Need help/advice on hip resurfacing procedure

[victoria_abq]

Hi, my name is Victoria and I have been struggling with hip pain in one of my hips for nearly 3 years. The doctors in my state do not have expertise with hip resurfacing so there is no incentive for them to explore other alternative procedures like BHP resurfacing. All the doctors in my network are recommending total hip replacement. I do not want to have this as I want to preserve the femur head as it's healthy, only the ball joint is what needs replacement. When I ask about BHP they are unsupportive.

I am active every day of my life, biking and swimming 7 times per week. I want the mobility back to be able to walk or run pain free.

1st question: Who is a doctor who specializes in hip resurfacing that is reasonably close to Albuquerque where I can be evaluated as a candidate (in person) for this procedure?

2nd question: Can I get my health insurance to pay for this? My Primary doctor is not being helpful and has even rudely stated that I would have to pay for this out of my own pocket and he wouldn't write a referral for me.

Thank you any help or advice is appreciated!

[Saf57]

Hi Victoria. I applaud you for seeking out advice about alternatives to THR. Take a look at this page, http://surfacehippy.info/hip-resurfacing-surgeons/, regarding doctors that are experienced at performing hip resurfacing. While no doctors in new mexico are listed, there are doctors listed in the neighboring states of texas, colorado, and utah. Regarding insurance, obviously that would depend on your specific type of policy and coverage. However, hip resurfacing has been approved in this country for many years at this point, and I believe that most of the patients having the surgery have had coverage for it, as did I. Good luck to you!

[packman]

Hi Victoria
While I have no doctor referrals for Albuquerque proximity, I want to applaud your research and state subject to insurance and out of pocket costs, don’t be afraid to travel.
If it wasn’t for this forum and the 1 on 1 discussions with Dr Gross of SC, I could have been taken down the road of a THR, or live with a considerable amount of physical pain and mental anguish until a Canadian queue for HR opened up - I consider myself very fortunate to have taken their advice and have never regretted the decision for resurfacing
I went from Toronto to Columbia SC over 800 miles and got my life back
Read up on the age risks and small boned females risks too
Good Luck

[blinky]

Agree with the posters above. Poke around on this website and read about some of the docs. Check out their websites to get an idea what insurance they accept. Read a few patient stories for each surgeon.


Don't be afraid to travel. It is likely you won't find a doctor who resurfaces women in your backyard. But the doctors who do this procedure are used to out of town patients and can help you with the arrangements. And there are plenty of stories on this site about how people managed their travel.


I am afraid that because you are woman it will be even harder to find a good surgeon. Many docs stopped resurfacing women when the smaller sized BHRs were withdrawn from the market in summer 2015. It seems like some are coming back in, using the Biomet device or one of the new, non metal devices, but the numbers are still low. The doctors who do resurface women are among the best in the world, however, and believe in the procedure.


Insurance is the tough part. Back when I had my hips done, we were out of network but had a PPO. The hospital was covered (yay---that is the biggest part of the expense), but the doctor was not. We went in knowing that we would have some out of pocket expenses for surgery, drugs and travel, came up with a worst case scenario guess, decided it was still worth it. We thought "what would we pay for a new car? for a vacation? " A new set of hips was worth at least that much.


I would go ahead and start your research. Send your X-rays to a few docs and see if you are a candidate for resurfacing. (Some people are not. It could be your femoral head is too eroded, for example.) If yes, then start talking to their offices about how you can pay for it. Some docs (Gross and de Smet)  have a straightforward plan for uninsured people to pay a discounted price up front. Is there any insurance open enrollment coming up? Can you switch to a different plan? Does your current plan allow for appeals? Sometimes the insurance co tactic is to wear you down. If you can show them good results from resurfacing and that it isn't more expensive, they may pay for it. (Dr Gross does an out patient resurfacing that is very inexpensive for insurance companies and has great results. What's not to like?)


