Re: Steve, Chris, Dave, etc...JRI

May 1, 2004

- You are going for it. I am having it done in august.I am very

worried. How old are you and what are your problems now. I cannot

walk half a block now.

roups.com, " aleksblaise1 " wrote:

> Hey guys. I'm headed in. I am leaving on Monday and in on

> Tuesday. Dave, thanks for all the great advice and support.

Could

> you forward to me your last email? I had to change my email

> address. I could not get past the invalid password even though it

> was the correct password, so I had to change the email address.

>

> It is great to hear you guys doing so well so soon. Any last

minute

> advice for one of your soon-to-be brothers? I ran eight miles

today

> just to confirm why exactly I am getting this done. I know Dave,

I

> promised, but your track record isn't that great either. I am

> interested to know how fast you can push things, e.g., going to

one

> or no crutches, riding a bike, driving, etc., without creating

> problems. I don't have a great track record myself relative to

> hanging around waiting to heal. I am really going to try to be

> patient this time around.

>

> There is alot of talk about different types of anesthesia, etc.

Did

> you have a choice? The way I see it, the more drugs the better.

I

> have been reading about metal ions, and all the other things I

could

> worry about. I read the one about cancer and metal screws. I

guess

> I am really " screwed " because I have seven screws in my knees from

> past operations.

>

> I am looking forward to putting the research and questions behind

me

> and getting on with life.

>

> Thanks all for the great support. I will see you on the other

side.

>

> Best Regards....Aleks

May 1, 2004

- You are going for it. I am having it done in august.I am very

worried. How old are you and what are your problems now. I cannot

walk half a block now.

roups.com, " aleksblaise1 " wrote:

> Hey guys. I'm headed in. I am leaving on Monday and in on

> Tuesday. Dave, thanks for all the great advice and support.

Could

> you forward to me your last email? I had to change my email

> address. I could not get past the invalid password even though it

> was the correct password, so I had to change the email address.

>

> It is great to hear you guys doing so well so soon. Any last

minute

> advice for one of your soon-to-be brothers? I ran eight miles

today

> just to confirm why exactly I am getting this done. I know Dave,

I

> promised, but your track record isn't that great either. I am

> interested to know how fast you can push things, e.g., going to

one

> or no crutches, riding a bike, driving, etc., without creating

> problems. I don't have a great track record myself relative to

> hanging around waiting to heal. I am really going to try to be

> patient this time around.

>

> There is alot of talk about different types of anesthesia, etc.

Did

> you have a choice? The way I see it, the more drugs the better.

I

> have been reading about metal ions, and all the other things I

could

> worry about. I read the one about cancer and metal screws. I

guess

> I am really " screwed " because I have seven screws in my knees from

> past operations.

>

> I am looking forward to putting the research and questions behind

me

> and getting on with life.

>

> Thanks all for the great support. I will see you on the other

side.

>

> Best Regards....Aleks

May 1, 2004

I am 40 years old. I have bilateral OA. I was a former US athlete,

had several reconstructive knee operations, and then did a really

smart thing and took up marathon running after I retired.

I am bone on bone and doing damage every day. I can deal with the

pain. I rarely take anything other than Advil when I do something

really active. I would like to wait, but the good doctor said he

needs something to work with and my right hip is not good. My range

of motion is really bad. What are you worried about? If I couldn't

walk a block I would be in there even faster than I am now. This

was also a very difficult decision for me and one I made quickly

after I gathered the facts and did my due diligence. I spoke with

several who had it done five years out and this helped me make the

decision. I have two little aspiring athletes to raise so I need to

get on with the mend.

Good luck with your decision. You came to the right place.

- Aleks

> > Hey guys. I'm headed in. I am leaving on Monday and in on

> > Tuesday. Dave, thanks for all the great advice and support.

> Could

> > you forward to me your last email? I had to change my email

> > address. I could not get past the invalid password even though

it

> > was the correct password, so I had to change the email address.

> >

> > It is great to hear you guys doing so well so soon. Any last

> minute

> > advice for one of your soon-to-be brothers? I ran eight miles

> today

> > just to confirm why exactly I am getting this done. I know

Dave,

> I

> > promised, but your track record isn't that great either. I am

> > interested to know how fast you can push things, e.g., going to

> one

> > or no crutches, riding a bike, driving, etc., without creating

> > problems. I don't have a great track record myself relative to

> > hanging around waiting to heal. I am really going to try to be

> > patient this time around.

> >

> > There is alot of talk about different types of anesthesia, etc.

