Well the saga with my hip goes on!!!! After having several "debates" with my GP i was referred by him to a orthopedic surgeon(he reffused to send me to any of my list of specialist resurfacing doctors as he has never herd of them)! so anyway he sent me to this "general" ortho who is qualifyed to do rs but mainly does spine work.
So anyway i attended the the apointment and was struck straight away by the mans arrogance!
Which straight away mad me mad. He then angered me even more by saying that i was far too young at 28 to have a rs and that my rs needs to be earnt by pain and i havnt earnt it yet!
(bear in mind i have a report from my arthroscopy saying i have grade 4 OA and it only goes up to grade 5).
He then carryed on to say that my only option as i am too young to have rs is to have continuall cortisone injections untill i can take the pain nolonger.
I asked him about the link between cortisone and AVN and he replyed there is ZREO chance of getting AVN from Cortisone.
Oh and also he said when i am eventually alowed a rs i will never be active again in ANY sport i will never have a NORMAL life again and i had just better get used to the idea!!!
Well i was so angry the first thing i did was to phone MR Treacy in birmingham. I spoke to his secatary and she was able to give me a private appiontment with out having to be referred by my troublesome GP!!! So i am seeing MR Treacy on monday and Hope and Prey that he is more positive about my options!!!
Sorry to blert all this out but i am still so angry about being talked down to and as far as i can see not being told the full truth!
DANNY
Danny, I'm really sorry to hear how much trouble you've had getting proper attention. The ignorance and arrogance (which only becomes greater when used in an attempt to hide ignorance) must be incredibly frustrating. It sounds, though, like you are finally on your way to seeing somebody who is qualified to evaluate your condition. According to the S&N website Mr. Treacy has performed more than 2500 BHRs.
Good luck, and I hope you get some relief soon!!
thanks Mike. I suffer from a real low BS threshhold and he really tripped it!!
I dont believe what he told me was the best clinical way forward for me but im no surgeon!
I really hope Mr Treacy can offer me some other options i mean if i genuinly am not ready for a rs then i will accept that but i cannot accept info as being true when a man tells me that i will never be able to run after my dog or play sport again and that cortisone has a zero chance of causing avn? All of which is not nessicerily true!!
I am so sorry to hear about your problems with you surgeons so far. Glad you know better and have done some research. Mr. Treacy is one of the best hip resurfacing surgeons in the world and hopefully you will get good information from him. He is very pro resurfacing and would never tell a patient to suffer until he gets older. Also cortisone shots are limited to 2 normally here in the US due to the knowledge that they do destroy joints.
I hope you will have a better day with Mr. Treacy. If he doesn't give you a good answer, don't forget about McMinn and the rest over your way. I would not let them push you around. I know there are ways around you system to see and use the surgeon you want - just not sure about it. There have been people on here that had the same type of problems.
Keep positive and hopefully you will have a better meeting with Mr. Treacy. Most of the top surgeons would never tell any patient to just suffer, they will offer a solution. Sometimes it can't be a resurfacing due to the hip problem, but a large ball MOM metal on metal THR gives about the same outcome and no restrictions. There are many athletes with MOM THRs being very active.
Hang in there and you have every right to be angry >:( just know that there is help if you keep looking and use the top surgeons.
Pat
Danny, I understand your frustration completely. It is amazing to me how many doctors try to hide their ignorance, or indifference, by being arrogant and talking down to you. I had an experience that was a little bit similar to yours when I went to my family doctor to get clearance for surgery by Dr. Gross. I have been a patient of my family doctor for over 20 years, and he is very good in his own area of expertise, but he was not happy about the fact that I was having Dr. Gross do the surgery, because he does not know him and thought I had just found him on some website. (Anyone can create a website and make all kinds of claims...) Also, he did not think some of the test requested were necessary. He even asked me if my hip was really hurting badly enough that I needed surgery! Because I know this doctor, and therefore know that most of this came from concern over my wellbeing, it was not as upsetting as it could have been. However, I think some of it was because I had not consulted him in choosing my surgeon! Fortunately, because I live in the US and have good insurance through my work, I can consult any surgeon I want to without a referral from anyone.
