Doctor in Alabama

[Pat Walter]

From: Stan RICKARD
To: pwalter@surfacehippy.info
Sent: Monday, July 02, 2007 3:50 AM
Subject: Hip Resurfacing at Surface Hippy


Hello, I was impressed with your site. I loved the information and it was a great help. I am 38, Boilermaker (construction worker, welder) and have been diagnosed to having osteoarthritis in my hips. My left hip is the only one giving me extreme pain. My right hip doesn't hurt at all. I am currnetly looking for a doctor to examine me closer. The pain has become at times unbearable, it is interrupting my sleep, my moods, and all aspects of my life. Sometimes I can not even forcus on my work because of the pain. The greatest pain increases through the day, the longer I am on my feet, climbing, crawling, etc. as a construction worker the more movement the worse it gets.Without going into too much detail I would appreciate a contact back. This is the second time I have emailed someone about this subject and haven't heard anything back from anyone. Would you please contact me I am very desperate. I work out of town, I live in Muscle Shoals, AL and currently I am in Tulsa, OK and I am never in a place long enough to get pain management, or to see a regular doctor. I am tired of having to live on pain medication, and anti-inflammatory medication. I really want this taken care of. I have insureance if that makes a differance and will be coming home tomorrow 7/2/2002. I don't know how long I will be home, I have another job after the 4th in Kansas City. I will put off anything and be anywhere if someone can see me and enlighten me on what I should do. Did I tell you how desperate I am!
Thanks,
Stan

[Pat Walter]

Hi Stan

I am sorry to hear about your  hips.  I know what hip pain is like and ended up sitting in a chair after 10 years of pain. I had my hip resurfaced in March 2006 and it is absolutely great.  I had no pain after surgery.  Lots of sore muscles that had to be retrained, but the osteoarthritis hip pain was gone immediately. I could not even sleep at night with the pain meds because my hip had become so bad.

I am not sure what doctor you might want to use.  I always suggest a very experienced doctor.  I would suggest Dr. Gross in SC

Dr. Thomas Gross
1910 Blanding Street
Columbia, S.C. 29201
Lee Webb, RN, BSN, CNOR, CRNFA
Assistant to Thomas P. Gross, M.D.
803-256-4107 office, 803-355-2774 pager
803-331-6894 cell, 803-933-6754 fax
Contact: Ms. Lee Webb, RN
South Carolina Joint Replacement Center



You can check my list out to see who else is close to you.   http://www.surfacehippy.info/listofdoctors.php  There are a lot of new doctors just starting to do the BHR, but I don't have many on my list.  The list is from people on the Yahoo Surface Hippy Discussion Group that have used the experienced doctors. You can use the Smith & Nephew website to find a doctor near you  http://www.birminghamhipresurfacing.com/surgeonlocator/index.cfm?lid=Surgeon_Locator&lpos=sidebar_graphic       I probably won't have them on my list. You can always ask them how many hip resurfacings they have done.

If you insurance won't cover your operation, you can check into Dr. De Smet of Belgium where I went or Dr. Bose of India.  Dr. De Smet will cost you a total of about $17,000 with travel, etc.  Dr. Bose can be done for about $10,000 with travel.  See my cost sheet

http://www.surfacehippy.info/costcomparison.htm
I hope that helps you. Please write to me with any questions you might have.

Pat