Well after suffering for nearly 15 yrs I've decided enough is enough! Whew! getting over that first hurdle was tough. I just turned 50 last month and with any luck my next 50 yrs will be pain free. On August 9 (armed with my handy surface hippy list, X-rays and bone density info) I met with Dr Robert Marchand from South County Ortho in Wakefield RI. Right off Dr Marchand said both my hips were shot ( not exactly breaking news lol) and that I was well suited for bi-lateral BHR's. What most impressed me about Dr Marchand (besides being a fan of the Surface Hippy site) was that when I told him I prefered hip resurfacing versus thr he insisted on explaining the benefits and risks of both proceedures in detail before I made my decision. Dr Marchand was BHR trained by DR Su in New York and answered all my questions as well as offering Dr Su's offfice number should I have any questions for him. Dr Marchand has done over 500 resurfacings. He freely discussed his two revisions and the low hospital infection rate. Dr Marchand said he does 10-15 BHR's a month at South County Hospital in RI and offered to call ahead and arrange a tour for my wife and I of the ortho wing at the hospital. Dr Marchand's office has also arranged a contact list of patients in my age group who have had recent resurfacings. Well I think I've gotten over the second hurdle. Think I've found a great Doc and hospital. Next, to set a surgical date. I hope I'm not boring all you hippy veterans. I just thought folks in the southern New England area should know that there are doctors with proven track records in our neck of the woods without having to drive 400 miles.
Could someone please post info on how they have done with bi-lateral BHR's?
Thanks so much this is such a wonderful resource.
Well after a bit more exploring I found the bi-lateral info I needed. After 9 mos of visiting Surface Hippy you would think I would have read it all twice over. lol
If any patients of Dr Marchand ,of South County Ortho Wakefield RI, could share their story I would greatly appreciate it as I will be getting 2 new BHR's in Oct if all goes as planned. Pat and hippies thanks so much for sharing your stories.
Thanks, Pat et al.,
Your e-topic is very timely. My post arthoscopic surgery 4 months ago MRI was read this morning and I have been diagnosed with "right femoral Epiphyseal Osteonecrosis/avascular necrosis" with no collapse of the articular surface. I have been in pain for 2 1/2 years post injury and I'm still here...
So this is it... impending resurfacing or maybe even THR?
Does "Core Decompression" work as an alternative to resurfacing?
Does anyone know or have had experience with an specialist orthopedic surgeon in the Bay Area? San Francisco?
What was the post surgery stay at the hospital?
Did you start PT right away? What was the PT protocol?
In going through all your e-mails I have enough information to make this most important decision. The insurance indicated that the approval should be made to do a THR, even though I would go to the medical suite to do resurfacing, "just in case" the doctor finds that resurfacing is not going to be enough to resolve a problem, that there is more damage than expected. Is the the "norm"?
These are my first thoughts... now to find the right doctor??? The decision is made, I need to have the surgery in order to gain my quality of life I need your most recent data - if it was not for this web-blog I would be totally lost....
Thanks a million!
Juan
Thanks Moe...After reading about your experiences, this is the first time I've felt positive about going through the procedure. I'm looking forward to my consult with Dr. Marchand next month and looking forward to some relief. I work on submarines and lately it's been a struggle just leaving work and walking to to my vehicle. Any insight how long I can plan to be out of work?