Category Archives: Dr. Amstutz HR Stories

Dr. Amstutz personal hip resurfacing stories

Dr. Amstutz Hip Resurfacing Stories

Hip Resurfacing at Surface Hippy Posted on by
… Read the rest

G’s 5 Year Update Hip Resurfacing with Dr. Amstutz 2011

Hip Resurfacing at Surface Hippy Posted on by

Read G’s Full Story Here

December 8, 2016 Update

I have been away from the site for 5 plus years… It’s like I never left…
Then the resistance to HR was very evident by the THR community.
I had had a very bad bone on bone for years, my wife of 50+ years (great years) was in chemo for lymphoma.. when she passed.. I went 2200 miles west to Dr Amstutz.
I was 77. Dr A thought the hip was a mess BUT he agreed to do the Resurf.
Now at 82, I do anything I want, climb ladders, crawl in a trawler bilge, am building a motorhome..etc etc.
I have a few local people I know with bad experiences with THR’s…revisions, pain etc.
Soooo … Read the rest

Karen McNulty Hip Resurfacing Story with Dr. Amstutz 2006

Hip Resurfacing at Surface Hippy Posted on by

My surgery date with Dr. Amstutz was 8/29/06.
I had been in considerable pain for four years
before the surgery, but thought it was do to
spinal stenosis. I saw Dr. Amstutz after Kaiser
diagnosed my right hip to be bone on bone
osteoarthritis and would need a replacement and
of course, to wait as long as possible. I met
Calvin Jung , an Amstutz bilateral through a
mutual friend and the hip resurfacing seemed the
way to go.

I had a great experience with the surgery.
Dr. Amstutz and this was, I might add, the first
time I have had any surgery or been in a
hospital other than to deliver my son in the
hallway!

I had poor bone density and Amstutz was… Read the rest

Dave Grigg L C+ 3/24/1998 R C+ 2/12/2004 Dr. Amstutz

Hip Resurfacing at Surface Hippy Posted on by
Ten Year Anniversary

I’m saying hello on the eve of my ten year anniversary. In early 1998 there were fewer than 40 resurfacings in the U.S. and of course no surfacehippy group or knowledge base. My thanks to Keith and all you posters.

My story

A former runner, I had been crippled with OA for a decade and needed crutches just to stand more than 2 minutes. Dr. Amstutz said he’d only seen one or two more diseased hips in his career. I placed a lot of trust in him and it sure paid off. I was riding the life cycle 5 days post-op and skydiving 7 weeks post-op (not doctor approved). My other hip was resurfaced by the good doctor early in 2004. I

… Read the rest

James Bi-Lat Dr. Amstutz C+ LHR 05/04/2004 C+ RHR 09/11/2007

Hip Resurfacing at Surface Hippy Posted on by

I thought that I would provide a quick update on my recent experience with my second resurfacing in California last week. I share some data points in the event that it may assist at least one person to make the right decision and get on with a productive life free from pain and disability.

– Background – 44 olds, right hip C+ Amstutz 2004, severe OA from years as world level athlete.

– Returned to high level activity after first resurfacing, including running, skiing, golf, water skiing, coaching kids sports and anything else important with no pain. At 40 years olds I was nearly not a candidate due to severe OA, bone-on-bone and cysts that required grafts and cemented stem at surgery.

– Rapid degeneration

… Read the rest

G’s Hip Resurfacing with Dr. Amstutz 2011

Hip Resurfacing at Surface Hippy Posted on by

December 8, 2016 Update

I have been away from the site for 5 plus years… It’s like I never left…
Then the resistance to HR was very evident by the THR community.
I had had a very bad bone on bone for years, my wife of 50+ years (great years) was in chemo for lymphoma.. when she passed.. I went 2200 miles west to Dr Amstutz.
I was 77. Dr A thought the hip was a mess BUT he agreed to do the Resurf.
Now at 82, I do anything I want, climb ladders, crawl in a trawler bilge, am building a motorhome..etc etc.
I have a few local people I know with bad experiences with THR’s…revisions, pain etc.
Soooo I would not do a … Read the rest

Ivan Dekovic 14 Year Anniversary Hip Resurfacing with Dr. Amstutz 2000

Hip Resurfacing at Surface Hippy Posted on by

Ivan Dekovic 14 Year Anniversary Hip Resurfacing with Dr. Amstutz 2000

I’m feeling so happy that today I reached my 14th Anniversary. I never though that I would reach that number. At the time of my surgery (I was 54 years old), I would have been pleased if my surface on surface hip replacement had lasted 5 years.

