questions to ask at pre-op

[papadop]

 I'm modifying the below questions by reporting
that yesterday, I discovered that my nearest neighbor - living in a House 200 yards away - underwent resurfacing
a month or so ago - and that the surgery was performed succesfully by the very same surgeon who will resurface my Left Hip in exactly 4 weeks.

Michael

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So greetings from an aging male newbie. I reside in Oregon, have been
very healthy and pain-free for my whole life, but I started with hip
discomfort about 2 years ago. Hoped it would go away like all my other
minor dicomforts, did some phys. therapy some acupuncture and some
acupuncture before getting to the XRays and recognition of bone-on-bone in
the lefthip. Then all my acquaintances turn out to have had total hip replacement --
with success, so I visited the frst orthopedist - who altho he recommended
Total Hip Replacement also announced he was moving his practice elsewhere
in the next few weeks and, yes, indeed he has moved.

That's when I started looking on the web and learned about
resurfacing and decided that was for me. That's where I hit on the "having
it done abroad" pages and that's also where I found the "surface hippie "
pages - a great thanks the the participants and especially to Pat Walker.

So I located one name -that of Dr Boyd - with a practise only 40 miles
away. And I havn't located any other resurfacing practitioner in Oregon.
(Others are said to know their stuff but aren't admitting their knowledge
when you call their office.)

So here's Dr. Boyd's office just an hour away, I make an appointment
with an assistant for the purpose of exploring if they'll accept
a healthy 78-year-old for resurfacing, the XRays and all persuade the
assistant to recommend taking me lon, and I;m all set - surgery April 24
- pre-op April 10 - I'm going through depression and optimism and
all. And just to keep things interesting, the hip pain is not too bad. I
sleep without difficulty, and the pain - is not bad as in a migraine - or
even as in infected tooth but I'm stiff, can't reach my feet, put on
socks, and once every few days I don't care to walk if there's no need. And when I'm depressed I'm prepared to drop the idea of surgery - I'll survive another decade without it !!

So what are the preparatory qauestions to ask on April 10 - assuming Dr.
Boyd doesn't decide against resurfacing for some good reaso.. Is the
difference between BHR and the Wright (Converse) equipment of any
importance to the subject? What about side effects like constipation?
They use coumarin to protect against deep vein clots. And what's the
time-table before regaining some/full mobility.?

so much for now.

Michael

[Pat Walter]

Hi Michael

It is not uncommon for people to feel much better after they have their hip resurfacing scheduled.  One thing I have learned is none of the responsible, experienced hip resurfacing surgeons will replace a hip that doesn't need it.  Sometimes a persons pain is not the true indicator of the hip problem.  Some people can have really bad hips and not have a lot of pain.  Others can have more moderate problems and lots of pain.

Here is my list of questions to ask - you can also print the page out and take it with you.
http://www.surfacehippy.info/questionsfordoctor.php

You want to make sure you feel comfortable with the doctor.  You inner gut will tell you what to do if you listen to it. 

The BHR and WRight C+ are similar.  The Wright C+ is available in more sizes. 

You need to take stool softeners before and after surgery.  The morphine and codene meds will really stop your insides from working.


Each doctor uses a different blood clot treatment - you need to ask your doctor.   I took heprin shots in the tummy and used TEDS.  Others take asprin and don't use TEDS. Each doctor is different.  Here is page about the different treatments http://www.surfacehippy.info/bloodclotinfo.php


No one can give you a timetable for recovery.  We all heal at our own bodies timetable.  I was on one crutch at 4 days, none at 4 weeks.  Took no heavy pain meds after leaving the hospital in 2 1/2 days.  Flew home from Belgium 9 days post op on a flight that took 8 1/2 hours.  No problem.

Other people are on walkers for weeks and sometimes several months.  A lot depends on the person and the problem in your hip.  Normally people with hip resurfacing are up and walking quickly and heal quickly. That is one advantage of the surgery.

You should ask Dr. Boyd what he thinks about your recovery.

Hope that helps.

Pat