Some of you may remember my posts from back in August time, saying how I've been let down by local NHS trust here in Essex regarding my left hip.
I've been diagnosed with mild to moderate dysplasia and despite having two lots of injections and a hip arthroscopy, the pain remains and is infact WORSE than before anyone went near it :( All of that being said i've been discharged from my last consultant with him saying 'No surgeon will go near you' and 'Because you haven't got OA, you're not a candidate for surgical intervention'
All this has really taken it's toll, and i've sunk into depression. I'm only 30 years old and my life has stopped due to this.
After speaking to a few lovely people on here, I was recommended to try and get an appointment with Mr Treacy in Birmingham. Within a month I had an appointment booked, and I travel to see him next week! I was so amazed at the speed and urgency as his secretary told me on the phone that he only works 6 months out of the year!
I'm really hoping he can help. If he can't, i'm not sure what my options will be.
RubyRed,
Treacy is right at the very top of his profession. No doubt in my mind he will be able to help you. Guys like him take the tough cases, they don't run from them like your first doctor did. You've got an appointment with the famous Ronan Treacy! Wow.
Boomer
Ruby well done! Mr Treacy is one of the most experienced hip surgeons in the world. And he's a genuinely nice chap.
I have confidence he will be able to sort you out!
All the best Danny
Quote from: Dannywayoflife on October 13, 2011, 02:10:50 PM
Ruby well done! Mr Treacy is one of the most experienced hip surgeons in the world. And he's a genuinely nice chap.
I have confidence he will be able to sort you out!
All the best Danny
I think it was you, Danny, who recommended Mr Treacy to me :)
I do have my doubts that he won't be able to do anything due to what my last doctor told me.... and if one of the top surgeons can't help me, who can? :(
Oh and ruby don't take too much notice of what your last surgeon said. I have found that there are lots of surgeons in the NHS who just talk s##t. I saw a few who were lost for words when I challenged there "facts" with the actual truths so just wait and see what Mr Treacy says, I'm sure he won't just tell you to suffer.
Ruby from speaking to mr treacy in my consultation he has handled far more complex cases than you or I successfully so were both in good hands. I don't know weather it's clinically appropriate to do a HR in a pure dysplasia case but you cam be assured your in the hands of probably the most experienced HR surgeon in the world.
Thanks Danny :)
I've really no idea what he'll do or say, but he's really my last hope.
Well he's probably the best last hope to have! I'm sure he will help you.
You will be in my prayers.
Danny
Rubyred,
If you have an opportunity, take a look at Dr Rector's website coloradohipresurfacing.com. He mentions specifically that the BHR is an option for hereditary dysplasia. The websites of other resurfacing specialists (Bose, De Smet) also indicate that dysplasia is not a prohibitting factor. Dr. Rector's website also has a number of articles from Dr. McMinn and Treacy that provide some history and statistical outcomes.
There is good reason for you to have hope.
Boomer
Rube - I was going to say something similar to Boomer, I recall seeing a number of folks here talking about dysplasia and not being turned down by some of the best surgeons. Those funky screw holders you see on the side of the acetabular cup are designed for dysplasia. Smith & Nephew, Finsbury, and Cormet each have dysplasia cups. I didn't see any for Wright but I bet they have one too. Anyway, it seems to me that dysplasia shouldn't be a problem for HR. I'm hopeful that Treacy will get you squared up.
BTW - I remember some of your posts about the NHS. I'm in the US and I have learned a fair amount from your posts and others about insurance in the UK. Thanks, keep us posted.
Quote from: Tin Soldier on October 14, 2011, 01:09:53 AM
I didn't see any for Wright but I bet they have one too.
De Smet Quadrafix cup
Ruby please let us know how you get on next week.
Hi Ruby,
I hope this will make you feel better - I have dysplasia and it was not an issue for getting the surgery. Best wishes for a good meeting. Keep us posted
Luanna
Thanks to all who have responded :)
I feel more confident having read all your posts, and i'm really looking forward to seeing Mr Treacy next week!
