I am a 49 year old state highway heavy equipment operator. I have arthritis all through my body. Over the years my hip gave me some trouble but it would come and go until 2 1/2 years ago when it came and stayed. The pain got worse and worse until I was no longer able to hunt, fish, and on some days,  I was unable to even do my job. The deciding factor was when my wife and I could no longer enjoy our 2008 Yamaha venture motorcycle. The pain was so bad I had to stop every 30 minutes and fall off (there was no graceful way for me to get off and on the cycle anymore and my rides were becoming few and far between.

Where we live no doctor will touch anyone for hip replacement younger than 60 years old, no matter how much pain you are in. I was lucky to know that my neighbor, also a young 47 had her hip resurfaced by Dr. Mont the previous year and she was doing great. We have great insurance that did not require referrals so my wife called on April 26, 2010 and I was shocked that I got an appointment on May 20, 2010.

I took my x-rays but they did new ones as soon as I got there. I figured I would see a phy. assit. and would have to come back to speak to the surgeon. NOPE. Dr. Mont came in and said I was perfect for surgery and that he had an opening on June 16, 2010. NO MRI. NO HIMHAWING AROUND. JUST EASY TO UNDERSTAND STRAIGHT TALK. So we took it.

I have never had any medical procedures of any kind done over the past 48 years, so all this was new to me. Dr. Mont assured me that he and his staff would make this as pleasant an experience as possible. The next few weeks before surgery went quickly.

I had pre-surgery testing. A physical (full exam) an ekg, a chest x-ray and lots of blood work. Except for some minor hbp all went well. Mt. Sinai does have a hotel/guest house on campus but it fills up quickly so if you are coming from out of town you need to call asap. We had to stay at a motel about a mile away.

We arrived early on the day of surgery (about 6:45am) and surgery was for10:15 am. The only thing we didn’t like was that they take the patient in first. Put in the iv and get them in bed before a family member could come in. Being it was my first time I would have liked my wife there from the beginning. Then you get the 1000 questions. Ted stockings. You speak to the anesthesiologist and decide on general or spinal. I took spinal and I am glad I did. You won’t remember anything.

When I woke up, Jill said I was a rough one and that they almost went to a thr, but Dr. Mont did get the resurfacing done. The normal incision size is 4-5 1/2 inches. Mine was 8 1/2 inches. No staples either. Dissolvable stitches. THE FIRST 30 HOURS ARE HELL. SO BE PREPARED. The pain pump does control pain but made me sick to my stomach, not nauseated.  Just could not keep anything down and believe me, you will love the catheter for that first night. I also loved the compression machine on my legs. It was like getting a massage on your legs.

Day 2 catheter gone. Pain pump gone.. Pt got me up. SHOCKINGLY PAINFUL. Had to find something to control my pain so I could sleep. They did and I slept great all night.

What a difference day 3 made. Got me up and walked down the hall. I was ready to go home. We arrived home after a 3 hour ride and it has been awesome ever since, I am 1 week out and I am on a cane. I am driving  (it was my left hip) . I take no percocet except 1 before bed.

I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW HOW GREAT DR. MONT’S TEAM IS. JILL WAS AN ANGEL TO MY WIFE AND WE APPRECIATED HER SO MUCH. BUT EVERYONE WAS GREAT. THE NURSES IN SURGERY (ONE EVEN HELD MY HAND BEFORE SURGERY STARTED) IN RECOVERY AND ON THE FLOOR WERE AWESOME. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO TERESA, KRISSI AND DAVID (THEY WERE MY NURSES ON THE 3RD FLOOR) WITHOUT THEM I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE GREAT EXPERIENCE I HAD. MY advice. DON’T WAIT AND STAY IN PAIN. GET YOUR LIFE BACK. CALL THE MIRACLE WORKERS AT DR. MONT’S OFFICE. I WOULD DO IT AGAIN IN A HEART BEAT. FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. THANK YOU.

WAYNE AND CINDY