Guest guest Posted April 13, 2004 Report Share Posted April 13, 2004 I had a HORRIBLE day today, mostly because " the letter " upset me so. And when I came home and logged on there were my friends, supporting me and helping see past the fear. And as usual you are leading the attack on negativity and confusion. This would all be so hard without you, and I want you to know that I appreciate you, and that your help has been enourmous today! I think I'm ok now, but my chassis has been rattling all day. Sometimes a ferile imagination can be ones own worst enemy. Thanks again!! Chris > > Chris: > > I'm not really sure what the point of this person's letter to you was. > That he had a medical problem that escalated with a hip resurfacing? That > he ended up with a THR? That he had surgery before he was totally hobbled > by pain? That he even had OA at all? > > I wish he had simply directed you to his site for reference. I read the > whole long saga (and it is long) and I feel much compassion for what this > man went through. Though HIS story is the exception and NOT the rule. The > point is NOT about waiting until you are unable to walk. Trust me, I was > there. I spent a year prior to surgery walking with a cane and only able > to walk for about a block. As a result, I almost wasn't able to have a > resurf. Perhaps in the hands of a surgeon less skilled then Dr. Mont, I > might have a THR today. I am not denigrating THR, but as a YOUNG person, > you would be wise to preserve that bone stock. I spoke with my OS > recently (my local supportive one who didn't do the surgery) and he was > talking to me about young people who have a THR + revision and what a HUGE > toll that takes on the human body....that there are cases of people living > out their days in a wheelchair because they can't do another revision. > > Speaking of worst-case stories. I was at a party recently and a few people > wanted to know about what hip resurfacing was. After finishing the short > version, 2 of the 4 people there had relatives who had nightmare THR > stories. One patient was elderly...in her 80's, the other was my age, 52. > Both had infections, both had to spend months on antibiotics and both had to > stay in bed equally as long. One of them had to have the implant removed > during this time as well. Sad. Due to the fact that a THR is more > invasive then a resurf, your chances of an infection are higher. As I > listened to the stories, I was so thankful to have a resurf. > > I'm sorry the author implies that you have a " choice " about whether or not > to have the surgery. I'm sorry to tell you this you don't have that > choice. Regardless if you have the surgery now or in 6 months, you will > still have the same hip problem if you don't have the surgery. The pain > may have subsided for now, but the x-rays don't lie and neither does your > past experience. It's not a question of " IF " , but " WHEN " . Surfacehippys > urge sooner rather then later to ensure that you are in decent shape and > even still qualify for a resurf. Waiting until one is hobbled is not a > good idea, regardless of what the letter to you said. > > On a final note, there will always be people who had that nightmare story. > We feel badly about it and have compassion and support for them here. > However, just because a car accident 'can' happen, doesn't mean we will > never drive. If we believed that, we'd all never leave the house.... > > Lois > C+ 3/27/03 Dr. Mont > > > > > A scary letter > > > I got this e-mail just 3 days before my resurfacing. Talk about > freaking me out...I've pasted it below: > > > > My hip stopped hurting the last six months before my resurfacing > surgery, and I almost bailed out. One week before the surgery I > expressed my reservations to the nurse, and she said, " You don't > have to do this. " But by then everything was arranged--even the > girls in my office had prepared and froze food so I'd have something > to eat during my recovery. Somehow I just couldn't tell everyone > that I had changed my mind. And so I went through with it. In > retrospect I can say that I wish I had listened to the inner voice > that said " Not yet! " because I could have made it a while longer on > my real hip. I had read that nothing works like the real thing, and > I chose to ignore that advice. Some of my activities had become > limited, but not all, and I was not really in excruciating pain yet. > > Unfortunately, I didn't have rosy outcome most others experience. > As with any procedure, there is not a 100% success rate, and there > will always be people who experience problems. I was one of them, > but unfortunately, once you take the plunge, there is no turning > back. I don't know how bad off you are right now, and only you can > make that determination. For many people, there is no choice. For > those of us who have a choice, it can really be a difficult and > heart wrenching decision. Good luck with your decision. > > You can read about my experience on the Hip Surface Replacement page > of www.BananaRepublican.info. > > ph K. Waltenbaugh > Division of Corrective Action > > jwaltenbau@s... > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 13, 2004 Report Share Posted April 13, 2004 Hi I would not be " freaked out " by negative letters regarding this procedure. As patients, you (and I), should welcome any and all comments (positive and negative) regarding this procedure. We need to have as much information as possible in our data base in order to make an informed well-educated and well-thought out choice when it comes to making a decision about our healthcare. There will always be poor outcomes after surgery and I suspect there may even be more more negative comments regarding hip resurfacing procedues as it becomes more commonly accepted in the USA. No surgeon and no procedure is perfect. I have placed investigational vascular devices and performed investigational vascular surgical procedures on many patients and I make sure they understand the potential good and bad outcomes related to the surgery. The success of those procedures were dependent on the individual anatomy of the patient and his/her overall medical condition. The choice of surgeons and patient selection is so critical to the success of any surgery, and I believe it to be especially true for hip resurfacing. The gentleman who wrote the negative letter may not have been an optimal candidate for HR. His anatomy and medical condition is most likely very different from yours. I do not think you should link your condition and outcome with