Patient Name: Tariq Nadeem
Surgeon Name: Dr Thomas P. Gross
Procedure: Right total Hip Resurface
Surgery Location: Columbia South Carolina
Date of Surgery: 06/29/11

The Awful pain

It was a decade ago when I came from work during the evening and was
so tired that I went straight to bed. During the early morning hour
like around 3AM I woke up and felt a sharp pain around the right
side of my pelvis area. I waited a day to see if it is just a minor
pain however the pain increased even more. So I visited a orthopedic
surgeon at 2500 N Van Dorn St Alexandria VA who gave me a pain
medicine after taking an x-ray. Which did not help at all, so
instead I went to see my family doctor who sent me to a neurologist
at 610 Carlin Spring Rd Arlington VA who gave me the steroid tablets
for the pain. My biggest mistake was due to the fact I did not have
the health insurance I should have gone to the ER for an evaluation
and might have saved my hip from the further detrition of the hip
infection; but instead I wasted several days by visiting different
doctors who all of them gave me the wrong treatment. After a week I
was in a extreme pain and was not able to stand from my bed. My
family called the ambulance and was taken to the Alexandria Hospital
where the orthopedic surgeon on duty Dr.Anuj Gupta performed several
test including a cat scan. This is where he detected that I have an
infection in my right hip. Before the surgery the anesthesia surgeon
questioned me about any kind of allergic reactions. I told him that
I have the severe allergic with the iodine and shellfish. The next
morning Dr.Anuj Gupta performed a surgical procedure to clean out
the infection from my right hip. He used Contrast-Dye during my
surgical procedure that caused the severe complication and I almost
lost my life. After the surgery he had told me that I would be
looking forward for a hip replacement in the near future.

Major delay

Even though my hip was deteriorating every year I still avoided the
hip surgery due to the anesthesia procedure going bad at Alexandria
hospital. Because of the hip movement limitation I was more idle and
had severe pain in any kind of activity where the hip movement was
involved. This caused me to gain weight from 170lbs to 232lbs.
However, I visited the orthopedic surgeon Dr. Engh in Arlington VA
on a yearly basis. Who told me that I need the total hip
replacement.

Major Complication due to delay

On June 20th, 2009 I purchased the paid yearly gym membership at
Xsport Fitness where they had all the major facilities for their
members. Towards the start of the membership I was going to the gym
about 4 days a week and walking on the treadmill at the speed of 1.9
mph for a half-hour. Along with the workouts I was treating myself
with the red meat, fried foods, and sweets. I also chewed tobacco
but never consumed any kind of alcoholic beverage in my life or any
other substance. After a few months I rarely went to the gym. On May
of 2010 I had a shortage of breath while I was painting in my
bathroom I thought it was due to the fumes of the paint. But I
started to sweat and because I learned my lesson several years ago
to go to the ER right away my son drove me to the Alexandria
Hospital and was their within 20mins. They performed the EKG and
took me to the operating room right away because I was having the
heart attack. Dr Nichollas Cossa MD the cardiologist was on the duty
where he evaluated that I have the occulated distal right coronary
artery where he inserted a drug-eluted stent with good results.
During this procedure thanks to god I did not have any anesthesia
complications.

Turning Point

After the heart complication I wanted to do something about my hip
so I may be able to keep myself more active. So I religiously
dedicated myself to the exercise at the Xsport Fitness. Which helped
me reduce a little bit of weight and gain some muscle mass. I also
changed my eating habits and avoided the fried foods. I discussed
the hip surgery with my cardiologist but since I was on the Plavix
75mg and Dr.Engh (orthopedic surgeon) told me at the Alexandria
Hospital that I needed to be off the Plavix for a 2 week duration
before the surgery can be performed. He also mentioned that I would
need to save my own blood amount of 2 pints for the surgical
procedure three months before the surgery in addition to going off
the Plavix 75mg . He also uses the cemented version of the hip
resurfacing. I discussed with Dr Cossa my cardiologist if I could go
off the Plavix for 2 weeks. His response was that I would need to
stay on the Plavix for one full year due to the drug-eluted stent.
During the office visit with Dr.Cossa M.D he also mentioned that
because of the psoriasis on both of my feet and partial on my hands
he told me that majority of the people with psoriasis are more
likely to have the heart complications. I had no choice but to wait
for the entire one-year period before I could proceed for the hip
resurfacing surgery. I was searching several websites including the
surface hippy website to see if someone had the hip resurfacing
procedure done with the Plavix blood thinner, but did not find any
information. Instead I was more fearful for going of the Plavix
because of the different blogs I read online how impossible it is to
go off the Plavix. Some people wrote that it could cause the severe
problem, that you would have to stay on it for the rest of your
life, and you would have to go off the Plavix gradually. But when my
time came I asked my cardiologist he told me that I should go off
the Plavix and use a Baby Aspirin instead even before the surgery. I
forgot to mention that before my heart attack I searched on the
Internet about different alternatives besides the hip surgery and
read about the PRP (Platelet-rich plasma). I found a doctor in Falls
Church VA who was performing this procedure for $800.00 out of
pocket expense because the insurance company does not cover this
procedure. I paid about $1600.00 out of my pocket for two
injections, which did not help me even .000001%. This procedure was
a waste of money, which I regret.