Ruby when is your appointment? Hope it goes well!
Thank you Danny!
I've just returned home... a 6 hour round trip! I'd like to say it was completely worth it, i'm but not sure at the moment.
First off, Mr Treacy is a complete professional. A very nice man who treated me like someone with genuine concerns, and very much unlike my last surgeon who felt I was making the whole issue up!
He sent me for an xray and upon reading it, he said that there was still good spacing between the pelvis and hip and that replacement of any form wasn't necessary. This kind of surprised me as my pain has increased ten fold over the past year since my last MRI scan and was convinced that spacing would have deteriorated somewhat - I can only imagine the pain someone goes through when it's bone on bone contact in that case!!
He wants me to have and up to date MRI, as i've not been sent for one since May 2010. Upon seeing that he's recommended going to see a Richard Villar in either London or Cambridge for a hip arthroscopy. I'm somewhat bemused by this as I've already had one of those in February 2011. Mr Treacy told me that Mr Villar is the best arthroscopic surgeon in the UK.
The bad news is Mr Villar only does private work and I simply do not have the funds to have this surgery privately :'(
I don't know what to do now.
Hi Ruby,
i looked at arthroscopy with richard villa as Mr Traecy sugested i might need it on my "good" hip. And it actually "only" costs £5000 which was the same as what i paid for my arthroscopy privatly and mr villa is world known as an arthrosopic pionerier.
Im so sorry that your in the situation you are i really can empathise with you.
All the best Danny
Cheers Danny.
I feel comforted that one of the best hip surgeons in the world has told me that my situation isn't as grim as first thought, however nothing explains the pain that still remains... or how it can be helped. Frustrating to say the least!
I will go for this new MRI and await the results from Mr Treacy, and go from there.
Im no MD but i do know that "Referred" pain can be problematic. It could well be your feeling pain from your hip being caused elsewhere in your body.
Dont fear Mr Treacy will im sure give you answers.
Danny
Hi Ruby,
Well darn. It's not going to be a black and white quick diagnosis and solution. In some ways that's good that you don't need a resurfacing and in other ways it leaves you still confused and wondering what is wrong.
At least you have two very outstanding doctors who will consult with you (hopefully for free) and get the diagnosis and the needed solution figured out. Once you have a solution defined then figuring out how to get it done comes next.
Hang in there and be proud of yourself for taking steps to get your life back. Patience is really a hard think for me.....but I've learned over the last couple of years that it can be a good friend.
Luanna
This condition certainly isn't proving to be black and white after all.
In a weird way I was hoping he was going to tell me that I do need a replacement as then at least I know he could do something to help. Whereas it's comforting to know that i've not reached that point yet, i'm still left with so many answers as to why i'm in worse pain than before the arthroscopy/injections and why my local hospital just told me to "not do anything at aggrivates it" :(
Hi ruby how are you doing? You any idea when you'll get your MRI done?
Danny
Hi Danny,
I've not heard anything as yet. Knowing my local hospital it could be awhile - that's if they even agree to scan me here... seeing as i'm now a patient in Brum.
Ruby, that shouldn't be a problem. Are you doing it on the NHS?
Danny
At the moment, yes. I'm not quite sure how i'm going to be able to afford a private hip arthroscopy at this stage....
Yeah that's the problem if you like me arnt loaded. But if you have to wait ages for a MRI they can be had cheap privately. That may speed things up. If Richard villa isn't an option then there are plenty of good surgeons on the NHS and I'm sure Mr Treacy will know who they are. May be worth asking him?
Hope you get this resolved Danny
Hi RR , am just reading your thread for the first time, and not certain if this applies but will share it just in case. It totally sucks, your pain at 30
And I will summarize and keep it short.
