After putting this off for several years.....I finally scheduled BHR Hip resurfacing with Dr Scott Ball UCSD.
Still having anxiety about pulling the trigger but I am going for it. I have to tell you after reading all of the encouraging stories on this site combined with info from a few surf buddies that had this procedure I finally feel that it is the best solution to get my surfing life back among other activities. Its a good feeling that it is scheduled and I am going forward with it.
I feel comfortable with Dr Ball.
Wish me luck.....
Matty S
I wish you the very best. I am looking forward to reading all about your recovery and return to surfing.
Pat
Thanks!
6 weeks away..Both excited and nerrvous
Matty,
I can only speak for myself. It is hard at first but 6 months out it the best thing I've ever done, life changing.
Russ
Matty,
I am a patient of Dr. Ball too. (Great doctor by all accounts!) I have been putting off hip surgery for years, but I have to do something now. In my appt with Dr. Ball, he recommended total hip over BHR hip resurfacing. I am 54 years old and plan on being semi-active for several years to come. Did Dr. Ball recommend the BHR to you... or was that your idea? What age are you? Thanks, Bioguy
Hey Bio Guy 501
It was my idea to go with the Birmingham hip device and I was a good candidate for this do to my size. They wont use the Birmingham Hip on small patients. I was researching Docs that actually have experience with the BHR devise and Dr Balls name kept popping up and he is relatively close to my home. I live in San Clemente. I was considering flying to New York City and get Dr Su to do this for me. But after meeting with Dr Ball I decided to go with him. I felt very comfortable and he is very knowledgeable on this device. Plus he has great reviews. Cant find anyone that said anything negative about him.
I am 54 yrs old and was a very active surfer. I lost my ability to surf over he last 2 yeard or so.
I have a few friends that got the BHR that are super stoked on the results. One of buddies is 65 and he got this done four years ago. He states that he feels like he is 30 again ad still surfing. In my opinion it preserves more bone in case you need a revision later and the chances of dis-location is minimum compared to a total hip replacement. Plus it gives you more range of motion.
Dr Ball and I discussed the total hip. I decided to go with the BHR. 6 Weeks away and I cant wait to get this going.
The common denominator that I keep seeing from other guys that got this done is "I should have done this years ago"
I hope this helps you because I was wrestling with this decision for a few years now and this site helped my come to a conclusion.
Matty
I wish you luck in what ever you decide. It is a very big deal and not and easy trigger to pull but I am committed now.
If I was 70 I would go with the total hip but at 54 I still have a lot miles to put on this body...I hope!!!
Mouse Potato
Thanks for your reply. It helps!!
Matty
I am still having anxiety over this but I am going for it.
Matty,
I was petrified! I was also last on the list so had to wait, in my gown, for over 6 hours on the day.
What I can say is that recovery isn’t easy and patience is key. But... it was nowhere near as bad as I was expecting.
When my other hip eventually goes, I’ll have no hesitation in getting it sorted. I waited 3-4 years too long for the first one.
Russ
Thanks Russ!
I know I need to take really slow. Its going to be tough!
I will report back Post Op.
Matty
Even while I was on the table in the OR I was so terrified I considered bolting. However, I knew that I needed the surgery, and that if I left I would just have to come back another time. I stayed, my right hip was resurfaced, and after recovery and to this day my right hip feels like a completely normal, natural hip that was never diseased. The anxiety is tough, but the outcome is worth it.
Thanks for the encouragement ... Mucho Appreciated!!!
Matty-
The evening of the first of my two hip resurfacings was a beautiful July where the sun simply refuses to set on the city streets or the few restaurants still open. I'd checked in to the hospital hotel wing earlier and finished my Last Will and Testament in the 2 bed/1 shower room, you know, just in case my last memory was being put under, then I went for a walk to find one good last dinner. Choices were few but I gladly accepted a grilled cheese sandwich, a decent beer and some kind of interesting salad. Ate half of it and headed back to the hospital room with surgery scheduled for 9:30 the next morning. Did all that was requested of me pre-surgical and at the appointed time was wheeled in to the Bone Yard for "The Procedure". Here is what you will find in that room: A team of Incomprehensibly skilled professionals for whom your well being is their only concern, a sense of being cared for you have not experienced since infancy, and if your walk the evening before touched base with all the lingering questions you hadn't been quite prepared to ask until then a release from the anxiety or trepidation you might still be holding on to. The people that accept the kind of stress and responsibility related to surgical intervention in others lives do so on such a higher order of conscientiousness than most mortals you will be wondering for a year how you could possibly have thanked them enough for their assistance.
Worry is understandable but acceptance is a key element to adjustments great and small. This operation, in the hands of surgeons as experienced as yours, is a 21st Century benevolence. Best of Luck.
Wow..Great write up! Thanks.....
Did you use Dr Ball?
Matty
Matty
No, Dr. Pritchett did both my surgeries but I actually made the decision for surgery after reading a response from one of Dr. Balls patients when I was still dealing with the pre surgical anxiety. Your guy is very well respected and recognized as one of the best. Best wishes.
For the left hip resurfacing done 11 years ago, I went to a presurgery prep room and an elderly lady was to receive her 2nd knee replacement. She was so at ease and smiling that it relieved my anxiety. The surgical area was shaved and cleansed by an attendant and Dr Su visited and initialled the left side with a marker. I expect the same for the right side in a couple weeks.
Quote from: jimbone on October 16, 2019, 01:11:53 PM
Matty
No, Dr. Pritchett did both my surgeries but I actually made the decision for surgery after reading a response from one of Dr. Balls patients when I was still dealing with the pre surgical anxiety. Your guy is very well respected and recognized as one of the best. Best wishes.