I am confident, based on what Pat says, that you will have better luck with Mr. Treacy!
Danny,
Have to earn your treatment! That is a new one. Does that mean you have to endure decades of pain, immobility and indignity first?
You do know that you can report him.
http://www.gmc-uk.org/concerns/making_a_complaint/a_patients_guide.asp (http://www.gmc-uk.org/concerns/making_a_complaint/a_patients_guide.asp)
Mr. Treacy will get you better. Thunderbirds are go!
D.
Wow. Danny - way to stand up for yourself. Hope Mr. Treacy treats you with the respect you deserve.
Danny,
Honestly your experience has been my own over the past two years that I have sought help for groin strain, quad tear by a chiropractor and physiotherapist treating the groin strain with the Graston Technique, and now underlying OA.
I will spare this site the depth and intensity of my anger with the medical profession. Indeed, I work in a hospital myself so understand doctors rather better than they would wish. I'll just share a Coles Notes version.
The arrogance you have observed is endemic to the profession. Doctors work hard and have a medical degree -- countless other professionals have graduate degrees and work 70 hours work weeks with a fraction of the pay and a fraction of the attitude. Meanwhile, chiropractors and other "doctors" strife jealously to achieve the inflated status of their medical brethren, short changing their patients with a similar "expert model" that rarely reflects reality or serves the patients.
Think of it: in the 18th century doctors were practicing blood letting and had treatments for nothing -- yet they carried themselves with exactly the same sense of superiority that you have encountered! That just says it all. It isn't about competence. And it certainly isn't about results for the patients. It's about bank accounts and ego the majority of the time these characters.
Here's a hint "Doc": once you can cure my disease, THEN you have a right to carry yourself with superiority. If ya can't, then sit down, put your knees together, and talk with humility because You.Don't.Know.Crap. And you certainly don't have my respect.
Mr. McMinn, Dr. DeSmet. And their colleagues. Hats off to you. These are the people who have EARNED the right for respect. Not Ortho's without utility to patients with this disease.
That's my opinion and believe me, THAT's one that's hard earned!
Jeremy
Let me just add that my latest experience involved an orthopedic surgeon delivering similar information as to what you report in your first post, Danny, and afterwards actually bragging about having completed a whole 25 hip resurfacings in his long and illustrious career.
Truth is, the data is not clear on the affects of impact on modern HRs because HRs have not been around long enough yet for that. But, from what I can gather (and this is preliminary based on email contact with several of the Top Guys) there is thus far NO evidence of a negative effect of impact on the longevity of the device when the device is properly fitted.
We seem to be looking at a 99% success rate at about 13 years with male patients under 55 years of age. The effect of impact on the 1% requiring revisions is not clear. But if I may offer one piece of speculation: if there was a major negative influence of impact on the revision rate over the first 10 or 15 years we would know by now.
Personally, if I ever need a resurfacing, I will seek it from one of the Top Guys paid from my own pocket rather than a Free Guy covered on health insurance with a weaker track record.
For me, it's a simple decision, really.
Quote from: lopsided on June 22, 2011, 09:01:15 PM
Danny,
Have to earn your treatment! That is a new one. Does that mean you have to endure decades of pain, immobility and indignity first?
You do know that you can report him.
http://www.gmc-uk.org/concerns/making_a_complaint/a_patients_guide.asp (http://www.gmc-uk.org/concerns/making_a_complaint/a_patients_guide.asp)
Lop thanksfor the reply yes that's what he said along with other tosh I know to be based on nothing but media sensation.
I am currently gathering info from dr Bose de smet and gross that will hopefully call into question his medical knowledge. Which i may use to complain within the future.
