surgery cancelled

[cindy26]

Hey guys,

I have not been on here in a long time.  I was scheduled Jan 5th for a R THR with cermanic on cermanic.  Last post I had was talking about my 2nd opinion.  Well my 2nd opinion dr called my surgeon and my surgeon changed his mind on doing my surgery.  So here I am again through another hurdle.  I have no luck at all lately.  NOBODY wants to help me out mainly because of my age.  When my surgeon called to cancel my surgery he said he wanted to have a clinic visit to talk to me.  He said that he is general orthopaedics and he wanted me to see a specialist because of the slipped capital femoral epiphysis and my age.  So he sent over my things to another dr (Dr Minter ?) not sure how to spell it.  Dr Minter had to approve to see me because I have seen so many drs.  I don't know if that is how it works everywhere or just in Tennessee.  Well I waited and it has been offically one month today and no call at all.  SO I took it upon myself to find a specialist.  I found Dr Attarian at Duke.  I met with him on Thursday last week.  He was very nice.  He didn't give me this crap about suffer now or suffer later, or if I have it done I will be in a wheelchair before I am 50, or deal with it for a couple more years and come back when you are 30.  He overlooked my age and looked at my hip x-rays and my mri's and took me serious.  I have a serious problem.  I have severe degenerative joint disease with spots that are bone on bone.  I have tried everything including Physical therapy, pain management, hip injections, and NSAIDS.  I have done all of the conservative stuff so he said why wait when you are already miserable.  He said that he thought a MOM would be best for me because of the wear rate and he thought it would last approx 10-15 yrs.  I think thats great.  He has agreed to do the surgery for me.  I am waiting on his secretary to call me back with all of the dates for surgery and preop stuff.  I think that God helped me find him.  I am really excited about getting to feeling better.  Maybe all things happen for a reason maybe the surgeon that was scheduled to do my surgery didn't for a reason.  Maybe Dr Attarian was the Dr I have waited all of this time for and maybe all of the hurdles helped me find him.  When he read my notes and accepted me I almost wanted to cry because finally somebody to help.  I don't know why drs think that if your young you should have to suffer.  I have a 2yr old and a great job as a nurse and a wonderful husband that I want to get better for.  I hope that all of this just makes me a stronger better nurse (being that I work in pain management).   I understand people concerns and want to help them.  Please keep me in your thoughts.  This has been a very long and never ending journey.  I just want it all to end with a THR that will give me my life back.  I have no life now.  I attempt so hard to work all day (my work works with my and gives me sit down jobs mostly) and really do good to walk when I get to my car.  When I get home I hope my son will just sit and read books with me instead of walking me all over the house.  I am in tears daily.  I just want my life back and if it takes a MOM THR to do it, then thats what I want.   

[obxpelican]

Cindy,

I've thought about you lately, maybe it's my special powers and you received my signal--- at least now I can take the tin foil beanie off my head now.

I know you are down, but, the best days are ahead of you, I am glad that you took it upon yourself to be your own best patient advocate.  I have good feelings that you're going to get better.  When you get better you will be amazed at all the things that you're able to accomplish.

I am also glad that your work is sensitive about your condition.

God Bless,


Chuck

[Pat Walter]

Hi

I am sorry to hear you are still having problems trying to get out of pain.

I hope you last surgeon will be able to get you up and running with a THR.

If for some reason you have problems with this doctor, have you thought about talking with Dr. Gross in SC? I can't remember if I suggested him.  He does very difficult cases and will give you a free evaluation if you email him.  He will call you on the phone after he gets your info.

I do hope you get this resolved soon.  No one needs to be in pain and have their life on hold for the need of a new hip.

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Pat

[peteuk]

hi cindy ,
good to hear that you have found a sympathetic doc, i was scheduled for a resurfacement back in last march(08) but when the doctor was hammewring in the femeral cap my femeral head split so he had to revert to a mom thr , i was really dissapointed but now that everything has healed up my leg feels really strong and i have no pain like i had before .i think the life of 15 -20 years is way conservative , the wearing surfaces are the same as a resurfacement and the cobalt based metals are some of the hardest there are so considering that the old type of plastic thr/s lasted 10-15 tears plus these mom joints should last really long ,

i am sure you will be more than happy and out of pain when you get your mom thr , i wish you all the best , pete

[bothdone]

Hi Cindy

Please accept my very best wishes to you and your family for a very successful outcome.

Ed

[Todd]

Cindy,

We all wish you the best!  Hang in there and keep your chin up.  Better days are on the horizon.  Once your surgery is done and you begin to recover, you will be amazed at the affect it will have not only on your hip, but with everything you do.  The strength you posess each day will serve you well during your recovery and in getting your life back.  You and your family have a lot to look forward to! 
todd

[revision]

Cindy,

Like Pete I also have had a MOM THR. From my experience this will give you your life back. You have been through a lot and there is light at the end of the tunnell now.

Hang in there and be positive, it won't be long before you are walking around just fine.

I wish you the best and god bless & protect.

Revision

[cindy26]

Thanks guys,

I am really glad that this group is out there.  I know my family get tired of hearing me complain.  It just don't stop.  It hard not to gripe when every step you take during the day hurts so bad.  I know you all understand where I am coming from.  My husband really don't.  I wish Duke would call me with a date so countdown to feeling better can begin.  I figure with me seeing them on Thursday it will probably take a week to get everything schedule and being that I am out of state, it may be a little harder.  I am so looking foward to the light outside of this tunnel.  These past several months have been horrible.  I have been thrown around from one md to another.  Guess what I got a call today at work because the specialist that my surgeon was wanting me to see finally accepted me as a pt.  I told them I don't need to see this Dr Minter because I took upon myself and found my own and so far I am happy there.  THanks for all of the great wishes and thoughts.  I need everything I can get. 

Cindy

[wayne-0]

Cindy,
I believe instincts are always right. If you feel good about this doctor than I believe it is the right thing to do. God does work in mysterious ways and maybe he has been keeping you away from those other doctors for a good reason. I too went from surgeon to surgeon for 7 months til I found one to take care of me. Hope your surgery is soon and the road to recovery is smooth. Good luck.

Wayne

[Bionic]

Hi Cindy,

I'm really happy you found some one who can help you.  I have one question before you go forward, however.  For the doctors who were recommending that you wait, were they holding out for something specific?  Is there some new procedure on the horizon now that might be available to you in a couple of years, which might provide a much better result in the long term?

I don't know that there is, but it sounded like the doctors perhaps had something specific in mind and they weren't simply asking you to delay the inevitable.

[cindy26]

Surgery scheduled on March 18th.  Yeah.