Am I a candidate for Resurface?

[tpete]

I am a bit confused and basically terrified that I have just learned I need a hip replacement. I am a 57 year old female that is very active in outdoor activities from biking, hiking, weight training, yardwork, and just a lot of moving and doing. Over the last several years I knew my right hip was slowly but surely giving out. I am now to the point that even walking, standing, sleeping is painful. I don't want to give up my active lifestyle or be so restricted by a total hip replacement. I have a friend that had a resurface done and he couldn't be happier with it and has a complete no restriction lifestyle.

The problem comes in with my first visit to the hip doctor yesterday where he says that I am probably not a candidate for resurfacing due to my age and small frame. Then he tells me that females have more problems with metal to metal ion debris problems. He advised me to consider a toal hip replacement. I didn't waiver in my request to explore resurfacing and since he doesn't do the resurface he referred me to Dr. T. Crofford who is in his practice in Fort Worth, Texas.

I think I'm just looking for some advice and support in facing this thing. Any thoughts out there?

[hipnhop]

Make sure you get a second, even third opinion. I had 3 surgeons advise me on my condition (I was told that HR may not be an option because of adv AVN). Once you feel comfortable that you have the best information possible, make your decision.

Whichever way it goes you don't need to live in pain. Whether a HR or MOMTHR thousands of people are getting their groove back - including me. It gets better.

[jjmclain]

I am a small female, 5 months post-op BHR. I too had AVN. First couple of docs I went to told me I would need a THR and to wait until I just couldn't stand the pain anymore. They never even mentioned resurfacing. Do your research and find a qualified surgeon. Only those experienced in HR will tell you that you are a candidate for HR if you are, if they don't do resurfacing, they will tell you that you are not a candidate.

[nekko]

Regarding important things like hip surgery, it seems quite normal to take two or three opinions. A few years ago, two surgeons told me that I should better wait until pain will drive me to a THR. The third surgeon I met was one of the few French experts in hip resurfacing. I immediately felt confidence with him. In addition to this, do not hesitate to ask questions to your surgeon. This will give you a better understanding of the possible scenarios.

[newdog]

A surgeon who DOES NOT do hip resurfacing advised you that you are probably not a candidate for HR? Then he advises you to consider THR.

Hobble to another surgeon who is experienced with HR!

I was told by a highly regarded local orthopedic surgeon to hang on as long as I could then get a THR. He said maybe 2 or 3 years. I was 54 at the time. He said nothing about HR, he doesn't do it and I know he never will. Don't be scared about the surgery. HR or THR, you will be O.K. You found friends on this website.

[hernanu]

Like many people here, my first talk to a surgeon was at a major, well respected hospital in Boston. He told me I needed surgery on both hips, and immediately brought up a total hip replacement. I asked him about resurfacing, and he said that they no longer did it there because of all of the issues that were coming up with metal ions. He was older and basically said that at 53, I had no other prospects and would need to accept a less active life. I don't think he even brought up MOM THRs.

I went to my surgeon for the second opinion, and he was very encouraging about my suitability. Get many opinions, there are definitely medical people who are against the procedure. I would get your Xrays and submit them to someone like Dr. Gross for feedback from someone very qualified. Then either find a skilled surgeon in your area, or go to him.

(IMO, of course).

[Tin Soldier]

I'm in the same boat as Newdog and hernanu.  The local ortho was a well respected surgeon with lots of experience,.....with THRs and guess what he told me?  "Hang on as long as you can, then come back and see me for 2 THRs, oh and take up golf, you can use the putter as cane"   I sh*% you not.  Can you believe that?

Needless to say, that is where my journey began.  Saw 2 experienced HR surgeons, and saw an arthroscopic surgeon who was well-versed in impingement cleanup methods.  Ended up getting a BHR with a very experienced surgeon.  Will get the next before the deductible is up (Merry Christmas). 

I second what everyone else says, send your images to Gross, Su, McMinn, DeSmet, Prictchett, Amstutz,... any of these guys and I bet most are probably going to say the small-framed woman issue is a misnomer and based on old sicence.  I think there have been lots of very successful cases of HR for small-framed women.   Good luck

[ScubaDuck]

Ditto.  Ditto.

My first visit with an Orthopedic Surgeon didn't mention resurfacing and told me to hold out as long as possible (I am 49).  I later found hip researching through online research.  I told my primary care doctor what I found out about HR and said that the surgeon must not be familiar.  My doc said the surgeon's notes say I was not a good candidate for HR even though he never he mentioned it to me.

