perthes

[DAN]

Hi again Pat, just letting you know that i got a call today to meet up with a surgeon tomorrow morning. They decided to squeeze me in because of the referal that i had indicating that i am walking bone on bone. Things should definitly speed up now. I'l surely be able to be the hockey player i always wanted to be afetr surgery HA HA HA

Dan

[Pat Walter]

Hi Dan

Good luck and keep in touch.

He Scores!!!!!

My hubby likes hockey.

Pat

[DAN]

Hi again pat, i went to see the specialist this morning, he gave me some bad news. He said due to my hip deformity he would prefer to do a total hip replacement., he says that it would be able to bring my hip a close as possible to my good one. he said he could try to resurface but it could turn into thr into surgery. I'm very upset i know for a fact that i would not be able to play hockey or weightlift at all, replacing it with a ceramic ball as he says, does not appeal to me at all , i was in shock and very sad this morning. the doctor said i could go back to hockey and weights afetr full recovery but i'm very sceptical about it. You'd think that thr is done for people in their 70's, not for a younger guy, i know for a fact that their is restritions with thr compared to a resurfacing, sorry but this really sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pat Walter]

Hi Dan

I have read thousands of stories over the past almost 4 years on Yahoo Surface Hippy.  There is one thing I can tell you for sure -

get the input from some really experienced hip resurfacing surgeons.  I don't know who you went to, but other than a few in the US, there are no really expereinced surgeons doing the BHR.  No one started until May 2006.  There were others who are exprienced like Dr. Gross in SC, Amstutz in CA.  Most of the rest are all overseas.  That's why many of us travel to Dr. Bose in India or De Smet in Belgium.   We want hip resurfacing and only the experienced surgeons can do the difficult cases and make your hips work properly.  It is a fact. 

I was just look at Dr. Bose one page today  http://www.hipresurfacingindia.com/Birmingham_HipResurface_Results.php  It is old, but look at the 26 perthes cases he has done. He has almost done miracles as has Dr. De Smet.

You can write to both of them via email and attach your x-rays digitally in .jpg format.  They will give you a free consultation.  What can be better than having 2 of the best in the world work with you - for free. 

Many peoples insurances have paid for De Smet and some are now paying for Dr. Bose.  If you want to play hockey, feel young and get a hip resurfacing - you might have to travel to get what you want.  I flew to Belgium and never regreted it.  I would not have gotten a resurf here since I was an older female. 

If you heart wants a resurf, there till may be a way to get it.  don't sit and be angry and upset - get in touch with the pros.  If you wanted one of the best goalies in the world, you would not take one right out of high school - you look to to pros for professional people with experience.  You earn experience - stopping goal after goal or doing hip after hip.

Let me know if I can help in any other way.  I would never take the word of one local ortho about whether I could have a resuf or not.

Pat

[Pat Walter]

Dan

I forgot you were in Canada.  You still might consider leaving the country.  YOu can do Dr. Bose in India for about $10,000 to $12,000  if he thinks he can help you.

I spent $18,000 for Dr. De Smet. It is all on my credit cards - but I feel it was worth every cent.

Pat

[DAN]

thanks Pat for the website about dr bose, i e-mailed him and told him about my situation. i found that my surgeon here in Calgary was very dry, i think tlaking to my walls at home would have been better, he really didn't care about how i felt ,iwhen i started to ask questions he told his nurse to give me a booklet about hip replacement, to answer all my questions. Needless to say i'm not getting a full hip replacement, living with the pain i have is a better option. Things have settled a bit anyways. Being french i guess brings out the stubourness in me HA Ha HA!!!!. I don't think getting a tatoal hip replacement is the right thing for me, i'm to ambitioius and restricting me to do limited activites is like death to me, thats how i feel, love the hockey and weightlifting to much. With perthes i at least can weightlift still!!!!!!

[Pat Walter]

Hi Dan

Dr. Bose is one of the world's best hip resurfacing surgeons.  He is normally quick to answer his emails and also very kind and considerate.

I hope he can help you out with some good information.  Maybe good new that you can have a hip resurfacing. 

It is no fun working with a doctor that will not talk and answer your questions - all of them.  That is one thing Dr. Bose and De Smet are great about via email.  They will answer all your questions.  Dr. De Smet answers with short and sometimes a little mixed English, but Dr. Bose is an excellent writer.  You might also want to write to Dr. De Smet if you want some more input.

I thought some people in Canada could also choose to go to some other doctors up there.  I thought there were a few that were very experienced.  Maybe they are not working now I think one was Dr. Antonio.

Dr. Lichtblau wrote back and forth to me for awhile when he wanted listed on my website and also took part in the Yahoo discussion group.  Maybe drop him a line and get a little input.  Tell him I gave you the idea to talk to him.  He wasn't very experienced in hip resurfacing 2 years ago, but now I bet he is.

Ethan Lichtblau, MD, FRCS(C)
Chief Orthopedic Service
Santa Cabrini Hospital
(514) 252-6000
5655 ST ZOTIQUE E
Montreal, Quebec
ethanetan@hotmail.com

Goo luck and keep in touch.  I wish you the very best!

Pat

[DAN]

hi again Pat, i got an e-mail from dr bose, i'm impressed, thanks again, he did say it is imperative that i keep bone stock and not get a thr because of my age, he wants details of my condition an xray etc, he did also say that thr are more for 70 yea old people and that when young people get a thr there is a higher risk of failures due to high acticity, so being said i am going to get a second opinion and if all else fails i will do my bst to meet with dr bose. I just didn't like when my doctor said that he felt that a thr would be better than a resurfacing, he did say that i could play hockey again and go back without restrictions, but due to this life changing experience i think a second opinion is important,i'm not a guinea pig, i won't go down without a fight.tahnks again for dr bose's email address, he is a very positve dr and seems to care about my situation and very importantly, my age!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pat Walter]

Hi Dan

Glad you heard from Dr. Bose. He is one of the greatest hip surgeons in the world.  The really experienced resurfacing doctors will always try their best to give you a hip resurfacing.  The newer, less experineced doctors revert back to the THR because it is an easier operation. 

Vicky Marlow who also belongs to this board went to Dr. Bose.  If you get further along and want help from her, I know she will be there for you.

Please keep in touch and don't go down without a fight.  Many of us had to really fight, pay for our surgeries and travel long distances to get what we wanted.  It is important if you want to keep an active life style and keep your femur bone!

Good Luck. Keep in touch.

Pat