anecdotally, from what I've read here, it's zero.

[WTW15]

Akat01, my hubby's a firefighter and one of his guys had HR and has returned to work full duty.  I hope that your dr can give you that kind of confidence.  This guy that had one is in his 50's and had surgery with Dr. Lammens in Colorado.  PM me if you want to talk to him.

As for the 'scope/labrum repairs, I also know a guy who's had that and returned to ski coaching and ski racing (Masters) as well as competitive road biking, mtn biking and moto-riding.  Heard good things about that surgery and thought I was headed that direction until the dr told me  - nah - your hip has arthitis and you need a THR.....and after I fired him, I found the right dr for my HR  :-*

Good Luck in your journey.  We've all arrived here for the right reasons! 

[akat01]

I was told from the get go that the labral repair was a long shot.It works for some but not others.For me it was the only shot I was given at returning to work. They say about a third of patients receive positive results.Unfortunately I wasnt 1 of them.At this point Im just really looking forward to getting this surgery over with,starting rehab and enjoying the summer.Thanks for the input.Its tough to talk with people who havent actually endured what your going through...

[Jbennett]

Unless you have some other medical issue you should be able to do anything with a resurfacing that's properly installed. WHy is your doctor telling you that? I can see it with a THR but not a resurfacing.

[mslendzion]

I agree with jbenett. I was very restricted like you post op. I have a whole new outlook now. Read all the stories from hippies who are doing extremely athletic activities. This is a fix, not a patch from what I see here.

[akat01]

Im not sure about why they dont let us return w this particular surgery.But there are certain things that they just wont clear you to return with.The only thing that I could think of is that we work in a city with mostly high rise buildings,and maybe they fear the constant up and down along w the heavy load we carry could pose a problem.Believe me had it not been for this reason I would have done resurfacing a year ago and not spent 3 months on crutches and 9 months of pt.

[akat01]

I spend alot of time reading through other peoples stories and it seems as if most have suffered with oa for years before opting for this surgery.I was diagnosed with agressive post traumatic arthritis after injuring myself at work.Its been over a year but still no wheres near the time it seems most wait. This decision is eating me alive. Not sure if i should wait it out and see if somehow things turn around or just move forward so I can get my life back.Im not an avid runner/cyclist as many of you are.I just want to be able to play w my kids,ski,play some softball and get back on the golf course.

[stephen1254]

My OA was more of an annoyance for several years, and didn't really interfere with my activities until the last 4 months. However when it did interfere it did in a very big way. There was no question in my mind.

A question for you would be what are the odds of something turning around? Is it possible that all the components are still intact and that, in time, they will heal? My x-rays showed the head of my femur flattening out from bone on bone contact. Nothing other than surgery was going to improve that.

[imgetinold]

Atak.....I'm with 1254.  The cartilage is not going to repair itself.  If you're bone-on-bone, it's not going to "turn the corner".  I was, prior to surgery, only intermittently in pain.  I would have weeks of pain, referred knee pain, etc., etc.  And, I would have pain free periods, where I could run, jump, do "Insanity" workouts.  But, the pain-free periods were fewer, tennis was completely out, and I was becoming more sedentary.  I figured - given the odds - I'd rather have 10 - 30 years of high activity at my age (44) than wait five more years and have higher activity later in life.....when other bits/pieces are falling apart.

If you want your life back, go through with it.

Again, good luck with the decision.

[Spanielsal]

Akat, just picked up your thread, to go back a bit to your question re arthroscopy and HR recoveries.  i had arthroscopy in 98 and HR in 2003.  the HR recovery was much easier for me (i was going to say walk in the park but that's not quite true is it!).  with arthroscopy i didn't get back to pre op state for 3-4months and with HR although it took time for it to "feel" normal and me to forget about it, once i'd passed the magic 10 week stage i was still very careful but back to full duties, i had two very small kids (1 and 2.5) and 10 weeks post op was able to care for them properly without help. 

it feels scary to take the plunge but you won't regret it, as long as you've picked the right surgeon you'll be great.  the rest of your life is just waiting for you.  good luck and i look forward to hearing your recovery story and i'm sure it will be a success for you.  Sal

[Tin Soldier]

That's what I've heard about arthro, it seems to be more of a "putting it off" maneuver.  Although, the only place I've heard the discussion is here, where we pretty are all looking at HR soon.  I guess my perspective could be a little biased.  Also, the labrum just gets in the way, labrum is for the birds   :o  I'm being facetious, but there is a little truth in that statement, because the labrum is carved off during HR and you shouldn't have problems with it again.   

The restriction on returning to full duty is interesting.  I wonder if there are some other fire fighters on the forum that have had a similar experience.  It would be interesting to get more details on the restriction (carrying weight, climbing motions, harnesses and fall protection?).   Maybe it's a legacy policy more appropriate for THR?  Seems to me if your surgeon approves and you can do all the motions, carry the weights,...then it wouldn't be problem.       

BTW - Akat  - congrats on scheduling the surgery. 

[WTW15]

Akat - I went for a few years of just annoying disomfort, like I needed to "pop" my hip joint.  BUt once things turned worse, I got steadily worse.  I ride dirt bikes and was having trouble getting on my bike, and the last few months had to ride my daughters Yamaha, which was shorter than my KTM and also had to get on with the bike on the kickstand.  Then I was having trouble catching myself on the 'bad' side.  We ride a lot of single track in Colorado and it was getting scary - so much so that my last ride was in October  and our season went long this year with late snow, into November.  It killed me to not be able to ride.  As the O/A starts robbing you of your activities, it speeds up as time goes on.  I was not even really taking very long walks at the end, prior to the surgery.  Trying to exercise to stay in some kind of shape prior to surgery was getting harder.  If your xrays show degeneration, bone on bone (or close) and it's interfering with your Life - then seriously consider what all have said here - taking the plunge now WILL get you back your Life.  I am just past 12 wks.  It feels like forever and yet it feels like my recovery is flying by.  I have no O/A hip pain inside my hip.  I have muscle pain from those muscles healing.  They are tired, too and weak, but I know that I will be riding pain free in a couple more months and all this will be behind me.  Whereas if I didn't have the surgery, I'd be looking at another compromised riding season.   It's personal, no doubt, but there's no 'recovery' from the O/A.

Good luck!!
Denise

[akat01]

As much as I go back and forth w my decision I know in the end I need to have the procedure done if I want to return to an active life.Ive gotten so trained to not make certain movements due to pain that I sometimes forget my limitations.Ive been an avid skier since the age of 6.Its now been 2 winters that my skiis have been collecting dust.This will be 2nd summer with no golf.And foremost I havent worked in my firehouse since March 29th of 2011. Im ready.And I have to say that the people who write back and forth on this website have been instrumental in my decision.I hope that it turns out the way it does for many of you.One last thing.Ive heard that some doctors ask to have patients donate their own blood in case theres a need for transfusion during surgery.I asked the surgical coordinator if this was something they do and was told there wasnt a need. Any thoughts on this and has anyone needed a transfusion during their surgery.I have pre op testing next Friday and would def bring this up again if it seems that its needed even once in a while.

[hernanu]

I didn't do it / need it (that I know of) both times, but it can't hurt if your doctor asks for it, otherwise... I didn't worry about it.

[stephen1254]

My Dr. used some sort of blood recirculation thingy that he said eliminated the need for a transfusion.