The Search for the Orthopedic Surgeon

Finally I realized that I should start searching for a right
orthopedic surgeon who has the knowledge and the experience. I
selected two different surgeons
1.) Dr Anderson Engh in Alexandria VA
2.) Dr Edward P. Su in New York, New York
3.) Dr Thomas Gross in Columbia, SC
Dr. Engh was very convenient for due to the fact that his office was
only 10 minutes away. But he told me that I would need to be saving
2 pints of my blood for the surgery procedure. He also informed that
I have to be off the blood thinner for an approximate time of two
weeks before the surgery. He was also performing the cemented hip
resurfacing procedure with a large incision.

For the second choice I selected Dr Edward P. Su at the Hospital for
Special Surgery in New York. He also specializes in hip resurfacing
surgery (Cemeted). I saw his surgery on YouTube and the incision was
a larger then minimal incision. The other draw back was that I was
not in the condition to face the New York traffic, walk and the
inconvenient conditions for traveling family members.

My third choice was Dr Thomas Gross in Columbia South Carolina. I
contacted his office and made the consultation appointment with
Dr.Gross. During my consultation he asked me all of the necessary
question to find out if I was the right candidate for the hip
resurfacing surgery. He also explained me the complete requirements
that I would need prior to the surgery. During the consultation he
clarified a lot of questions that I had with out any rush. He told
me that I would not need to save my own blood for the surgery,
instead he would collect my lost blood during the surgery and filter
it and give it back to me after the surgery. He also told me that he
would be using the minimal incision for this procedure. He also
asked me to get a medical clearance from my primary care physician
and the cardiologist, which I was able to obtain. He also wanted me
to send him the following necessary test for the surgery clearance.

Drive to South Carolina

I left home two days before the surgery around 7am from Alexandria
Virginia to Columbia South Carolina and stayed at the Courtyard
Marriott which is a walking distance to the Providence Hospital. I
recommend for anyone going for the surgery to prearrange for the
handicap bathroom. The very next day I had an appointment with
Dr.Gross at the Midland Orthopedics office in Irmo SC. This is where
they performed several test including the bone density test also
known as the Dexa Scan.This scan help determine the weight bearing
on the surgery leg.I was also required to fill out all of the paper
work needed for the surgery procedure. I also purchase the Polar
Care unit for $250.00, which was not covered by my insurance
company. This was the unit that I was recommended to use 7 to 10
days after the surgery to prevent swelling and bruising. I also
purchased the crunches for $35.00Everyone at the Midlands Orthopedic
office was very professional and caring during the consultation. I
was advised to hold a fast for twelve hours before the surgery time.
However, I was allowed to take my blood pressure pill an hour before
the surgery with a sip of water.

Day of Surgery

I reported to Providence Hospital at 5:30am for the 9:00am surgery.
Where I met Dr. Gross assistant Lee Webb .N.P. They prepared me for
the surgery in the pre-surgical room. I was given the spinal
anesthesia and the loss blood was given back to me by the cell saver
which was one of the main reason I’ve selected Dr.Gross for the hip
resurface in addition to his extensive experience and knowledge in
the hip bone resurfacing procedure. The total surgery procedure time
was approximately a total of 4hours due to the deformity of the
femur bone. I awoke after 6 hours and the physical therapist team
came took me for a walk. I was very happy and felt that I did not
have the pain even at that time. Finally I was able to walk
painlessly after 11 years. At night I was on the polar care unit for
every 15 minutes.

Hospital Discharge

After two days I was discharged from the Providence Hospital and
went shopping at the local shopping mall using my crunches and
walking for over an hour without any pain. All of my family enjoyed
the South Carolina weather and the southern hospitality people are
more friendlier compared to Virginia.

Follow Up with Dr.Gross
I drove back to South Carolina for my 6 week follow up with Dr.
Gross. This time I drove myself for a total of 6 hours. I was
walking with out any assistant with a minimal limp. After my meeting
with Dr.Gross my family and me visited the Myrtle Beach and I walked
on the entire beach and also went into the ocean with out any
problem.

Life after Surgery

It has been over six months since I had my hip resurfacing surgery
and I am walking with out any limp and using all of the gym
equipment’s with out any problems. I am walking on the treadmill
with an incline of 20 at the speed of 4.0. Also I am glad that I am
off the Plavix for 6 months as well. Instead I am taking 2 baby
asprin daily. Every morning I wake up I thank god and pray for
Dr.Gross who has taken me out of a painful hip for 11 years.