Mr. Treacy will get you better. Thunderbirds are go!
D.
Pat,
Thanks for the reply. I last night managed to gain copies of my xrays via our freedom of information act. And promptly sent them to dr Bose, de Smet and gross. Dr Bose replyed saying that it would clinically appropriate to do a RS now. Dr de Smet replyed saying "indeed you do have OA in your hip" and that it may be appropriate to act now. I didn't send him any details of my current symptoms which I have done now.
And Lee dr gross's assistant has been unable to open my xrays so I have resent them and am awaiting response.
I intend on using all of these opinions to show that my gp and ortho are wrong and see if I can use these and hopfully Mr Treacy's opinion (if he also says somthing similar) to try to force the NHS to let me see either mr treacy or mcminn on the NHS and not have to pay to go private!
I find it hard to accept that a surgeon can be so miss informed!!!
Good luck Danny. With the NHS you have to reverse your tag line - fight hard!
HD
Quote from: halfdone on June 23, 2011, 08:20:39 AM
Good luck Danny. With the NHS you have to reverse your tag line - fight hard!
HD
Your telling me!! If I'm unable to get exactly what I want from them I will just have to get a loan and see one of the top guys privately
I had mine done on the NHS...and its brilliant..I can definately recommend my surgeon. :) where abouts are you??
It sounds like you have had a bad time of it so far...dont give in....you have the right to be refered to any hospital in the country. The idiot at my local hospital wanted to do a full hip replacement...at 46???...I dont think so >:( so I told my GP that I wanted to be refered to either Addenbrooke`s or Stanmore Orthopedic Hospital (both are very,very good hospitals)
And as for no sport afterwards...pah!!! what rubbish......Im back training with weights, and kicking the hell out of my 6` kickbag....and I reckon I will be ready to run fairly soon too......and I want to take up a new sport this year (Im still deciding what).......so stick to ya guns mate......and get a good surgeon.
GOOD LUCK ;)
thanks chris,
to be honest ive had enough of the incopetance from the NHS and if i dont get what i want then they can stand by!!
I am going to wait and see what Mr Treacy says on monday (but i dont see it being much different to what de smet and bose have said to me via email!) and then i will go back to my gp and leave him in no position not to send me to my choice of surgeons which will be in this order Treacy,McMinn,Latham. I f he still refuses to send me with the weight of evidence i am building against his opinion and the local ortho then i will start a grevence via the GMC and go and see my MP!! >:(
They have really p****D me off now and i dont react well to been messed about!!
Quote from: chris finn on June 23, 2011, 12:55:26 PM
I had mine done on the NHS...and its brilliant..I can definately recommend my surgeon. :) where abouts are you??
It sounds like you have had a bad time of it so far...dont give in....you have the right to be refered to any hospital in the country. The idiot at my local hospital wanted to do a full hip replacement...at 46???...I dont think so >:( so I told my GP that I wanted to be refered to either Addenbrooke`s or Stanmore Orthopedic Hospital (both are very,very good hospitals)
And as for no sport afterwards...pah!!! what rubbish......Im back training with weights, and kicking the hell out of my 6` kickbag....and I reckon I will be ready to run fairly soon too......and I want to take up a new sport this year (Im still deciding what).......so stick to ya guns mate......and get a good surgeon.
GOOD LUCK ;)
i too love the nhs.i had mine done in 2008 when labour were in power.from seeing the consultant and him saying "we'll operate" it took 12 weeks.i knew i had to get it done under labour as the tories want to abolish the nhs.job done , care from the doctors and nurses was excellent,results great.i'm as happy as larry
I've just had my hip resurfaced on the NHS, the final outcome has been a good result. It was a battle getting there I had to suffer for nine years in pain because of my age -- 39 now. I could understand their argument but also wanted relief for myself. The NHS does have good people working in it but you need to play the game to get an operation done. See your GP he sends you to see a general otho they take some pics and tell you what you know but want to review it again later.