> Did

> > you have a choice? The way I see it, the more drugs the

better.

> I

> > have been reading about metal ions, and all the other things I

> could

> > worry about. I read the one about cancer and metal screws. I

> guess

> > I am really " screwed " because I have seven screws in my knees

from

> > past operations.

> >

> > I am looking forward to putting the research and questions

behind

> me

> > and getting on with life.

> >

> > Thanks all for the great support. I will see you on the other

> side.

> >

> > Best Regards....Aleks

May 1, 2004

---Thanks for the update. I am 51 and like you my range of motion is

very limited. Stairs and walking are getting hard. I stopped running

5 years ago. I am taking the drug celebrex for the imflamation.It

works but i still can " t do very much. I am from canada and one

surgeon is doing this new procedure.I would try the resurfacing

before the total one. From what I read is that if the resurfacing

fails, you can convert to a full replacement.

I have one question. After it is done, can you do all

those things you could do like when you were 20 years old?

When did you have your operation?

In surfacehippy , " aleksblaise1 "

wrote:

> I am 40 years old. I have bilateral OA. I was a former US

athlete,

> had several reconstructive knee operations, and then did a really

> smart thing and took up marathon running after I retired.

>

> I am bone on bone and doing damage every day. I can deal with the

> pain. I rarely take anything other than Advil when I do something

> really active. I would like to wait, but the good doctor said he

> needs something to work with and my right hip is not good. My

range

> of motion is really bad. What are you worried about? If I

couldn't

> walk a block I would be in there even faster than I am now. This

> was also a very difficult decision for me and one I made quickly

> after I gathered the facts and did my due diligence. I spoke with

> several who had it done five years out and this helped me make the

> decision. I have two little aspiring athletes to raise so I need

to

> get on with the mend.

>

> Good luck with your decision. You came to the right place.

>

> - Aleks

>

> > > Hey guys. I'm headed in. I am leaving on Monday and in on

> > > Tuesday. Dave, thanks for all the great advice and support.

> > Could

> > > you forward to me your last email? I had to change my email

> > > address. I could not get past the invalid password even

though

> it

> > > was the correct password, so I had to change the email address.

> > >

> > > It is great to hear you guys doing so well so soon. Any last

> > minute

> > > advice for one of your soon-to-be brothers? I ran eight miles

> > today

> > > just to confirm why exactly I am getting this done. I know

> Dave,

> > I

> > > promised, but your track record isn't that great either. I am

> > > interested to know how fast you can push things, e.g., going

to

> > one

> > > or no crutches, riding a bike, driving, etc., without creating

> > > problems. I don't have a great track record myself relative

to

> > > hanging around waiting to heal. I am really going to try to

be

> > > patient this time around.

> > >

> > > There is alot of talk about different types of anesthesia,

etc.

> > Did

> > > you have a choice? The way I see it, the more drugs the

> better.

> > I

> > > have been reading about metal ions, and all the other things I

> > could

> > > worry about. I read the one about cancer and metal screws. I

> > guess

> > > I am really " screwed " because I have seven screws in my knees

> from

> > > past operations.

> > >

> > > I am looking forward to putting the research and questions

> behind

> > me

> > > and getting on with life.

> > >

> > > Thanks all for the great support. I will see you on the other

> > side.

> > >

> > > Best Regards....Aleks

May 1, 2004

---Thanks for the update. I am 51 and like you my range of motion is

very limited. Stairs and walking are getting hard. I stopped running

5 years ago. I am taking the drug celebrex for the imflamation.It

works but i still can " t do very much. I am from canada and one

surgeon is doing this new procedure.I would try the resurfacing

before the total one. From what I read is that if the resurfacing

fails, you can convert to a full replacement.

I have one question. After it is done, can you do all

those things you could do like when you were 20 years old?

When did you have your operation?

In surfacehippy , " aleksblaise1 "

wrote:

> I am 40 years old. I have bilateral OA. I was a former US

athlete,

> had several reconstructive knee operations, and then did a really

> smart thing and took up marathon running after I retired.

>

> I am bone on bone and doing damage every day. I can deal with the

> pain. I rarely take anything other than Advil when I do something

> really active. I would like to wait, but the good doctor said he

> needs something to work with and my right hip is not good. My

range

> of motion is really bad. What are you worried about? If I

couldn't

> walk a block I would be in there even faster than I am now. This

> was also a very difficult decision for me and one I made quickly

> after I gathered the facts and did my due diligence. I spoke with

> several who had it done five years out and this helped me make the

> decision. I have two little aspiring athletes to raise so I need

to

> get on with the mend.

