looking for opinions

[spike]

keeping it positive.

[Spanielsal]

Spike, I am so sorry that you are going through this. I think this is unusual pain and you should have an MRI. I went back to read your earlier posts and am wondering if the pain as always neem there or if it started in early may? could you have nerves trapped or damaged? I am not medical but in your shoes I'd check it out and fast. I hope you can get this sorted ASAP. If your surgeon isn't whisking you back in to find out what is wrong then I'd be asking questions also. He has a duty of care to you. Thinking of you. Sal

[Dayton96]

Spike,

Doesn't Dr. Raterman do follow-up exams after the surgery?  If so, what did he say about the issues you were having?  Did he take x-rays at the time?  If so, did you get copies?  If you don't have copies of the follow-up x-rays, I would suggest you get them from his office.  Failing everything else, you could contact another surgeon, such as Dr. Gross.

Mac

[hernanu]

Spike, really sorry you're having these troubles.

I know our first thought when pain hits is that the implant has gone bad, I know mine were. I'd try to clear your mind in steps, addressing each possibility. There's no reason to think you need a revision until someone knowledgeable sees a glaring problem.

A few things that I could think of - you're an experienced hippy, so you know how your body should react to a resurfacing:

• I'd first clear your mind on whether something is mechanically wrong with the implant. If you want some other opinions, there are the surgeons on this site who can interpret your xrays and can talk to you about their thoughts. You can also mention the pain and see what they think.
• If the implant is Ok, then I'd take a look at the length differential, like you've brought up. Maybe a show lift for the other foot might help, but I'd talk to someone knowledgeable about it. I had a problem with my foot that I think came from my gait, a podiatrist helped me with that.
• There's the possibility of nerve issues, but when caused by the surgery, they seem to happen right away, not delayed.
• Since there's groin pain, you could also look at IT band issues.

The best thing to do in my thoughts is to get a professional opinion on anything that concerns you from someone you trust. If your surgeon doesn't have that (or maybe his PA), then get one from someone else. If the other issues are a concern, talk to specialists in those. Like I mentioned, a podiatrist really helped me with my foot after my second surgery, so to each doctor his own.

The spondylosis and facet disease can manifest like you're describing, so it may be that, but you want to isolate the possibilities, so you can at least know what it is you're really dealing with. The doctors listed on this web site can at least help you identify any issues with the HR.

Good luck, hope it clears up and you get another good HR.

[spike]

An update.

keeping it positive

[hernanu]

Spike, sorry you're being treated like that by your surgeon. If other surgeons that are knowledgeable about HRs are looking at the XRays and telling you that it's not right, then I'd say it's time to go to someone else.

My advice is to look for someone really experienced with both HR and THRs. You had great luck with Dr. Amstutz, maybe he would be a possibility. If not, someone closer by could be Dr. Gross (I'm assuming you're in Florida).

A revision is not a great thing to contemplate, so if you need it, you want it done right. There are also smaller components like the mini-hip, BMHR and other small THR like devices out now, maybe one of those would be good in this situation. The best way to find that out, though is to go to a well experienced and committed surgeon.

Good luck, spike. I hope you don't need a revision, but if you do, that you get it done well.

[Pat Walter]

I am sorry to hear you are having problems.  Yes, I like to keep things positive, but not hide real stories and problems.  I want people to be able to tell their stories, good or bad.  I want people to give their opinons, but I don't want them to take over the group posting over and over about their opinons.  I would not delete a real story and hide it because I only want positive here.  The national registry stats show a 96% retention rate, so we know 4% of the patients do have problems and revisions.  They are welcome here for support and advice.  Just sometimes, these folks are so angry they want to use the website to try to ban hip resurfacing.

So we all will support people with problems and try to understand that most people, do have good outcomes - Thank Goodness - but some people have problems and we want to be here for them too.

Pat

[Tin Soldier]

I didn't see anything in your post about why a THR would be necessary at this point.  You should check with the expert HR suregons, many are mentoned here, and see if a revision of the cup with an appropriate angle would be possible.  Generally the posterier approach is the most common.  Maybe there is reason you mentioned the anterior and I just didn't see it.  I would definitely look into HR for the revision and as Hern pointed out, talk to an experienced HR surgeon like Gross.  I think Amstutz retired.  Good luck. 

[spike]

First of Dr Amstutz is anything but retired. I wish I had a fraction of his get up and go.

I  just got off the phone with Dr Raterman. I had sent him my films  today.

For the record , not only did I choose Dr Raterman for his experience I went to Dr Raterman because he did a posterior approach.
I mentioned an anterior approach in the event MY hip had to be converted to a THR. I would prefer that it be done with that , if possible.

Dr Raterman was very patient and seemed genuinely concerned. He said that with the BHR he had experienced a few cases where the cup didn't bond and indeed shifted.
( I didn't take notes, so I may have gotten some of this skewed.)

I will say that the Dr Raterman I talked to today was the Dr Raterman I expected to see from day one.

As I have the large cup when the surgeon does the revsion I am hoping there is something out there that will work with the BHR femoral component if I have to be revised.

I  have been and am sending my films  to a number of surgeons to get as many opinions as possible.

I feel that this board should stay positive so I am deleting my tirade. People are human, we all make mistakes. Today DR Raterman was open to the  fact that there may have been a problem with the hardware and or the fixation. He told me he wanted to do everything and anything to resolve my issues, I have to confess I didn't expect that.

That's all anyone can ask.

However, If any of your guys go to Tampa I would strongly suggest if you have any issues you not  talk with his assistant   Marlene Howe  about them and insist on talking with Raterman.

  I would to like to thank everyone for taking the time to send me their well wishes and ideas.

[hernanu]

Well, spike - I'm glad you're getting some resolution and help from your surgeon. Best of luck and good results for you.

[Woodstock Hippy]

Hey Spike, I'm glad to hear that things are starting to go your way.  I hope it all works out well for you.

[bilateralbliss]

Wish you well too