Advice please - Scan results in!

[rubyred]

Hi all,

As some of you may be aware, I've been awaiting the results of a CT scan to see just how bad my hip joint is. I've previously been seen by Mr Treacy who said that a THR/HR is probably not likely due to the lack of OA, so he sent me to see his colleague, Mr Bache to find out about having a PAO instead.

He sent me for a CT scan to assess my suitability and I recieved a letter with the results today that reads -

"The scans confirm much as I fear that there is some degenerative change within your hip joint.

It would still be possible to perform the PAO surgery. This is a major procedure and I think there is at least a 50% chance that the results will not be satisfactory in that you are only likely to get short-term benefit and you are likely to go on and get some arthritic change in the joint over a period of time. The other option is to consider a joint replacement or resurfacing. This is much more likely to give you pain relief, but of course the catch with this scerario is that you are still relatively young.

I am not sure if you would wish to come to Birmingham to discuss the arthroplasty options with Mr Treacy or if you are still interested in the joint preserving surgery then I would be happy to see you again in my clinic."

I'm in a bit of a muddle as my first choice has always been the HR, but since Mr Treacy said it wasn't likely I've kind of put that idea to the back of mind. But now is Mr Bache saying it's possible on review of the CT scan? Mr Treacy has only ever had xray's and a MRI report (no images) to go on...

I'm confused and I don't want to get my hopes up that I can have a HR now. I need to ring Mr Bache's secretary on Monday with my decision.

[Dannywayoflife]

Hay ruby! If it were me I'd speak to Mr Bache further. If he says in his mind it's  not going to do you much good in the long run then I would ask to be referred back to Mr T as I'm sure further armed with the knowledge that there's arthritic change within the joint he may well feel it's more appropriate to put you a nice shiny BHR in.
Danny 

[rubyred]

Hi Danny!

I've a feeling i'm going to be an 'inbetweener' Too bad for a PAO but not quite bad enough for a BHR. This has been my fear all the way along that my original surgeons down here in Essex were right that 'no other surgeon will touch you'.

I think I really do need to get back to Mr T as soon as possible. Maybe the CT has shown further damage or maybe i've deteriorated further since I saw Mr Treacy last.

[Anna]

Oh Ruby!!! Decisions.

I think Danny is right. I think you should go see Mr Bache and discuss it throughly with him. You cant be expected to get an idea as to what you want to do from a letter. I would go see him and discuss it and ask about what he classes as a 'short term benefit'. Then if it all doesnt seem quite worth it, get referred back to Mr T.

At least there is movement! Chin up x

[Dannywayoflife]

Ruby I'm sure if your too bad for a pao then Mr T will concede that there's no other option. I'm thinking of ya Hun!
Danny

[rubyred]

I'm frantically trying to recall what Mr T said when I asked what my hips future was. I think it was something along the lines of 'If a patient keeps coming back in that much pain then it leaves me no alternative'. I think maybe with me he wanted to eliminate all possible avenues first before diving straight in.

I don't think i'm a regular 'black and white' case.

[Dannywayoflife]

I think he's got your best interests at heart I think some surgeons would dive straight in when what they do is not nessicerily the best for the patient. He will have doe this if you end up going back to him.

[Mike D]

Hi Ruby-I think things will move forward for you now.
You've had a look at an alternative with Mr Bache and as there seems to be no certainty in the procedure, I don't think there will be any question of Mr Treacy not giving you a new joint.
They won't let you suffer on in pain. Keep positive.
I just got my date-8th August, hopefully you won't be to far behind.
Cheers,Mike.

[Dannywayoflife]

8th of aug that's awesome mike!

[Mike D]

Hi Danny-it's a strange thing.
I've spent 6 months thinking about it and now having that date feels weird.  I went back to Birmingham for the pre-op assessment last week and it really drives it home about whats going to happen.
I imagine all you hippys experienced the same.
I'm focusing hard on the pain free future

[John C]

Hi Ruby,
Just so you don't feel alone in the process of your diagnosis, I had something somewhat similar. When Dr Gross looked at my X-rays, he felt that there was some hope of sending me elsewhere to have some type of joint preserving surgery to put off a replacement. He then suggested that we do a CT scan to clarify the decision. After looking at those, he said that the other options could be eliminated, and so we proceeded with the resurfacing. It just goes to show that X-rays do not always tell enough of the story to make clear decisions. The very good news in both of our cases is that we have excellent doctors who  have our best interests at heart.

[Dannywayoflife]

Hi Danny-it's a strange thing.
I've spent 6 months thinking about it and now having that date feels weird.  I went back to Birmingham for the pre-op assessment last week and it really drives it home about whats going to happen.
I imagine all you hippys experienced the same.
I'm focusing hard on the pain free future

You'll be fine mike. To be honest I really couldn't wait to go under the knife. I knew it was my only chance of regaining my life. I know you've been told your not guaranteed a BHR but rest assured if anyone can give you one it's Ronan Treacy if you wake up with a thr then a BHR couldn't be done by anyone.
Danny

[bilateralbliss]

Hi Ruby, can understand how you feel, was confusing. I`m thinking along the same lines as Danny. Personally
I`d call both surgeons on Monday, pushing more for Mr Treacy Good luck x

[bilateralbliss]

http://youtu.be/KqQAnDJKqhU

Ruby watch this

[morph]

Good luck Ruby, you have expert surgeons helping you, I think discussing the options through with them and getting everything clear in your mind will help. I wish you all the best.

[Anna]

Ruby - Let us know what you decide. Just think, you could have Mr T operating on you afterall!

Mike - WOW! 8th August really isnt far away!!! Id be so excited if I were you. Good luck and let us know how it all goes 

[rubyred]

Good luck Mike for your surgery! Things will all be fine.

I finally got a hold of Mr Bache's secretary - my, she's a tough lady to track down! My referral back to Mr Treacy is in the works!

[hernanu]

Excellent! Good work, some of us really have to work to get treatment.

[rubyred]

Excellent! Good work, some of us really have to work to get treatment.

Hern, I feel like i've been pulled and pushed around from one surgeon to the next.... none of which seem to be able to make a decision on how to treat me, if at all! It just adds to the stress.

[hernanu]

I agree. Danny and several others had a difficult path also, but it seems like the progress is good, you'll get there and at least know that all avenues have been explored and pounded into dust  .