Once I found an experienced surgeon on this site, I sent him my x-rays.  He said I was a great candidate.  And after an in-person consultation and more x-rays he stated I was an excellent candidate.

Go find an expert at HR and find out the real scoop.  Sometimes the medical community just drives me CRAZY!

Dan

[Anniee]

I agree that you need to get another opinion!   I am a 65 year old female, very active also (but not small framed). The doctor who told me I had arthritis in my hips only offered total hip replacement, and did not mention resurfacing.  Fortunately, I have a very active female, small framed, coworker who had one of her hips resurfaced by Dr. Gross 7 years ago (she was 39), who told me about resurfacing.  I made an appointment with Dr Gross to find out if I was a candidate - I was not sure because of my age and being female.  Fortunately, Dr. Gross looks at each patient as an individual, and told me there was no reason I could not have resurfacing.  I know that if you send him your information, he will look at it and call you to let you know what he thinks, and I'm sure several of the other doctors mentioned by other people will do the same.

I had my right hip resurfaced by Dr. Gross last week (April 20) and I am already walking with just a cane!  Don't settle for total hip replacement until you explore other options!

[katekosar]

Amazing, isn't it, what a website can do in terms of sharing knowledge?  I too first visited a THR guy who told me that the BHR wouldn't work.  Thank God I found him to be a little too dogmatic and went to see Dr. Brooks, who put a new LBHR in me a few days ago.  Am presently leaping tall buildings with a single bound.   

Keep on looking till you find what's right for you.

Kate

[John C]

Another interesting story. A good friend of mine is an orthopedic surgeon, though not a joint replacement specialist. When I was looking into having something done about my hip a few years ago, he warned me not to go anywhere near resurfacing, because it had terrible results. He was remembering the attempts back in the 70s with plastic liners. I had my hip resurfaced three years ago, and doing fine. Last week we were skiing together, when he admitted that it was time to have his hip replaced, and he was planning on a THR. After a couple of hours of telling him about the current technologies, going over the reasons for complications, and reviewing the success rates of the top HR surgeons, he has now decided that he will probably have a resurfacing done. There is so much continually new information in orthopedics, that unless a surgeon really decides to tackle the learning curve in resurfacing, they are often basing their opinions on old data, or current headlines; instead of reading all of the current research papers that many of us did in the process of doing our own research.
It is good to talk to surgeons who are against resurfacing, so that we can hear both sides. However, do not make your decision until you have talked to at least on surgeon who specializes in resurfacing, and do not settle for someone who just does a few as part of a larger practice.

[phillwad]

John C - what a great story

tpete - now you have found this website you will be hard pressed not to understand the benefits and that will even get better once you are talking to a surgeon who understands HR.  keep looking and keep us posted

Cheers - Phill

[Pat Walter]

tpete

Welcome to hip talk.  Definitely get another opinion or two from experinced hip resurfacing surgeons - those that have done many hundreds to thousands.  True, smaller women statisticlly have more problems - but again, not everyone smaller women is not a candidate.  If you should consider a THR, make sure it is a large ball MOM   Metal on Metal THR.  If you get anything less, you will be restricted in your activities.  The large ball MOMs allow you to be as active as a THR, but don't often feel as nomral as a resurfacing.  A resurfacing also gives you a more natural gait.  Make sure you talk to some of the top doctors in resurfacing.  It will most likely mean you have to travel, but it is worth it to get your life back and out of pain.  I flew to Belgium and others have flown to India.  So get more input.  Dr. Rogerson and Dr. Gross will give you free email consultations if you send them emails with a copy of your x-rays attached in a digital format as a .jpg.  You can get their info on my doctors list  [url]http://www.surfacehippy.info/listofdoctors.php]R, make sure it is a large ball MOM   Metal on Metal THR.  If you get anything less, you will be restricted in your activities.  The large ball MOMs allow you to be as active as a THR, but don't often feel as nomral as a resurfacing.  A resurfacing also gives you a more natural gait.  Make sure you talk to some of the top doctors in resurfacing.  It will most likely mean you have to travel, but it is worth it to get your life back and out of pain.  I flew to Belgium and others have flown to India.  So get more input.  Dr. Rogerson and Dr. Gross will give you free email consultations if you send them emails with a copy of your x-rays attached in a digital format as a .jpg.  You can get their info on my doctors list  http://www.surfacehippy.info/listofdoctors.php

Pat