Resurfacing for CHD?SCOTTISH BECKY

[Guest guest]

Hiya Becky

DOn't know if you got my earlier reply to your post but I'm from

Scotland too. WHere is your specialist? You are lucky to have seen

someone who is happy with the idea of resurfacing. I had to go down

to Birmingham to have my operation done! My specialist told me that

there was NO WAY he could do a resurfacing (even though I was only

22) because I had CHD and because my OA was so advanced . Luckily I

was eventually referred to a brilliant surgeon in Birmingham - but

only as a result of me finding this site and pursuing it for myself!

I always had an odd gait due to CHD and in the last five years I've

walked with an extreme limp. I still limp when I hobble around the

house without my crutches - but only cos my muscles are all so weak

at the moment. They need to be built up through lots of physio!

My hip jarred all the time too and made some really awful clunking

grinding noises.

I am totally unaware of my new hip - apart from the scar. It feels

so so SO much healthier than the old one. It hasn't been sore since

about a week post op - it's strange NOT having to think about it all

the time!

Take care

Morag

> > Hi, Becky.

> > I had CHD in both hips and was treated for it as a child in the

> late

> > 1950's, in the Children's Hospital in Boston (Mass.). A lot of

> > surgery, and that famous cast, ensured that I lived perfectly

> > normally until the age of 46. Which is pretty good going (and

my

> > other hip is still fine).

> >

> > In my 46th year my left hip started seizing up and deteriorated

at

> > an incredible rate: there was only one year between learning

that

> my

> > stiffness was caused by osteoarthritis till the surgery itself,

> and

> > by that stage I was longing for the knife due to the constant

> pain.

> >

> > De Smet (Gent) didn't envisage any particular problem and did my

> > resurfacing in September of 2003. He has done a number of

> patients

> > with less than perfect sockets and it shows. I'm delighted

with

> > the result for a number of reasons: the joy of being released

from

> > pain as of day one, walking without a limp (I'd developed a huge

> > limp over that last year) and, last but not least, he really

> > improved on that scar which I had on that hip for the past 44

> years,

> > tidied it up nicely and the new scar is a lot less obvious than

> the

> > old one was!

> >

> > Colette

[Guest guest]

Hi Morag,

I'm being seen at Ninewells, Dundee. My consultant is Mr.Clift who is

very nice, he's my second opinion and I feel I trust him more. He

very nicely explained my options and even drew out exactly what was

involved in an osteotomy, resurface and replacement. He feels that

the first two options are for me since I have pretty decent

cartilage. He didn't influence me either way, which is good but now

I'm very confused tryign to assess whether a PAO or a resurface is

better for my needs. I'm very scared of surgery either way so I'm

trying to exclude that from a decision, there is no option there

really!

I was slightly shocked during my meeting with the OS and I think he

said to me that he's done many resurfacings, one he did recently on a

26yr old male which went very successfully for him. That made me

trust him a lot. However he has only done one osteotomy and he said

he'd help me find another surgeon if I so desired. He also told me

about McMinn in birmingham, is it common for a lot of british

patients to travel to birmingham for this? I hadn't really factored

in the need to travel for treatment. That needs to go on my list!

I've been at physio since christmas trying to get my muscles

strengthen up around my right hip, the physio was so shocked when she

told me that my right glut was small and flat compared to my left

(what I call my super-buttcheek!). Apart from the jarring and

clicking my the hip I always felt like I had a concrete block

attached to my foot, dragging the leg around esp up stairs hurt. How

long ago did you have your hip resurfaced? Where you on crutches for

a long time? I assume since your OA was so advanced that a PAO was

out of the question?

I soooo want to be able to walk and not realise it all the time!

Stay well and take care,

Becky :-)

> > > Hi, Becky.

> > > I had CHD in both hips and was treated for it as a child in the

> > late

> > > 1950's, in the Children's Hospital in Boston (Mass.). A lot of

> > > surgery, and that famous cast, ensured that I lived perfectly

> > > normally until the age of 46. Which is pretty good going (and

> my

> > > other hip is still fine).

> > >

> > > In my 46th year my left hip started seizing up and deteriorated

> at

> > > an incredible rate: there was only one year between learning

> that

> > my

> > > stiffness was caused by osteoarthritis till the surgery itself,

> > and

> > > by that stage I was longing for the knife due to the constant

> > pain.