At this point you should see your GP and ask to see a specialist in the field of hip resurfacing he can't refuse, then take it from there.
Financially you deserve to persevere with it I haven't spent a penny on it, and feel I've had quality treatment.
Hope you have some luck!!!
Ian
I personally believe that labour are to blame for the state that this country is in including the NHS. Mind not to get in to politics but the NHS wastes so much money It's criminal! My non a&e NHS experiences have all been terrible! There seems to be so much arrogance and institutional neglect that I am really disilluisioned with the NHS.
Quote from: Dannywayoflife on June 26, 2011, 05:00:39 AM
I personally believe that labour are to blame for the state that this country is in including the NHS. Mind not to get in to politics but the NHS wastes so much money It's criminal! My non a&e NHS experiences have all been terrible! There seems to be so much arrogance and institutional neglect that I am really disilluisioned with the NHS.
its political from my point of view.i'd sooner have an nhs which wastes money, which it does, than none at all.which is what the tories would love.
Hi up the hill. The ortho that my gp sent me to is qualified in resurfacing but still said I should wait for several years as "resurfacing is disastrous in 28 year olds" my gp refused to send me to any of a list I had prepared of surgeons I wanted to go to as there back ground and results speak for themselves but he said he had never heard of them and wouldn't waste money sending me to a surgeon he had not heard of.
The bloke is so full of s##t it's un believeable! Please bear in mind my gp said after reading my op report of my arthroscopy by a excellent surgeon said to me he didn't believe it and it was wrong! He reasoning behind it was he hasn't seen a case of OA in a 28 year old in 30 years of Practice!!
I have been in contact with the top guys in the world and funnily all so far have said it's appropriate to resurface now. I am gathering a large quantity of evidence against him and I Will use this to try and force them for me to see mr treacy on the NHS.
If that doesn't work then I shall just take out a Loan and go to either de Smet or dr Bose.
Quote from: larry2458 on June 26, 2011, 05:06:31 AM
Quote from: Dannywayoflife on June 26, 2011, 05:00:39 AM
I personally believe that labour are to blame for the state that this country is in including the NHS. Mind not to get in to politics but the NHS wastes so much money It's criminal! My non a&e NHS experiences have all been terrible! There seems to be so much arrogance and institutional neglect that I am really disilluisioned with the NHS.
its political from my point of view.i'd sooner have an nhs which wastes money, which it does, than none at all.which is what the tories would love.
I don't think the torys want a private health service such as the states. But I pay my tax and I don't want my money to be wasted I want bang for buck. There is huge amounts of money wasted on various public services, police, armed forces, NHS and I don't see that wanting value for my money is a bad thing.
But anyway this isn't a site to argue political opinions it's about hip resurfacing and people individual stories.
Hey, hey, Danny and Larry. Get off of this party political thing. Play the game like it always has been.
Hay lop. I am trying to "play the game" but so far I'm banging my head against a brick wall. I am starting to think about a private solution though due to the quality of aftercare. Mind I am seeing mr treacy in 23hrs so I shall await his judgement on my best move forward. And go from there.
Well definitely post and let us know what he says.
If you end up having to go private, and pay for it yourself, and deal with the payments for as long as it takes, you won't be the first. And their are advantages. You can choose the best surgeon, the best device, the best therapy, the best location. And once you have had the operation, you will be able to work and earn again much more comfortably than before.
I paid for my own operation, and I think I will be back to financial stability by this time next year. Work has been so much easier.
If you do go private, Dr. Bose seems to be the cheapest of the top doctors, and combining it with a trip to the tropics is good. However, for about a quarter of the price on top (because you would not have to buy long haul tickets), you could go to Belgium and get an uncemented with Dr. De Smet.
Only go NHS if you are really confident that you will get Mr. Treacy or someone like him.
D.