I saw 3 top surgeons in HK (was living there at the time)and sent my MRI to Australia for a fourth opinion.#1 The first doc said an enthusiastic yes to a BHR and no to an arthroscopy because it takes him the same time in the operating time to do both. This surgeon has a sleazy reputation for operating too quickly
#2 Said NO way. #3 Said " not sure" but was the one that ended up doing it after the #4 MRI guy in Australia (who had trained these guys in HK) said yes based on my MRI.
In essence that's it. Ruby, I had the surgery which I will always regret. I pushed for this elective surgery, and chose the doctor who would do it. There will always be one who will do it, somewhere.
My pain was very real and very intense but tripled after surgery It left my thigh groin and hip area and spread through my spine. It was probably my back all along. I have degenerative disk disease and cervical stenosis.
Anyway, this long winded and a bit private information is to encourage you to seek more solutions for your pain before any big surgery. And it is very big surgery,
Four and a half years later my chromium and cobalt levels are very very high and we are trying to sort out why.
Ruby, best of luck, I will keep reading your stuff. Be smart and trust your instincts. I paid no attention to mine at the time
CWG
Quote from: cwg on October 25, 2011, 01:25:52 PM
Hi RR , am just reading your thread for the first time, and not certain if this applies but will share it just in case. It totally sucks, your pain at 30
And I will summarize and keep it short.
I saw 3 top surgeons in HK (was living there at the time)and sent my MRI to Australia for a fourth opinion.#1 The first doc said an enthusiastic yes to a BHR and no to an arthroscopy because it takes him the same time in the operating time to do both. This surgeon has a sleazy reputation for operating too quickly
#2 Said NO way. #3 Said " not sure" but was the one that ended up doing it after the #4 MRI guy in Australia (who had trained these guys in HK) said yes based on my MRI.
In essence that's it. Ruby, I had the surgery which I will always regret. I pushed for this elective surgery, and chose the doctor who would do it. There will always be one who will do it, somewhere.
My pain was very real and very intense but tripled after surgery It left my thigh groin and hip area and spread through my spine. It was probably my back all along. I have degenerative disk disease and cervical stenosis.
Anyway, this long winded and a bit private information is to encourage you to seek more solutions for your pain before any big surgery. And it is very big surgery,
Four and a half years later my chromium and cobalt levels are very very high and we are trying to sort out why.
Ruby, best of luck, I will keep reading your stuff. Be smart and trust your instincts. I paid no attention to mine at the time
CWG
Wow, CWG thank you for sharing your experience.
I certainly won't push for a BHR now that Mr Treacy has said no - who better to pay attention to eh? All I want is for the pain to subside, even by half so that that I can some sort of life back. Trouble is, I've no idea how to do that... Mr Treacy says arthroscopy, but I've already had one, maybe my last surgeon didn't do it right? Who knows... so many questions.
Ruby there are many surgeons who really do talk the talk but arnt as big as there egos! I'm sure a really good surgeon will be able to help! Surely the ROH must have a really good arthroscopic surgeon?
That's what I thought on the drive back home after my appointment. I wonder why he's pushing me to go privately....
I think he probably just assumes that people can afford To go private. The next time you see him I'd just make sure you leave him with no doubt that you cannot go private. Also I think that because Mr Treacy is at the very top of his specialisation that he likes to send people who he carnt treat to the person at the very top of the specialisation that they require.
Hope you get this sorted out soon and get your life back!
Danny
Ruby
For what it is worth i went on NHS for appointment as i live one hour away from Cambridge Spire which is a private hospital which Mr Villar is based.For some reason i was allowed to go there for xray and mri thru nhs.
I made mistake of booking appointment via the choose and book nhs computer system which resulted me in being seen by a training surgeon who works under Mr Villar rather than the man himself.
I believe if i had taken the longer route and got my dr to write to mr villar himself i may have gone on his list ? but dont know for sure.
As it was i need hip resurface as too bad for arthroscopy.
Why not pay for consultation and get you old mri /x rays and see mr villar and ask him in person ?
hope you get what u need
take care
marcus
Sound advice there Marcus. You got your date yet from the ROH?