his condition and outcome. I think that all of us on this site should thank him for being honest with his story because it helps us all, patient and surgeon alike. Because, again the more information we have the better the procedure will be in the future. For example, someone in the future who has a similar pre-op condition as this gentleman may not be the best candidate for a HR but instead may be better off getting a primary standard THR. My belief is that if your anatomy is suitable for hip resurfacing as determined by Dr. Amstutz you will undergo a successful surgery with a wonderful pain- free and complication-free outcome. If Dr. Amstutz believes you are a good surgical candidate for hip resurfacing then I would accept him at his word. If for any reason you are not convinced that Dr. Amstutz considers you a good candidate for HR then I would get a second opinion from another OS who also has experience in performing hip resurfacing. Take as much time as you need get as many opinions as possible. I am planning on receiving a hip resurfacing in July '04 and I have shopped around and received multiple opinions as to whether or not I am a good candidate for HR. I have also asked about every and all known complicatons regarding this procedure. I know there are known low % risks with this procedure but I am willing to go forward with the surgery because I am able to make an informed decision. I believe this is my best option to remain an active 45 year old male who plans on working and living an active life for the next 30-40 years. I don't know if this helps but good-luck to you and call if you need to talk 630 493-0969. Dr. Mark > > > > Chris: > > > > I'm not really sure what the point of this person's letter to you > was. > > That he had a medical problem that escalated with a hip > resurfacing? That > > he ended up with a THR? That he had surgery before he was > totally hobbled > > by pain? That he even had OA at all? > > > > I wish he had simply directed you to his site for reference. I > read the > > whole long saga (and it is long) and I feel much compassion for > what this > > man went through. Though HIS story is the exception and NOT the > rule. The > > point is NOT about waiting until you are unable to walk. Trust > me, I was > > there. I spent a year prior to surgery walking with a cane and > only able > > to walk for about a block. As a result, I almost wasn't able to > have a > > resurf. Perhaps in the hands of a surgeon less skilled then Dr. > Mont, I > > might have a THR today. I am not denigrating THR, but as a YOUNG > person, > > you would be wise to preserve that bone stock. I spoke with my > OS > > recently (my local supportive one who didn't do the surgery) and > he was > > talking to me about young people who have a THR + revision and > what a HUGE > > toll that takes on the human body....that there are cases of > people living > > out their days in a wheelchair because they can't do another > revision. > > > > Speaking of worst-case stories. I was at a party recently and a > few people > > wanted to know about what hip resurfacing was. After finishing > the short > > version, 2 of the 4 people there had relatives who had nightmare > THR > > stories. One patient was elderly...in her 80's, the other was my > age, 52. > > Both had infections, both had to spend months on antibiotics and > both had to > > stay in bed equally as long. One of them had to have the implant > removed > > during this time as well. Sad. Due to the fact that a THR is > more > > invasive then a resurf, your chances of an infection are higher. > As I > > listened to the stories, I was so thankful to have a resurf. > > > > I'm sorry the author implies that you have a " choice " about > whether or not > > to have the surgery. I'm sorry to tell you this you don't > have that > > choice. Regardless if you have the surgery now or in 6 months, > you will > > still have the same hip problem if you don't have the surgery. > The pain > > may have subsided for now, but the x-rays don't lie and neither > does your > > past experience. It's not a question of " IF " , but " WHEN " . > Surfacehippys > > urge sooner rather then later to ensure that you are in decent > shape and > > even still qualify for a resurf. Waiting until one is hobbled is > not a > > good idea, regardless of what the letter to you said. > > > > On a final note, there will always be people who had that > nightmare story. > > We feel badly about it and have compassion and support for them > here. > > However, just because a car accident 'can' happen, doesn't mean we > will > > never drive. If we believed that, we'd all never leave the > house.... > > > > Lois > > C+ 3/27/03 Dr. Mont > > > > > > > > > > A scary letter > > > > > > I got this e-mail just 3 days before my resurfacing. Talk about > > freaking me out...I've pasted it below: > > > > > > > > My hip stopped hurting the last six months before my resurfacing > > surgery, and I almost bailed out. One week before the surgery I > > expressed my reservations to the nurse, and she said, " You don't > > have to do this. " But by then everything was arranged--even the > > girls in my office had prepared and froze food so I'd have > something > > to eat during my recovery. Somehow I just couldn't tell everyone > > that I had changed my mind. And so I went through with it. In > > retrospect I can say that I wish I had listened to the inner voice > > that said " Not yet! " because I could have made it a while longer on > > my real hip. I had read that nothing works like the real thing, > and > > I chose to ignore that advice. Some of my activities had become > > limited, but not all, and I was not really in excruciating pain > yet. > > > > Unfortunately, I didn't have rosy outcome most others experience. > > As with any procedure, there is not a 100% success rate, and there > > will always be people who experience problems. I was one of them, > > but unfortunately, once you take the plunge, there is no turning > > back. I don't know how bad off you are right now, and only you can > > make that determination. For many people, there is no choice. For > > those of us who have a choice, it can really be a difficult and > > heart wrenching decision. Good luck with your decision. > > > > You can read about my experience on the Hip Surface Replacement > page > > of www.BananaRepublican.info. > > > > ph K. Waltenbaugh > > Division of Corrective Action > > > > jwaltenbau@s... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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