Suergery Set

[LOGAN13]

For the past two months I have sat on the sidelines reading and learning. Well today I start discussing. My Surgery date has been set for Mon June 1st. A light at the end of the tunnel I spose, yet the weight on my shoulders has shifted instead of lifted. I have come to terms with the fact that hip resurfacing is exactly what I need, and that procrastinating is no longer an option. Still for a guy who has been healthy and active all his life, surgery of this magnitude is hard to digest. I guess it's too late to hope this is just a dream..lol. Anyhow, as many before me I have put my trust in my surgeon & look forward to regaining my hip health. Thank you Pat & all those who have responded to my questions. I look forward to continue to come to surface hippie as my own personal therapy.

Thank,

Tim Ont Canada

[kwarendorf]

Short term sacrifice, long term gain! Very soon after surgery you will ask yourself "What the hell was I waiting for?" 

[uberalan]

Tim,

For me scheduling the surgery was a major turning point and once that was done everything else has been pretty much downhill. 
I find it is a surreal experience:  Logically I know this is major surgery, but experiential it doesn't seem to be all that big of a deal.
I went to the hospital, received the spinal, woke up and the bone on bone pain was replaced with muscle soreness and an incision.  I was up the next day on crutches.  Twelve days later, I am walking 1/2 mile on crutches and beginning to walk around the house without crutches.

Keep us posted on your progress and ask any questions. 

[LOGAN13]

I appreciate the replies, and yes I was gearing myself up handle surgery, but how quickly things can change. Yesterday morning I was given a surgery date of June 1st, but by days end it has changed to August 11th. I went from anticipating how relieved I would be 9 weeks from now to confused again.  I realize I am not the first person to have their surgery postponed, but this makes no sense to me. I was told hospital policy just changed, and that only one hip resurfacing procedure was now allowed per month.  Does this sound normal? You see here in Canada things move at a slow pace, but I don't get this at all. I need to take time to let this sink in....any feedback is appreciated.

thanks,

Tim
Ont, Canada

[kwarendorf]

I cannot speak to what goes on in Canada, but I agree with Alan's assessment of the lead up to surgery. I knew that i was going to be cut open and a part of my body was going to be replaced with metal. I never really processed that as the day approached. Even as I was going through all the surgery day pre-op stuff it was still kind of abstract. Then I was waking up from the happy juice and it was all over. As sore as I was, the first thing I noticed when i stood was that the grinding was gone!

[karenj_m]

Logan:
I "wonder" if its because of the cost associated to the government??? Being Canadian health insurance is "socialized"?

(My father is Canadian....and I have lots of relatives there, dealing with the health care nightmares....one relative battling cancer, and had to wait 3 months after diagnosis to start treatment)....

Hang in there....ask your surgeon if there's a cancellation, can they move your date up.

It will all be worth it in the end

You'll be a bionic-Canadian, eh?   

[brownie]

Tim,

Where in Ontario are you? I live in Mississauga and was referred to Dr. Frank Smith out of Henderson Hospital in Hamilton. My appointment was the end of November and surgery was sey for March 5. I am now three and a half weeks out and I am now back to work for 3 hours each day. I am doing physio 3 times a week to build up the muscles in the leg, and have gone from a walker at the beginning, to crutches to now walking with a cane. I have had very little pain through the whole process.

[LOGAN13]

  Good for you Brownie>Best of luck. As for me....I live near Windsor>>>I researched Dr Smith and got a referral to see him back in November. About a month later I had my family Doc call his office, as I had not yet received an appointment date yet. I found out it would take 6 months to see him, but was told I could get in sooner to see Dr Avram. I accepted an appointment to see her Wed March 25th. Between Jan & March I tried to research her background with little success. I decided to let meeting her decide my direction. I was impressed with Dr Avram especially since her internship was under Dr Smith, so I accepted her to do my hip. Monday Morning I called and was given a surgery date of June 1st, but by afternoon I was informed via email that hospital policy had changed to allowing only 1 hip resurfacing procedure per month. My new surgery date is Aug 11th. I do not understand such a policy  . One other thing that is bothering me is that I still have not found out how many resurfacings Dr Avram has done. I have asked via email a couple times with no response. I kick myself for not asking during my visit. Much was covered in a short visit, as well I was thrown a bit by the news that my other hip was deteriorating as well<< damm.

Brownie, I would really like to discuss surgery more with you. Good luck...Wishing you a speedy recovery  

[LOGAN13]

Thanks Karen, I am trying to refocus.  I am hoping for a cancellation>>>wow I guess I am ready for surgery lol.

And yes the Canadian system is flawed, especially in treatment for cancer. 

[Pat Walter]

Tim

Good Luck with your upcoming surgery.  You will get nervous and have cold feet, but as you have read from many others - your new hip will serve you well.  You will be out of pain and active again.

Good Luck.  You will get a lot of great support from the Surface Hippies here.

Pat