I do keep changing my mind on devices etc. The price I saw for de Smet tho was about £12000 I do see logic to uncemented but then I see top surgeons like mark Bloomfield and dr Bose saying it's trying to fix a problem that isn't there. I get to the point where I don't know who to believe! How did you reach your decision?
Quote from: Dannywayoflife on June 26, 2011, 10:30:00 AM
How did you reach your decision?
That was not difficult. He was the only surgeon that replied to me directly and personally, answered all my questions, was ready to do uncemented, was on the list of the best surgeons, and importantly, treated me like a human being.
First I tried surgeons over here, but did not fancy any, then tried surgeons in England. I was highly pissed off at the attitude of the English surgeons even though I was going private (have not paid stamps for twenty years). I wrote about it in a thread shortly after my operation:
http://surfacehippy.info/hiptalk/index.php?topic=1824.msg12997#msg12997 (http://surfacehippy.info/hiptalk/index.php?topic=1824.msg12997#msg12997)
D.
Quote from: Dannywayoflife on June 26, 2011, 10:30:00 AM
Bloomfield and dr Bose saying it's trying to fix a problem that isn't there.
What if there never is a problem with cement? Why add an extra step to the surgery and add something that isn't necessary? No one is crying "The sky is falling" and trying to scare people. It's a personal decision. I happen to believe in uncemented. In a total hip replacement there is no cement used. Of course the stem is a mile long compared to HR. If someone wants cement, go for it. You have to do what you feel is right for you.
My reason for choosing my surgeon is similar to lopsided's. He talked to me directly, answered all of my questions, never was in a hurry to get away from me, either on the phone or in person. He's not a pompous ass and actually seems to enjoy talking to his patients. Check out his statistics for infection and revisions. Just some of my reasons. Good luck in your search.
Hi Danny,
Stick to your guns mate, insist on seeing a different GP (you must be able to register with a different one in your area?).
I had my resurfacing done by the same surgeon as Chris, albeit privately.
However it took me over a year and four different consultants to find one confident in the proceedure.
That's the key, finding one who has done enough and is confident doing it, if they do not fit this category, inevitably they will bad mouth the proceedure.
Good luck mate and if I can be of any help let me know...where in the country are you?
Quote from: AlanN on June 27, 2011, 12:04:37 PM
I had my resurfacing done by the same surgeon as Chris, albeit privately.
Hey I didn`t know that.....nice guy isnt he?? ....and he answers all questions and is very confident and professional.
Quote from: chris finn on June 27, 2011, 01:56:15 PM
Quote from: AlanN on June 27, 2011, 12:04:37 PM
I had my resurfacing done by the same surgeon as Chris, albeit privately.
Hey I didn`t know that.....nice guy isnt he?? ....and he answers all questions and is very confident and professional.
Absolute top man in my humble Chris!
My Fellow Brits I'm confused!
I thought Alan's hip was done by Mr Keene and Chris's Mr Norrish!
Does he use one name privately and the other for NHS?
Toby
Quote from: toby on June 27, 2011, 06:40:18 PM
My Fellow Brits I'm confused!
I thought Alan's hip was done by Mr Keene and Chris's Mr Norrish!
Does he use one name privately and the other for NHS?
Toby
Oooooo...mine was definitely Mr. Keene, thought Chris's was too...sorry if I have it wrong and have caused confusion!
lol.....ah well Mr Norrish is still a top guy...and Im sure Mr Keene is too ;) ;) ;D ;D
Just to update you guys. I saw Mr Treacy yesterday and he is a truly great bloke! couldnt of asked for a better guy. He looked at my xrays and read my arthroscopy report and informed me that i was as close to a perfect RS candadate as youll see. He told me that i was bone on bone and that indeed i have fai. Thae cam part is the only complicating factor as he informed me that with a cam type fai there is a slightly higher chance of nothching the femoral neck but since he hasnt had a femoral neck fracture in over 3 years he said he was confident he could do mine with no real problem!