>

> Good luck with your decision. You came to the right place.

>

> - Aleks

>

> > > Hey guys. I'm headed in. I am leaving on Monday and in on

> > > Tuesday. Dave, thanks for all the great advice and support.

> > Could

> > > you forward to me your last email? I had to change my email

> > > address. I could not get past the invalid password even

though

> it

> > > was the correct password, so I had to change the email address.

> > >

> > > It is great to hear you guys doing so well so soon. Any last

> > minute

> > > advice for one of your soon-to-be brothers? I ran eight miles

> > today

> > > just to confirm why exactly I am getting this done. I know

> Dave,

> > I

> > > promised, but your track record isn't that great either. I am

> > > interested to know how fast you can push things, e.g., going

to

> > one

> > > or no crutches, riding a bike, driving, etc., without creating

> > > problems. I don't have a great track record myself relative

to

> > > hanging around waiting to heal. I am really going to try to

be

> > > patient this time around.

> > >

> > > There is alot of talk about different types of anesthesia,

etc.

> > Did

> > > you have a choice? The way I see it, the more drugs the

> better.

> > I

> > > have been reading about metal ions, and all the other things I

> > could

> > > worry about. I read the one about cancer and metal screws. I

> > guess

> > > I am really " screwed " because I have seven screws in my knees

> from

> > > past operations.

> > >

> > > I am looking forward to putting the research and questions

> behind

> > me

> > > and getting on with life.

> > >

> > > Thanks all for the great support. I will see you on the other

> > side.

> > >

> > > Best Regards....Aleks

May 1, 2004

Where in Canada are you? There are several surgeons doing the

surgery - they just all seem to have very long wait lists. We live

in BC and because of the long wait we went to Belgium. Some of the

doctors are using the new Durom and if you are an ideal candidate you

might get in sooner.

Pamela

> > > > Hey guys. I'm headed in. I am leaving on Monday and in on

> > > > Tuesday. Dave, thanks for all the great advice and support.

> > > Could

> > > > you forward to me your last email? I had to change my email

> > > > address. I could not get past the invalid password even

> though

> > it

> > > > was the correct password, so I had to change the email address.

> > > >

> > > > It is great to hear you guys doing so well so soon. Any last

> > > minute

> > > > advice for one of your soon-to-be brothers? I ran eight miles

> > > today

> > > > just to confirm why exactly I am getting this done. I know

> > Dave,

> > > I

> > > > promised, but your track record isn't that great either. I am

> > > > interested to know how fast you can push things, e.g., going

> to

> > > one

> > > > or no crutches, riding a bike, driving, etc., without creating

> > > > problems. I don't have a great track record myself relative

> to

> > > > hanging around waiting to heal. I am really going to try to

> be

> > > > patient this time around.

> > > >

> > > > There is alot of talk about different types of anesthesia,

> etc.

> > > Did

> > > > you have a choice? The way I see it, the more drugs the

> > better.

> > > I

> > > > have been reading about metal ions, and all the other things I

> > > could

> > > > worry about. I read the one about cancer and metal screws. I

> > > guess

> > > > I am really " screwed " because I have seven screws in my knees

> > from

> > > > past operations.

> > > >

> > > > I am looking forward to putting the research and questions

> > behind

> > > me

> > > > and getting on with life.

> > > >

> > > > Thanks all for the great support. I will see you on the other

> > > side.

> > > >

> > > > Best Regards....Aleks

May 2, 2004

Brimer47

Where do you live in Canada? I am in B.C. and I know of at least 6 doctors

here who do it, also heard of one in Montreal, one in Ottawa, one in Calgary,

and I'm sure there's more. Once you let us now where you are, there should be

others here who can tell you names of resurfing surgeons in your area.

Waitlists are long however, and I ended up going to Belgium to De Smet - costly

but worth it.

Sharry

Re: Steve, Dave, etc...JRI

---Thanks for the update. I am 51 and like you my range of motion is

very limited. Stairs and walking are getting hard. I stopped running

5 years ago. I am taking the drug celebrex for the imflamation.It

works but i still can " t do very much. I am from canada and one

surgeon is doing this new procedure.I would try the resurfacing

before the total one. From what I read is that if the resurfacing

fails, you can convert to a full replacement.

I have one question. After it is done, can you do all

those things you could do like when you were 20 years old?

When did you have your operation?