> > >

> > > De Smet (Gent) didn't envisage any particular problem and did

my

> > > resurfacing in September of 2003. He has done a number of

> > patients

> > > with less than perfect sockets and it shows. I'm delighted

> with

> > > the result for a number of reasons: the joy of being released

> from

> > > pain as of day one, walking without a limp (I'd developed a

huge

> > > limp over that last year) and, last but not least, he really

> > > improved on that scar which I had on that hip for the past 44

> > years,

> > > tidied it up nicely and the new scar is a lot less obvious than

> > the

> > > old one was!

> > >

> > > Colette

[Guest guest]

Hi Morag,

I'm being seen at Ninewells, Dundee. My consultant is Mr.Clift who is

very nice, he's my second opinion and I feel I trust him more. He

very nicely explained my options and even drew out exactly what was

involved in an osteotomy, resurface and replacement. He feels that

the first two options are for me since I have pretty decent

cartilage. He didn't influence me either way, which is good but now

I'm very confused tryign to assess whether a PAO or a resurface is

better for my needs. I'm very scared of surgery either way so I'm

trying to exclude that from a decision, there is no option there

really!

I was slightly shocked during my meeting with the OS and I think he

said to me that he's done many resurfacings, one he did recently on a

26yr old male which went very successfully for him. That made me

trust him a lot. However he has only done one osteotomy and he said

he'd help me find another surgeon if I so desired. He also told me

about McMinn in birmingham, is it common for a lot of british

patients to travel to birmingham for this? I hadn't really factored

in the need to travel for treatment. That needs to go on my list!

I've been at physio since christmas trying to get my muscles

strengthen up around my right hip, the physio was so shocked when she

told me that my right glut was small and flat compared to my left

(what I call my super-buttcheek!). Apart from the jarring and

clicking my the hip I always felt like I had a concrete block

attached to my foot, dragging the leg around esp up stairs hurt. How

long ago did you have your hip resurfaced? Where you on crutches for

a long time? I assume since your OA was so advanced that a PAO was

out of the question?

I soooo want to be able to walk and not realise it all the time!

Stay well and take care,

Becky :-)

> > > Hi, Becky.

> > > I had CHD in both hips and was treated for it as a child in the

> > late

> > > 1950's, in the Children's Hospital in Boston (Mass.). A lot of

> > > surgery, and that famous cast, ensured that I lived perfectly

> > > normally until the age of 46. Which is pretty good going (and

> my

> > > other hip is still fine).

> > >

> > > In my 46th year my left hip started seizing up and deteriorated

> at

> > > an incredible rate: there was only one year between learning

> that

> > my

> > > stiffness was caused by osteoarthritis till the surgery itself,

> > and

> > > by that stage I was longing for the knife due to the constant

> > pain.

> > >

> > > De Smet (Gent) didn't envisage any particular problem and did

my

> > > resurfacing in September of 2003. He has done a number of

> > patients

> > > with less than perfect sockets and it shows. I'm delighted

> with

> > > the result for a number of reasons: the joy of being released

> from

> > > pain as of day one, walking without a limp (I'd developed a

huge

> > > limp over that last year) and, last but not least, he really

> > > improved on that scar which I had on that hip for the past 44

> > years,

> > > tidied it up nicely and the new scar is a lot less obvious than

> > the

> > > old one was!

> > >

> > > Colette

[Guest guest]

Hiya Becky

I was absolutely terrified about my operation but it really wasn't

that bad. - promise!! I felt absolutely fine after a week - no pain

at all, except for from the incision, and even that was nothing

compared to the pain I'd been in pre-op.

I don't know enough about the other operation available to you to

tell you what I would do in your situation. I do know that it's

usually best to save your own hip if it's possible to do so.

Although if saving it is going to mean you having a resurfacing or a

replacement a year or so down the line then you have to weigh up

whether it's worth preserving it.

I think the main thing is to ensure that whatever you choose puts an

end to the pain you're in for the forseeable future!

You're symptoms are exactly like mine - I had one big bumcheek and

one wee one too! Apparently it comes from 'hitching' your hip when

you walk as it's less sore that way but obviously the wrong muscles

are being used. I can't really tell the difference yet but my

boyfriend says that my bum is definately evening out again! (THis is

a much better situation thanI was in for a couple of weeks post op

when the side of my bum that's usually tiny swelled up to elephant

proportions!)