He told me that my gp has no right to refuse to refer me to him on the NHS but said expect a fight to get to him. But with reports from Mr Treacy, Dr Bose, De Smet & Dr Gross all saying its appropriate to opperate now then i dont see how my gp has a leg to stand on!
So far i would highly recomend Mr Treacy as he wasnt at all arrogant just very plesant and willing to let me ask questions and get my points across.
I now look forward to my next gp apointment to see what he will say in a few weeks!
Quote from: Dannywayoflife on June 28, 2011, 09:37:39 AM
He told me that my gp has no right to refuse to refer me to him on the NHS but said expect a fight to get to him.
Well then Danny, tooth and nail.
Yep if he still won't budge under the weight of evidence I'll go to my mp. He's really good so I suspect he'd get things sorted for me!
Mr treacy seemed to think I could be having the op in September but ideally I want it around feb next year as I don't qualify for the sick Pay from my company yet and have made some other commitments I don't want to renege on but fern that means hopefully about 7 months from now I could be on the road to getting my life and career back on track!:-)
Great news! You have some great backing now that says you should have HR sooner rather than later. That has to be uplifting.
I know what you mean about trying to plan the surgery around life. Make sure that you have the time to focus on proper rehab and don't have to rush back.
Dan
Good for you Danny.......I hope it goes the way you want. :) :)
Nice one Danny,
Having your hip resurfaced by Ronan Treacy (who has performed over 5000) on the NHS would be fantastic. I think it's brilliant that UK patients can have a hip resurfacing on the NHS with such a pioneer. My understanding is that patients have the right to choose their surgeon (as set up by the last Labour Government and supported by much lip service by our current one) so I can't see why or how your GP can refuse you a referral. And with your preferred schedule of February you'll have plenty of time to take on any challenges.
So it sounds like it's all falling into place.
Best Wishes
Toby
Great news, Danny! I am very happy for you! Mr. Treacy sounds wonderful!
Thanks for the support everyone! I will keep you all updated with my progress.(I'm sure my gp won't make it easy!)
Danny first posting so hope this works.
I am currently trying to get a good surgeon on NHS.
I went thru gp and to hospital nearby to see surgeon who I understand had a lot of experience.
I was booked via ECN which is computer NHS booking.
I was seen however by one of his registrar surgeons who was on a 6 th month secondment.
Whilst having xrays and mri ,a second surgeon also on 6 th month secondment replaced the first.
His view was different to the 1 st one.So I asked to see the main surgeon who I had hoped to see at first.
I was told that his fees was not within NHS guidlines and as such I would have to apply to my local NHS
and that would be under PCT(Primary Care Trust)
I waited for several months and they eventually decided the NHS could not fund me.
I have been back to gp and they have written to another surgeon(Mr Nolan from Norwich) who appears to have a great deal of experience.I am hoping that he sees me in person but have been told that I cannot specify my consultant surgeon just the hospital.
So fingers crossed.
I have spent about 9 months and have not achieved my aim as yet.
Good luck ref Mr Treacy maybe as you had private appointment he will help treat you under NHS.
Hope this will help you
Cheers Marcus
hi marcus hope that you also get to see the surgeon of your choice! I spoke to mr treacy at great length about this and he said that he gets referrals from all over the country. So it can be done. I think that my being so young kinda works in my favour as i can use the argument that i need to see the best most experienced surgeon available as if it was to go wrong then at 28 that would be a total disaster!! I have fought my pct successfully before when they refused to opperate on my broken nose as they said it was cosmetic even though i could not breeth through it!! So if it comes to it then that is what i will do.
However i recieved the copy of the letter that mr treacy wrote tomy gp this evening and i feel that it is pretty persuasive and i feel maywell be enough to get the refferal. so ill just have to wait and see!
If worse comes to worst then ill just pop smoke to india and see dr bose on my own dime!