In surfacehippy , " aleksblaise1 "

wrote:

> I am 40 years old. I have bilateral OA. I was a former US

athlete,

> had several reconstructive knee operations, and then did a really

> smart thing and took up marathon running after I retired.

>

> I am bone on bone and doing damage every day. I can deal with the

> pain. I rarely take anything other than Advil when I do something

> really active. I would like to wait, but the good doctor said he

> needs something to work with and my right hip is not good. My

range

> of motion is really bad. What are you worried about? If I

couldn't

> walk a block I would be in there even faster than I am now. This

> was also a very difficult decision for me and one I made quickly

> after I gathered the facts and did my due diligence. I spoke with

> several who had it done five years out and this helped me make the

> decision. I have two little aspiring athletes to raise so I need

to

> get on with the mend.

>

> Good luck with your decision. You came to the right place.

>

> - Aleks

>

> > > Hey guys. I'm headed in. I am leaving on Monday and in on

> > > Tuesday. Dave, thanks for all the great advice and support.

> > Could

> > > you forward to me your last email? I had to change my email

> > > address. I could not get past the invalid password even

though

> it

> > > was the correct password, so I had to change the email address.

> > >

> > > It is great to hear you guys doing so well so soon. Any last

> > minute

> > > advice for one of your soon-to-be brothers? I ran eight miles

> > today

> > > just to confirm why exactly I am getting this done. I know

> Dave,

> > I

> > > promised, but your track record isn't that great either. I am

> > > interested to know how fast you can push things, e.g., going

to

> > one

> > > or no crutches, riding a bike, driving, etc., without creating

> > > problems. I don't have a great track record myself relative

to

> > > hanging around waiting to heal. I am really going to try to

be

> > > patient this time around.

> > >

> > > There is alot of talk about different types of anesthesia,

etc.

> > Did

> > > you have a choice? The way I see it, the more drugs the

> better.

> > I

> > > have been reading about metal ions, and all the other things I

> > could

> > > worry about. I read the one about cancer and metal screws. I

> > guess

> > > I am really " screwed " because I have seven screws in my knees

> from

> > > past operations.

> > >

> > > I am looking forward to putting the research and questions

> behind

> > me

> > > and getting on with life.

> > >

> > > Thanks all for the great support. I will see you on the other

> > side.

> > >

> > > Best Regards....Aleks

May 3, 2004

, aka Aleks,

I pasted a copy of my last email to you below. The best to you in

your surgery tomorrow. Given your current very high fitness level,

and healthy mental and emotional state, I know you'll have one of the

speediest recoveries and rehabs to date. I'll be anxious to hear

how it goes and will give you a call on Thursday.

At your encouragement, I took my first spinning class yesterday, 11

weeks post op. I surprised myself how well I did, but am glad I

didn't wear a heart rate monitor as I'm sure I was at, or

exceeded the max for my age.

Hang tough for a few weeks and it will all be good very soon.

Dave

sent April 23:

,

You'll want to get Amsutuz's guidance on recovery and rehab,

but I'll share my experience. Though they're stretched and

weakened in resurfacing, the ligaments and tendons are not torn and

surgically repaired like they are in knee surgery. The buttocks and

abductor muscles are cut and the entire hip capsule is made

unstable. Rehab is a matter of strengthening the entire hip capsule

but without as much concern over tearing or re-injuring the joint as

there is in knee surgery - it's more a concern over preventing

dislocation until your hip capsule has recovered it's tautness

and stability. Therefore the limitations of 90 degree max bend,

don't crossover the center line, and don't do any twisting

moves or torque it for 6 weeks. You can put 50% weight on it 1 day

post op, and the more you walk on it the better. You can go off

crutches as soon as you're stable enough. I was on one crutch at

4 weeks and off both crutches the end of 4 weeks/start of 5 weeks.

I returned to work (desk job) when I resumed driving at about 2 1/2

weeks although the docs recommend 6 weeks before you get behind the

wheel. You'll know when you can handle it.