Good luck.


bilat 11-15
Dr Gross

[Pat Walter]

Hi Victoria

Welcome to Hip Talk.  I am sorry to hear you have hip problems.

Hip resurfacing is a great option for active people.  In the hands of experienced surgeons it works very well.  Unfortunately, the BHR is no longer available to women and small men.  There are, however, other devices available that are available to women and small men.

You can get a free email consultation from many of the top surgeons if you send them a copy of your x-rays in a digital format.  That is a great way to learn if you are a candidate and more about hip resurfacing.

You can see the surgeons that do the free email consultations here:

http://surfacehippy.info/surgeons-with-1000-hip-resurfacings/

Dr. Su of NY is the only surgeon that is still using the BHR for women.  Dr. Pritchett of WA uses the synovo preserve for women and Dr. Gross uses the Biomet for women.  Other than that, you would have to go overseas. 

Here are many articles by surgeons about women and hip resurfacing:

http://surfacehippy.info/category/hip-resurfacing-for-women-and-small-men/

It is much more difficult for women to obtain hip resurfacing at this point.  Many less experienced surgeons did not have good outcomes for small men and women with the BHR, so Smith and Nephew withdrew it from the market.  The top experienced surgeons do have good outcomes for women.  So now most people have to travel to have a hip resurfacing.  I feel it is worth it, if you are a good candidate.  I flew to Belgium in 2006 to have mine with Dr. DeSmet.  I put the full cost on my credit cards and feel it was well worth it.  My BHR will be 12 years old in March 2018.

I am sure others here will talk with you and tell you about their experiences.

Good Luck  and stay in touch.

Pat

[catfriend]

Yes, the tricky part is finding a surgeon if you're female. Blinky had her hips done with Dr. Gross. I had my right hip resurfaced with Dr. Pritchett. Like others, I advise sending your x-rays to these two (and others you research) for consultation. I'm sure both of us would happily answer any questions you might have. To maintain the level of activity you're doing resurfacing is the way to go. Since it's open enrollment season now I would switch policies if need be to make sure your insurance will cover surgery out of state.

[Janmadloeb]

Hi Victoria!


I am also from Albuquerque and I am looking for hip resurfacing. I too am very active, though my left hip pain and mobility issues have put a real damper on hiking. Today, I was quite disappointed to learn the Colorado seems to not have any surgeons that do hip resurfacing on women. 


It looks like I will be traveling to another state. I do not want to have a THR, I want to stay active and continue to rock climb and begin hiking again.  Perhaps we can be of support and information to each other. I am totally new to this website, so I do not know how you and I could hook up, but we can find out.  I plan to keep looking and I am not going to give up. 


You have my support completely!


Jan in Albuquerque

[karlos.bell]

 :) I Vic. De Smet still does small women and is considered 1 of the best in the world.
However talking to him way back when I got my issues it seems the US has its legal system that halts progress in certain areas for the smaller type of device. It is tricky stuff.
Saying that he still performs operations on small women despite the press and with results.

So ask around the big difference in the US a women could only get 4mm increments in Europe you have 2 mm increments. Big difference when dealing with smaller numbers. This makes for a better fit. There are other devices than BHR that equally if fitted well last. Good on you for asking and good luck.. Cheers K 8)

[imgetinold]

As others have mentioned, Dr. Gross operates - very successfully - on women with the Biomet. I'm about to start year #8, and haven't been on the forum in years because....well....I'm better.


I also went to a local surgeon (who was listed back then) on the list on this site.  He tried to steer me to a THR.  I walked away, and am glad that I did. 


I cannot recommend Dr. Gross highly enough, and I think most Gross hippies would concur.  His can consult over the phone, and only requires that you send him the proper X-rays in advance so he can determine if you're a suitable candidate.  He really is the best, and operates on people all over the country.  Good luck, and don't let any doctors bully you.

[claudia]

Good to hear all this positive feedback on Dr Gross.  I'm scheduled for March 21.  Time is getting closer...