For those asking about impact sports, let me tell you that I have been playing Volleyball, Nationally and Internationally (US Open, World Master Games, Huntsman World Games, League, Senior Tournaments, etc.), since 2004. Before these Tournaments, I played in local Leagues in the San Francisco Bay Area. As far as I remember, I started playing again after 1 1/2 to 2 years after my surgery, but before … Read the rest

John G’s Hip Resurfacing with Dr. Amstutz 2008

Hip Resurfacing at Surface Hippy Posted on by

John G’s Hip Resurfacing with Dr. Amstutz 2008

June 18, 2013

I had Conserve+ Total Hip Resurfacing done on my left hip in August 2008, age 59. Wrestled through college since then played tennis, weekly soccer league plus practices/running and down hill skiing, until the osteo arthritis in the left hip stopped me. Researched the resurfacing and liked what I read about Dr. Harlan Amstutz’s work and his very deep experience. Surgery was great. Was downhill skiing in 6 months. Tennis fine, but I could not get into jogging at all … after 10-15 minutes I’d get intense pain "in the joint." So I basically stopped running but added bicycling, stationary and a little bit of road/mountain biking to the mix. Recently have started to … Read the rest

Beth Barney Dr. Amstutz September 2000

Hip Resurfacing at Surface Hippy Posted on by

Two months ago, Beth put her hip to the ultimate test, participating in the Dam Sprint Triathlon at Lake Perris. The event included an 800-yard swim, a 12-mike bike ride and a 5K run

It was 10 years ago. Beth Barney had flown with her husband, Jason, from Utah for the prognosis, and they sat in the doctor’s office in Los Angeles. She felt like a defendant on trial, awaiting the verdict that would decide how she would live the rest of her life.

 She did not want to live it as she had the first 22 years. Born with congenital dysplasia – her hip was out of its socket at birth – Beth Barney had a series of surgeries, body casts and braces between … Read the rest

Ted Uncemented Conserve Plus Dr. Amstutz 2010

Hip Resurfacing at Surface Hippy Posted on by

I have had both hips resurfaced by Dr. Harlan Amstutz—the left on 5/14/02 (using the hybrid Conserve Plus system) and the right on 3/4/10. On the latter, both the femoral and acetabular components were uncemented. I am only the third patient on which Dr. Amstutz has used an uncemented femoral component.

Saw Dr. Amstutz yesterday in LA. He had a whole battery of x-rays taken of both hips. He says the right one, the one with the uncemented femoral cap, looks good. But he wants to be cautious. So he restricted my activity to walking and the stationary bike. We’ll have another set of x-rays taken in 4 weeks. If those are fine, it’s my hope that Dr. Amstutz will expand the category of permissible … Read the rest

Casey’s Hip Resurfacing Dr. Amstutz 2008

Hip Resurfacing at Surface Hippy Posted on by

I was released with my successful surgery completed on 11/20 and was home by 11/22! What a ride it has been as all of you know.

So far I’m doing all right and ruling the world from my anti-gravity lounger, no swelling and not overdoing it and my family (hubby, three girls ages, 9, 7 and 19mos.) have been amazing!

I was able to undergo the surgery in the way I felt most comfortable with light sedation and epidural only and have taken only Tylenol before bed when needed which is every night so far. That’s when all the strange sensations are too much for me, the burning the electricity, just lots of healing and repairing going on it feels like. I’ve even learned to … Read the rest