Using light weights on leg machines early on really helped stabilize

and strengthen my hip capsule. I started the machines about 11 days

post op then every other day. I used a skier's edge machine for

a few minutes a day starting at 1 week. I started on the upright

lifecycle about 9 days for just a few minutes on level 2 then

increased it a little each day. I mixed in the stairmaster and

elliptical when it felt comfortable. I'd been through this

before and didn't feel I'd do any damage if I adhered to the

90 degree and no twist rules and didn't push it on trying for any

range of motion. So far, so good, at least. Your hip will tell you

when to back off and when you need to rest it. I iced it the couple

of times I overdid it. (Remember my tip to ask for ice packs as soon

as you awake from surgery.) The doctors are skilled in surgeries but

they don't appear to have much knowledge or experience in detailed

rehab, especially in dealing with athletic types. I know you have

your own rehab sources, and, with your athletic background,

you'll find you'll know more about what you can and can't

do than most doctors. But when in doubt, I back off `cause I

don't want to screw this up and have to redo it. For me,

regaining range of motion takes much longer than regaining strength.

My pre-op depression is now a distant memory. There's been a steady

string of Hallelujahs with my rehab - taking that first pain free

bike ride, playing tennis pain free again with my son, 6 miles of

light trail running at 8 weeks, clipping my toenails myself, taking

the stairs two at a time, swinging a golf club without a painful

hitch, bending over to pick something up without looking like a

contortionist, and more. All the activity free of pain makes life

sweet again.

When he first saw my xrays, Amstutz thought I had to be on constant

pain meds. But I only took aspirin or similar a couple of times a

month, so he concluded my pain tolerance was pretty high. My last

hip got pretty bad. I had to spend 30 seconds or so flexing my hip

upon getting out of the car before I could walk, and even then I had

a distinct limp. The pain was most noticeable when I stood around

for a while, and bending to pick up something was a bitch. My form

sucked on the bike as I couldn't bend forward to reach my water

bottle and I couldn't think about getting on the drops nor keep

my knee in line - it stuck out several inches. I had to account for

how uncomfortable I would be when deciding to attend a function or

event. When I went to a store the last year or so I'd use the

shopping cart like a walker to help support me and minimze my limp.

The popping and snapping noises from my hip would freak out gym

members next to me when I used certain machines, but working out,

even in my handicapped condition, kept me from going into a severe

downward spiral mentally and emotionally. I could no longer clip my

toenails myself and had to put my shoes and socks bending my foot up

near my butt. I fought my insurance company for almost 2 years on

the second hip from the time Amstutz said it was more than ready for

resurfacing so I was very ready and got concerned that it might be

too far gone for resurfacing. My lifestyle steadily went downhill.

This means OA only gets worse over time. Once you get OA it's

resurface now or resurface later. Mike, and everyone else who is

active and has advanced OA, is going to come to that conclusion at

some point.

Amstutz is assisted in surgery, but he's plenty vigorous on his

own. He's still plenty sharp in my opinion.

I think you need at least a week between your blood donation and

surgery so I hope you do it soon.

The coumadin can be a bit nasty – it's a main ingredient in

rat poison. It's a vitamin K killer which supposedly prevents

blood clots, or the thrombosis you've mentioned in your posts.

My body was happy when I stopped taking it at the 2 – 3 weeks

mark.

I feel very good about the quality of my surgery, especially after

reading about some of the problems others have. I'm interested

in how long Steve takes to recover with his bilateral – more than

I'd want to do at once, tho many others disagree. It's pretty

invasive and life sucks for a week or two afterwards, but I bet

you'll do great and won't regret one hip at a time. I'd

be much more nervous in the starting gate at the Hahnenkamm downhill

than on the gurney just before a resurfacing op. You should be

optimistic.

Take care,

Dave

> Hey guys. I'm headed in. I am leaving on Monday and in on

> Tuesday. Dave, thanks for all the great advice and support. Could

> you forward to me your last email? I had to change my email

> address. I could not get past the invalid password even though it

> was the correct password, so I had to change the email address.

>

> It is great to hear you guys doing so well so soon. Any last

minute

> advice for one of your soon-to-be brothers? I ran eight miles

today

> just to confirm why exactly I am getting this done. I know Dave, I

> promised, but your track record isn't that great either. I am

> interested to know how fast you can push things, e.g., going to one

> or no crutches, riding a bike, driving, etc., without creating

> problems. I don't have a great track record myself relative to

> hanging around waiting to heal. I am really going to try to be

> patient this time around.

>

> There is alot of talk about different types of anesthesia, etc.

Did

> you have a choice? The way I see it, the more drugs the better. I

> have been reading about metal ions, and all the other things I

could

> worry about. I read the one about cancer and metal screws. I

guess

> I am really " screwed " because I have seven screws in my knees from

> past operations.

>

> I am looking forward to putting the research and questions behind

me

> and getting on with life.

>

> Thanks all for the great support. I will see you on the other side.

>

> Best Regards....Aleks

May 3, 2004