Did you get the Synovo device with the Highly Cross Link Poly insert? I asked Dr Ball if he uses this device vs the Birmingham MOM device. This wold eliminate any metal ion issues. Have not received an answer yet.
I have the Synovo device from Dr. Pritchett.
Quote from: catfriend on October 16, 2019, 04:23:40 PM
I have the Synovo device from Dr. Pritchett.
How is it? Does any other docs use this device …. or only Dr Pritchett? Seems like you can eliminate the metal ion issue with this. Although highly skilled docs can place the acetabular socket with precision with the BHR seems be free of excess metal debris in most people.
Quote from: Mouse Potato on October 09, 2019, 10:28:23 AM
Matty,
I can only speak for myself. It is hard at first but 6 months out it the best thing I've ever done, life changing.
Russ
Russ
Did you have Dr Ball as your doc? What type of device did you get?? Birmingham Hip?
Thanks
Matty
Quote from: stevel on October 16, 2019, 01:48:45 PM
For the left hip resurfacing done 11 years ago, I went to a presurgery prep room and an elderly lady was to receive her 2nd knee replacement. She was so at ease and smiling that it relieved my anxiety. The surgical area was shaved and cleansed by an attendant and Dr Su visited and initialled the left side with a marker. I expect the same for the right side in a couple weeks.
Thanks for the input. I hear Dr Su is great. Both of my surf buddies had Dr Su do thiers.
Matty,
Like everyone else I fretted and did google searches trying to decide on the best device. I was aware of the Synovo Dr. Pritchett uses and helped develop and also that he had a long track record with the Birmingham. I am quite certain he had some training with McMinn but know for sure they are colleagues with mutual respect and have collaborated together. In my final consultation discussing which device to use I told him I'd leave the decision up to him. After all, what do I or most any lay person really know about these prosthesis beyond some shallow internet reading. That level of understanding doesn't scratch the surface of the depths of knowledge these orthopedic surgeon have at their finger tips. They are the experts and it's their opinions I rely on. i liked the long history of the Birmingham but also considered the Synovo a very clever design with a poly liner that could be replaced if ever necessary. I ended up with the Synovo. It' been just over a year, actually 15 and 12 months respectively for each hip. My recovery went smoothly on the 1st and after a rough 48 hours on the second things evened out and progress steadily although a few weeks slower on the 2nd with some lingering symptoms that needed sme extra months of work/healing. I was very fortunate that I'd anticipated and prepared for a longer recovery and didn't think I would be doing much of anything else but recovering and getting strong again for at least 6 months. Once cleared for the gym, it was a daily routine for me and along with some excellent PT the results didn't falter or disappoint. I am completely satisfied and most of the time still overjoyed with the results. As mentioned yesterday in a different thread, some higher level use overt the past week seems to have strained me bit and gave me some pause worrying I'd damaged myself but today was mostly easy duty and with some rest and focused exercise it will be back right in a day or two. I don't know if anyone other than Dr. Pritchett is using this device but you might try his office to find out. The Birmingham does have a long track record of success and if you're interested Dr.Pritchett published a paper on metallosis and the Birmingham you can find through his website or possibly archived here.
Quote from: Matty S on October 16, 2019, 04:28:35 PM
Quote from: catfriend on October 16, 2019, 04:23:40 PM
I have the Synovo device from Dr. Pritchett.
How is it? Does any other docs use this device …. or only Dr Pritchett? Seems like you can eliminate the metal ion issue with this. Although highly skilled docs can place the acetabular socket with precision with the BHR seems be free of excess metal debris in most people.
Since recovery it feels like a completely normal and natural hip that was never diseased.
I'm a woman, and the BHR for smaller sizes had already been withdrawn by the time of my surgery (although it turns out my size hadn't been withdrawn). For me, this was the best device. Since there is no metal (the titanium is ceramicized) there is no MoM and no metal ion issues.
Like jimbone says surgeons have a much deeper knowledge of the devices than we do. I am very satisfied with my results.
Thanks for all the replies and input. SOOOO helpful!!
Quote from: Matty S on October 16, 2019, 06:06:08 PM
Russ
Did you have Dr Ball as your doc? What type of device did you get?? Birmingham Hip?
Thanks
Matty
Hi Matty,
No Ronan Treacy did mine and yes I had the Birmingham Hip. When I asked him the MOM question he basically said it wasn't even a consideration. Apparently the bigger the implant the better and I had the 2nd largest available which was in my favour.
He quoted his joint survival at 20 years at 98% with half of the failures being in the first 6 weeks. So, no promises but 99% now at 20 years sounds good to me.
Russ
Thanks!
2.5 weeks out …..
Life is going to be so much better. Best of luck.
I sure hope so man!! Thanks You!!
OK …….…… I am now three days post OP and doing very well. Went in Friday at 7:30 am at UCSD with Dr Ball and his team.
Everything went smoothly and I spent one night in the hospital. PT tried getting up me on my feet about 15 minutes after I woke up but the epidural had not warn off yet and I was a little wobbly. They set me up in my room and I was able to walk with a walker around the Nursing Station just 3 hour after the procedure with little pain. Walked again that evening with great success.
They ae not kidding on the pain meds stopping your natural digestive functions...Passed a couple of boulders and doing much better day three ;}
Over all it is easier than I expected so far. I can tell you that the new Birimingham Hip Bearing is smooth as silk compared to what was going on in there pre-op. I obviously don't have full range of motion yet but I can tell that it is smooooth.
I am really stoked I did this!! Cant tell you how much all of the info on this forum helped me make a great decision. I want to pay it forward to anyone searching for info as I was.
I walked up my street and back today on crutches and feeling stronger every day.
I will keep posting my progress .. Cant wait to get back in the water and surf again.
Matty