Sveva’s ReCerf Ceramic on Ceramic Hip Resurfacing with Dr. De Smet 2024
Ceramic on Ceramic Resurfacing in Belgium. 2024 (ReCerf)
5’4” / 51y living in the US
Thank you to all those who helped me along the way. Thank you Pat for this site!
My first symptoms began in 2002 (28y) when I tore my Labrum and fell to the floor in a martial arts class. I could not put any weight on it for 3 weeks. It was excruciating. Like a sprained/twisted ankle – at the hip.
No one mentioned hip dysplasia for a decade.
For the next 2 decades I limped. Every time I stood up, I had to be still, then pop the hip by lifting my knee hip height and out, loosen it, wait for blood flow to the joint, crack it and finally limp away. It slowly became worse and worse over the years. But inexplicably it also ‘got better’ at times. Still painful, but maybe a less pronounced limp.
I spent most of those years hoping it wasn’t my hip- especially as there was so much referred pain it was hard to pinpoint. I tried alternative therapies and listened to all who would suggest it could be something else.
Sveva after ReCerf Hip Resurfacing with Dr. De Smet 2024
Sveva before ReCerf Hip Resurfacing with Dr. De Smet 2024
I saw some surgeons, who had varying diagnoses. When I investigated it, I was told in 2013, at HSS, that I was not a candidate for resurfacing because I was too small. Some said just come back when it’s too painful and get a THR, others said I should not be in “that much pain”… maybe it’s not your hip.
This last decade was filled with pain meds and steroid injections in my hips and back. It was torture. Nothing worked well, which led some professionals to assuming it wasn’t my hip. My life fell apart. Desperate, I asked for a THR in 2019. I was denied. “Better to keep your own hardware as long as possible, a THR may cause you pain anyhow, maybe forever, it’s not worth it. And if you have a THR too young, you will move too much and you will need another within 10 years.”
I did not feel my condition was being taken seriously. I was not a classic THR candidate. I assume they did not believe or understand how much pain I was in.
Again, same Clinic but now 2023, (50y) I begged for a THR. My liver was showing signs of wear from meds ( I don’t drink) “No, you’d have to be crawling in here on your hands and knees before I give you a new hip at your age!”
I was at the end of my tether. I changed doctors and hospital. I brought all the reports I had and was met with confusion: Of course it was my hip. It was bone on bone, I was in a lot of pain, I had hip dysplasia and no labrum, 2 abscesses in my hip joint and heavy debilitating limp. Finally, a diagnosis!
With new-found energy for a resolution, I discovered this site (https://surfacehippy.info), which led to me contacting many resurfacing surgeons. I met one in NY who said “No way! You are not a candidate”.
I kept on searching… I knew resurfacing was a good thing. Resurfacing – still such an unconventional surgery – that only few were comfortable enough to do it on small women with hip dysplasia. I contacted Dr Brooks who said after seeing my xrays that I was a candidate for sure. Oh joy!
He was so very kind and communicative. I learned a ton and got all my questions answered (thank you so much Dr Brooks if you ever read this). Things were looking up. After years of being misled by the medical industry in the US, I was so insecure, it was intense having to understand everything and make all these decisions without a medical degree! I also contacted Dr Gross and Dr De Smet, they both confirmed I was a candidate. 3 out of 4 !
Eventually I chose to go to Belgium with Dr De Smet because it would be the 6th year of their ceramic-on-ceramic trial, which is very successful. Metal on Metal has been at the center of much uncertainty for some women in the THR and resurfacing community. Metal is still the only option in the States where I live. I didn’t want to risk it and I have family in Belgium!
The biggest shock when I arrived at the Hospital in Knokke was that I seemed to be the only one limping and needing a wheelchair. There were 8 of us. One of us had had their other hip done 18 before by Dr De Smet. He had no fears, no doubt, no questions. The rest of us were apprehensive in comparison. I still wasn’t sure this would help me. After so many years of knock downs.
Why was I the only person limping …? Because it is not a Total hip replacement which will need another replacement in maybe 10 to 25 years. Resurfacing can potentially last for life which means no need to wait , take pain meds and suffer, as I had been made to.
Today it has been just about 7 months since my surgery. Thank You Dr. De Smet. I feel like a superhero… I can walk normally… as much as I want… I am working as a photographer – I dance salsa !! I still shed the odd joyous tear. I have a life back. I can’t believe the journey. I did my first gentle yoga class the other day and I am stronger in my new right resurfaced hip than my left hip. I can gage now how much the pain was hindering my strength and restricting my flexibility. I can tell that since 2002… IT WAS MY HIP that was the problem.
Now my left hip seems to be on its way out…. But I am not sad nor worried about it because I now know what is possible, what to do and where to go. That changes everything.