Surgery scheduled for 3/14/12

[hernanu]

Nice! Great way to prep for this transformation.

[Jbennett]

yeah. no kidding. i'm amazed by this families generosity. I understand the house and community are supposed to be incredible. I would take the bikes up but I'm afraid they'd get stolen in Cloumbia.

[Jbennett]

17 days and counting!!

[hernanu]

It'll be here before you know it.

[jakemn]

That house situation kicks arse!  Does it have extra room for other hippys?  LOL!

I also enjoyed reading about the "out of town" comments you got.  I'm a stone's throw from Mayo Clinic in MN.  The only doc there that does any resurfacing uses the Conserve+ device, which is fine.  I was evaluated by him in late 2011 and, of course, I was very interested in resurfacing as opposed to THR.  He told me he had done ~200 HR's, as opposed to ~10,000 THRs of all types.  He told me that if I were his brother or a relative of his, he would just go ahead and have a large ball MOM THR.  I pushed harder on the ease of revision of a HR to a THR, given the savings of femur real estate afforded with HR, and that was one of the factors in my decision.  He basically poo-poo'ed any of my comments as statistically inaccurate relative to bone savings and ease of revision down the road, and that THR would be no harder to revise to another THR.  That hit me in the gut like an uppercut, and just didn't sit right with me.  My logical viewpoint and gut feeling, even at that early point, was that HR has to put you in a much better position for revision down the road.  We ended the visit with his assertion that (paraphrasing) "At the end of the day, I deal with biased patients all the time, and you obviously walked in here with a strong bias towards resurfacing.  So, it's really your call.  I'll do the resurfacing if that's what you want to do, so just call my scheduler and blah blah"   Not exactly the strong vote of confidence I was looking for, and I left the clinic that day with a sinking feeling.  So at that point I sought out Dr. Rogerson in Madison on this site.  After just watching Pat's video interviews with the guy, I could tell he exudes confidence with HR and is a huge proponent of the procedure, the device, and the long term benefits, including revisions.  It is indeed funny to hear the word "bias" from a surgeon at Mayo, referring to a patient, when there is so much bias towards THR in the medical community!  There's been a couple of friends or co-workers that wondered about going elsewhere for surgery, before and after, but I think most people I've spoke with about this procedure has been very understanding about the personal nature of choosing a surgeon, and are quite "wow'ed" by the description of the Madison week long hip-hab program.

[Jbennett]

10 days!!! Getting close.

[jakemn]

Just think.. you'll probably be walking into a tavern either at your rehab location or back home on the 17th, getting ready to suck down some green beers!    Maybe TED stockings come in green or with shamrock design?  Better pick out your shillelagh stick this week to use for one of your crutches... I'm just saying... always be prepared LOL!

[Jbennett]

Ok. One week from today I'll have a new hip. Leaving Memphis at 6am tomorrow for Cashiers NC. We will stay there until early Tuesday morning then drive into Columbia early tuesday the 13th for my office visit. Do the surgery at 10:30 wednesday morning and drive home friday. This has been a long wait. I will confess I'm getting a little nervous now. Spinal is much safer than general anesthesia I guess though right?

[LAB123]

Hey Jb...I'm exactly two weeks behind you; scheduled w Dr. Gross 3/28. Coincidentally my wife's Dad lives in Cashiers and that is a great place to relax. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Larry

[imgetinold]

From what I read, getting the spinal (and keeping you in twilight sleep) introduces less risk for blood clots later. 

You don't feel a thing.  They'll wheel you into the OR, transfer you to the operating table, and ask you to sit up.  POOF......next thing you remember is waking up in the recovery room, and likely not able to wiggle your toes just yet.

Easy, peasy.

[Jbennett]

Saturday in Cashiers NC. Absolutely beautiful day.Sunny and just under 60 degrees. Surgery is Wednesday. Went on a short 2 mile hike in the mountains this morning with the family. I was slower than them but did fine. Next year that should be an easier hike. Back in town now at a coffee shop. Cell service especially data is very sketchy up here. No NSAID's allowed. Walked and shopped in Highlands yesterday for several hours with the girls. Hurt like crazy last night. I can probably expect the same tonight. The house we were given to use is even better than I expected. Guessing it's a $5-8M home. Really enjoying that brief break from reality.
lol

[hernanu]

You know, its actually a good sign of things to come. Not the million dollar house, but that you'll feel like a million dollars when things come out well. The house is a great experience, but no pain in that hip, being able to stroll with the family and just the freedom you have when done is so liberating it's incredible.

Here's to your Wednesday starting you off on a much better path.

[imgetinold]

Jb,

Just to give you something to look forward to:  I'm 8 weeks out, and just went for a 4 mile hike yesterday with my boys.  It is around Lake Lanier, GA, with a fair amount of elevation change.

Other than making sure I did not run or jog, I NEVER thought about my hip.  It felt totally normal, like it was original equipment.  That's at 8 weeks!

Good luck!

[Jbennett]

Just read your post about the hike. Jealous. I did a 2 mile loop of moderate difficulty Friday at Whiteside Mountain with my family. Just now starting to lose that hot coal implanted in my hip feeling. Ellie took my youngest daughter (9yo) to a really primitive area called Panthertown Valley yesterday.Did about a 5 mile hike down in and back up that took about 3 hours. Pictures looked incredible. There was no way I could go though. At least not without a heavy price. I never let my wife drive on trips but I have this time. Much more comfortable to be a passenger. We leave here about 6:30 in the morning and have a 3 hour drive to columbia. That gives me an hour cushion before my office appointment with Dr. Gross at 10:30. Surgery Wednesday morning at the same time.
Jeff

[imgetinold]

Seriously, you will not believe how quickly you start to feel good.  You'll feel better so fast (I'll bet), that you'll want to go beyond what you're allowed to do.  Don't do it, but know that when you clear 6 weeks that you'll be loving life. 

Good luck.  I'm looking forward to your post about how easy the surgery was and how great the staff and hospital are. 

Andy

[LAB123]

Hey Jeff,


Please post any details and advice. I'll be there in two weeks. Thanks!

Larry

[lori.36]

Sounds like such a wonderful adventure u & fam r having.  Hopefully they have some fun things Planned when u r in the hospital.  My fam had a great. Vaca while I was in the hospital

[pasinvabch]

Good luck to you tomorrow!!
Piedad

[Hippyliz]

Good luck tomorrow, Jeff! Lee and Dr. Gross will tell you that when you wake up the OA pain will be gone, and IT'S TRUE! Remember to ICE ICE ICE. I'm thrilled for you and how this will change your life.  Just allow yourself to be plugged into Dr. Gross' process -- he's got it down to a science, all the players are experts in their roles and the hospital is a beautiful facility. Please give us an update when you feel able!!
Liz

[momofAlec]

I'm so glad you have a place and the kids got to enjoy spring break. I look forward to hearing how you are doing!