Re: Durom Resurfacing in Vancouver But 2 Years

[Guest guest]

-Ted, interesting tidbit about the Durom....we are basically in the

same boat...waiting for surgery and not really knowing when to

say " just do it " ...anyway...I am a female..age 51..and wondering if I

should be taking fosomax/actonel in the meantime for bone

strengthening...hmmm...I posted a thread about this but got no

responses....I'm worried that my bones will become osteoporetic

during my " wait " time. Any thoughts on this anyone? Susie

- In surfacehippy , " Pamela Jansen "

wrote:

> Ted I don't believe that that one doctor does only hip resurfacing,

> it's just that he is the biggest proponent of it of the 4.

Although

> given the amount of operating time these guys are given, perhaps

right

> now that's all he is doing as they try to get some patients under

> their belts (some of these doctors get 4-5 operating days a month -

> and the waitlists for hips are increasing at a rate of 9% every wix

> months!). I believe tho that Dr. Greidanus will refuse to do a

woman

> in her late fifties and I was told by Garbuz when I wanted one that

he

> wouldn't even talk to woman over 50 for resurfacing....perhaps he

has

> changed his mind. Dr. Masri, another one of those doctors and the

> newest to do resurfacing of that bunch seems more receptive to a

woman

> as long as her bones are strong - the problem being of course will

you

> still have good bones by the time your name comes up. As these

> doctors get a better feel for resurfacing I believe they will

promote

> it more - they say they need more evidence of it working - well we

are

> all trying to give it to them.

>

> With respect to the Durom v. the others, really there is not a lot

of

> difference and one of the Durom doctors told me that they are

> basically all the same - any claims about better " ratio clearance "

etc

> are really just that - claims - there is a mathematial formula that

> they have to use...(don't ask me the math part)... Every

manufacturer

> has small differences in the making of the device, or perhaps in the

> metallurgy to but it comes down to the one your doctor uses, or your

> personal preference if you choose to go somewhere else. Some

devices

> have more size options and for some people that will become an

> important part of their choice.

>

>

> In your case, if your bones are strong now and there is not a lot of

> damage to the surface you are probably fine to wait. It's one of

> those things you need to keep an eye on - as a man you will tend to

> have better bones than we women but osteoporosis is not unheard of

in

> men either. It is certainly something you need to keep an eye and

if

> things get bad either beg Garbuz for an earlier appointment or go to

> England or Europe or India (virtually no waitlists in Europe and

India

> - I believe England you can get in privately pretty fast too).

>

> I can tell you that Cliff and I continue to get stronger and better

> ROM even at 18 months out....it still surprises me on a regular

basis

> and that grin on my face Oct 23/02 has never gone away!!

>

> Best of luck - any questions - ask away.

>

> Pamela

> LBHR De Smet Oct23/02

>

>

>

>

> > There is now an approx. 2 year waiting list in Vancouver

(Canada).

> The 4 doctors here have switched from using the Birmingham

prosthesis

> to the Durom prosthesis which is approx. $1,000 less. The Durom has

> been used with 200,000 patients so far and there is evidence of it

> being a superior product IMHO. One of these 4 docors in Vancouver

> (all part of the same team) does only hip resurfacing but they all

do

> not encourage hip resurfacing because they do not feel that there is

> sufficient evidence after only 10 years. I insisted with my

Ortho. ,

> Dr. Garbuz, that I wanted the hip resurfacing and I am now on

> an approx 18 month waitng list because I had visited him 8 months

> earlier. Should I wait this long or go to Birmingham or somewhere

> closer? I am not in severe constant pain and can hit tennis balls

> with limited movements. Should I avoid too much movement if my

> operation is so far away. Do I risk wearing out the femur bulb bone

> if I have very little cartilage left? Any thoughts or opinions are

> appreciated. I am gald that I discovered this Yahoo group just a

few

> days ago. Thanks everybody for your great stories and sharing!

> > Ted

> >

> >