ATB Danny
"Earn your Treatment" that's awesome! Danny - you got 10 more years of pain before you can get a new hip, dude ::) We should put together a list of quotes from crappy doctors. That would be kind of fun and we could keep it anonymous so we get in trouble. I think you did the right thing by getting support from some of the best surgeons in the world. Hang in there.
I think I emotionally earned a new hip as soon as the pain and poor ROM set in and my life became more sedentary and I became depressed. I actually think I did a good thing for insuracne and in the long run I think I will be saving them money by staying with a healthy, active, and positive lifestyle.
Do you guys in the Isles think maybe the NHS is changing their tune on HR in the last few months? I ask because I sense that since the ASR recall last August, that stupid House MD show in Feb, some increases to copays on HR from my insurer this spring, and the recent FDA request for more data on metals ions,... maybe this new fad of questioning the viability of HR is not just in the US and it's more international?
Quote from: Tin Soldier on June 29, 2011, 04:57:11 PM
"Earn your Treatment" that's awesome! Danny - you got 10 more years of pain before you can get a new hip, dude ::) We should put together a list of quotes from crappy doctors. That would be kind of fun and we could keep it anonymous so we get in trouble. I think you did the right thing by getting support from some of the best surgeons in the world. Hang in there.
I think I emotionally earned a new hip as soon as the pain and poor ROM set in and my life became more sedentary and I became depressed. I actually think I did a good thing for insuracne and in the long run I think I will be saving them money by staying with a healthy, active, and positive lifestyle.
Do you guys in the Isles think maybe the NHS is changing their tune on HR in the last few months? I ask because I sense that since the ASR recall last August, that stupid House MD show in Feb, some increases to copays on HR from my insurer this spring, and the recent FDA request for more data on metals ions,... maybe this new fad of questioning the viability of HR is not just in the US and it's more international?
Hay Tin,
i dont think that the bad media coverage of the asr debacle and the oxford thing have made much of a difference to my case but i know that some surgeons are worried by it. I think mainly due to the fact that the problems seem to arrise from the devices not being correctly installed. It means that they carnt blame anything other than poor technique. I think thay are using this bad media to cover themselfs for the future so that missinformed patients will belive the "its the device not me"argument!
Yeah the earn your op quote still gets my goat now!
Like you i feel emotionally i have earnt my new hip now! ive gained about 40-50lbs since august last year! due do depression and being unable to live my life how i want! I could cope with pain (the guy who did my arthroscopy said he couldnt belive i was able to walk) but emotionally im threaders!! i want my life back!!!!!!!
Danny, of course you want your life back, and I think it's terrible that you have had to fight so hard for a surgeon who understands what you need! Hopefully, things will work out the way you deserve, and the same for Marcus! I'm afraid we'll be in the same boat here in the US in a few years. Hang in there, both of you!
Maybe you should get a credit card, or sell your car, or maybe get a small part time job, or eat beans and rice for awhile and then just go to Belgium. But ask DeSmet if you can get some beer during recovery. There's no way I could or would spend $55k, but for $12k? and not many other choices? I'd find a way to do it.
BTW - you need to get your life. Stick with it.
Hay tin, going to see dr de Smet is one of my plan b's. I am however not sure which side of the cement debate I sit on! One minute I think no cement is the way forward then I speak to top surgeon's who have told me that cementless is trying to solve a problem that doesn't really exist. And that it's not just the device that has to be different the whole approach in surgery has to be totally different and is much more complex. Also I've been told its not just a case of spraying ha on the inside of a femoral cap.
I personally think each has there pro's and cons I just don't really know as theres not enough data to compare.
Danny just stick with it mate, you know what you need just make sure you get it and don't be fobbed off.
If it's any consolation I was in an almost identical situation with PRIVATE care and, like you, became extremely frustrated and depressed.