I was misdiagnosed for a very long time and I had a lot of physio as

doctors kept telling me my pain was all muscular. Looking back I'm

positive that much of the stuff my many physios were making me do

accelerated the degeneration of my hip.

I had my hip resurfaced on June 1st so I'm still under 6 weeks post

op. But I really can't emphasise to enough the difference that the

op has made. I'm healthier, happier, have a much more positive

outlook, I sleep better. I can now easily walk distances that I

couldn't possibly have dreamed of walking before. I walked two miles

the other day with no problem whatsoever. 6 weeks ago I had problems

getting from my house to one of the many many taxis that has eaten

up my funds in recent years.

I'm not sure how many people travel to Birmingham to get a

resurfacing done. I know that in the hospital I was in they get a

lot of people from Canada who fly over for the operation and fly

back a week later. I was referred there as my resurfacing was going

to be complex (due to advanced OA and CDH) and the doctors I saw up

here refused to do it.

As for my crutches I'm still on them. But I say my surgeon on Monday

there and he says it's fine for me to use just one for short

journeys and I don't have to use them around the house if I don't

want to. I think I'll be on them for a good while as my glut and a

lot of other muscles that you're meant to use to walk were very

diminished through years of limping. But I can hobble around fine

without them without ANY pain - and I limp less like this than I did

pre op.

I know it's really scary! But once you've decided what to do I think

you'll feel better. It definately sounds like it's not worth putting

off doing something any more. THis is a link to my surgeon's website

if you want a look: http://www.midmedtec.co.uk/index.htm I think his

email's on there. I'm just posting it in case you want to consult

someone who has a lot of experience with CHD cases. If you can get

your doctor to refer you to him you'll have to wait about 5 weeks

for an appointment and about 7 months for the operation.

Unfortunately for me, the 7 months wait was going to be too long and

my hip was going to be too far gone to be resurfaced so I had to pay

for it privately. Obviosuly this has left me with more than a little

bit of debt but so far it's been worth every penny. Honestly - this

doctor is amazing!!

Well, just to emphasis the point to you one more time...I'm away

back to my bed to look after my hangover! I was out dancing till 3am

this morning with my crutches propped up on the corner of the

dancefloor. (ok so it wasn't exactly hardcore clubbing - it was a

gay club and I was dancing to the likes of Madonna, and

Britney and I didn't drink much in case I got wobbly - but

nevertheless there is no way I could have done that 6 weeks ago!)

Any questions please ask and let me know what you decide to do!

Cheers

Morag

> > > > Hi, Becky.

> > > > I had CHD in both hips and was treated for it as a child in

the

> > > late

> > > > 1950's, in the Children's Hospital in Boston (Mass.). A lot

of

> > > > surgery, and that famous cast, ensured that I lived

perfectly

> > > > normally until the age of 46. Which is pretty good going

(and

> > my

> > > > other hip is still fine).

> > > >

> > > > In my 46th year my left hip started seizing up and

deteriorated

> > at

> > > > an incredible rate: there was only one year between learning

> > that

> > > my

> > > > stiffness was caused by osteoarthritis till the surgery

itself,

> > > and

> > > > by that stage I was longing for the knife due to the

constant

> > > pain.

> > > >

> > > > De Smet (Gent) didn't envisage any particular problem and

did

> my

> > > > resurfacing in September of 2003. He has done a number of

> > > patients

> > > > with less than perfect sockets and it shows. I'm delighted

> > with

> > > > the result for a number of reasons: the joy of being

released

> > from

> > > > pain as of day one, walking without a limp (I'd developed a

> huge

> > > > limp over that last year) and, last but not least, he really

> > > > improved on that scar which I had on that hip for the past

44

> > > years,

> > > > tidied it up nicely and the new scar is a lot less obvious

than

> > > the

> > > > old one was!

> > > >

> > > > Colette

[Guest guest]

Hiya Becky

I was absolutely terrified about my operation but it really wasn't

that bad. - promise!! I felt absolutely fine after a week - no pain

at all, except for from the incision, and even that was nothing

compared to the pain I'd been in pre-op.

I don't know enough about the other operation available to you to

tell you what I would do in your situation. I do know that it's

usually best to save your own hip if it's possible to do so.

Although if saving it is going to mean you having a resurfacing or a

replacement a year or so down the line then you have to weigh up

whether it's worth preserving it.

I think the main thing is to ensure that whatever you choose puts an

end to the pain you're in for the forseeable future!

You're symptoms are exactly like mine - I had one big bumcheek and

one wee one too! Apparently it comes from 'hitching' your hip when

you walk as it's less sore that way but obviously the wrong muscles

are being used. I can't really tell the difference yet but my

boyfriend says that my bum is definately evening out again! (THis is

a much better situation thanI was in for a couple of weeks post op

when the side of my bum that's usually tiny swelled up to elephant

proportions!)

I was misdiagnosed for a very long time and I had a lot of physio as

doctors kept telling me my pain was all muscular. Looking back I'm

positive that much of the stuff my many physios were making me do

accelerated the degeneration of my hip.

I had my hip resurfaced on June 1st so I'm still under 6 weeks post

op. But I really can't emphasise to enough the difference that the

op has made. I'm healthier, happier, have a much more positive

outlook, I sleep better. I can now easily walk distances that I

couldn't possibly have dreamed of walking before. I walked two miles

the other day with no problem whatsoever. 6 weeks ago I had problems

getting from my house to one of the many many taxis that has eaten

up my funds in recent years.

I'm not sure how many people travel to Birmingham to get a

resurfacing done. I know that in the hospital I was in they get a

lot of people from Canada who fly over for the operation and fly

back a week later. I was referred there as my resurfacing was going

to be complex (due to advanced OA and CDH) and the doctors I saw up

here refused to do it.

As for my crutches I'm still on them. But I say my surgeon on Monday

there and he says it's fine for me to use just one for short

journeys and I don't have to use them around the house if I don't

want to. I think I'll be on them for a good while as my glut and a

lot of other muscles that you're meant to use to walk were very

diminished through years of limping. But I can hobble around fine

without them without ANY pain - and I limp less like this than I did

pre op.

I know it's really scary! But once you've decided what to do I think

you'll feel better. It definately sounds like it's not worth putting

off doing something any more. THis is a link to my surgeon's website

if you want a look: http://www.midmedtec.co.uk/index.htm I think his

email's on there. I'm just posting it in case you want to consult

someone who has a lot of experience with CHD cases. If you can get

your doctor to refer you to him you'll have to wait about 5 weeks

for an appointment and about 7 months for the operation.

Unfortunately for me, the 7 months wait was going to be too long and

my hip was going to be too far gone to be resurfaced so I had to pay

for it privately. Obviosuly this has left me with more than a little

bit of debt but so far it's been worth every penny. Honestly - this

doctor is amazing!!

Well, just to emphasis the point to you one more time...I'm away

back to my bed to look after my hangover! I was out dancing till 3am

this morning with my crutches propped up on the corner of the

dancefloor. (ok so it wasn't exactly hardcore clubbing - it was a

gay club and I was dancing to the likes of Madonna, and

Britney and I didn't drink much in case I got wobbly - but

nevertheless there is no way I could have done that 6 weeks ago!)

Any questions please ask and let me know what you decide to do!

Cheers

Morag

> > > > Hi, Becky.

> > > > I had CHD in both hips and was treated for it as a child in

the

> > > late

> > > > 1950's, in the Children's Hospital in Boston (Mass.). A lot

of

> > > > surgery, and that famous cast, ensured that I lived

perfectly

> > > > normally until the age of 46. Which is pretty good going

(and

> > my

> > > > other hip is still fine).

> > > >

> > > > In my 46th year my left hip started seizing up and

deteriorated

> > at

> > > > an incredible rate: there was only one year between learning

> > that

> > > my

> > > > stiffness was caused by osteoarthritis till the surgery

itself,

> > > and

> > > > by that stage I was longing for the knife due to the

constant

> > > pain.

> > > >

> > > > De Smet (Gent) didn't envisage any particular problem and

did

> my

> > > > resurfacing in September of 2003. He has done a number of

> > > patients

> > > > with less than perfect sockets and it shows. I'm delighted

> > with

> > > > the result for a number of reasons: the joy of being

released

> > from

> > > > pain as of day one, walking without a limp (I'd developed a

> huge

> > > > limp over that last year) and, last but not least, he really

> > > > improved on that scar which I had on that hip for the past

44

> > > years,

> > > > tidied it up nicely and the new scar is a lot less obvious

than

> > > the

> > > > old one was!

> > > >

> > > > Colette