Dig in, and make sure you get what you want/need, when it's all over you'll wonder what all the fuss was about ;)
Take care and good luck.
hello again
I have a question
if i want to send my hip xray and mri to one of the top guys
how do i first get it from my uk hospital ?
secondly how do i send it to someone abroad or at home other than recorded mail
can i send via internet and if so how ?
thanks marcus
Hi Marcus, you have two choices, you either pay for some doing privately approx £100 or you use the freedom of information act to access you NHS ones. They will come on a disc so you can copy them onto your computer and email them that is what I did. Hope this helps
Danny
hi danny
thanks for reply
I will go and ask doctor to get the mri and x ray
hopefully they will come on disc as you said
let us know how you get on with Mr Treacy at 26 you deserve the best
cheers
marcus
Hi Marcus you have to apply yourself mate. If you go to your pct's website there will be a freedom of information link somewhere on there and you just apply in writing.
I suspect that I will have to battle to see mr treacy on the NHS but at 28 there's very few surgeons who can give me a really good chance of a great outcome. So we will just have to wait and see what my next appointment with my gp brings
Hi Danny... I've sent you a PM.
You just need a GP that believes in Resurfacing...... to be honest many of them don't know about this 'new' procedure. Get a second opinion and don't waste any more time with this guy.
WHERE YOU BASED?
(Left BHR, Dec 2010 8))
So...cassiewoofer...are you having your hip done in 5 months time..or did you put 2011 instead of 2010 ;) ;) :D :D
Or is the NHS waiting list five months?
Corrected and thank! Was done six months back.
Hello Danny.
My first time on here. I have just had my hip done and just found this site.
You may be interested in my story. I was at first refered to my local hospital by my gp. They said they would fit me with a ceramic total job and would have to stop skiing as well as curtail my other sporting activities.
Not happy with that I did some research and found mr Traecy on the web.
Impressed with his qualifications I asked my gp to refer me to him. He was very reluctant and did his best to talk me out of it. He also said our local trust would almost certainly refuse to fund it. I stuck to my guns though and he went ahead with the referal. The trust did agree to it and to cut it short I went to Birmingham Royal Orthopaedic for assessment, pre op etc and last Thursday 7th I had my BHR installed my Mr Traecy himself. So far the experience has been excellent and I am a huge fan of the NHS!
I would urge you to insist on what you want. You can get it and on the NHS too.
I will be posting elsewhere on here with some questions I have.
Good luck.
Hay groundhog,
I saw my gp yesterday and in light of all the evidence I had in my file including an outstanding letter from Mr Treacy he agreed to referr me to see him!
Although he did make a few smarmy remarks I got what I wanted out of him although it clearly annoyed him to do it he didn't really have a choice!
I just have to hope my pct will fund my operation now!
Way to go Danny!
That is awesome news :) Hopefully now things can get moving in the right direction for you!
Quote from: Dannywayoflife on July 14, 2011, 03:28:37 AM
Although he did make a few smarmy remarks I got what I wanted out of him although it clearly annoyed him
All the better.
While trying to get my gp to refer me to Mr Traecy it became apparant that he knew very little about replacement hips. I think he became embarrased at his obvious ignorance as I tripped him up at every comment. Of course gp's can't be expected to know everything and he is excellent in most other aspects of his work.
What really annoyed me was the attitude of the consultant at my local hospital who I thought should have suggested to me that I would be much better off with a resurface. I would have liked to have heard him say " we can't do that here but I know a man who does". Fat chance though these people think they are gods. Actually Mr traecy is a god!
Yeah I agree alot of surgeons think they are gods when in fact they arnt! Mr Treacy did seem to be a great bloke who didn't have a attitude problem!
Traecy?? How did that happen. Of course its Treacy. I blame the drugs.
Yes everything.Tramadol, paracetamol, gabapentin, omeprazole, lactulose liquid laxative, 28 clexane syringes and 5 replacement dressings. Also a high chair, raised toilet seat and a device for putting on your socks. All free. Contrary to what you may have heard the NHS is wonderful.