Re: Hip resurfacing and waiting lists

[Guest guest]

If you want resurfacing your choices are very limited here in BC and

in Canada as a whole. There are 5 doctors in BC who are doing

resurfacing, most of them now using the Durom I think. They are all

excellent surgeons, but they are also the busiest in BC and, as you

know, their waitlists just to talk to them can be up to two years. I

don't believe that any of them keep people waiting until it is

convenient for the doctor - they simply are not given operating time -

some of the the top BC surgeons are alloted 3 -5 days a month of

surgery. The college of surgeons says they should be operating 16

days a month to stay current, but they can't get the time. It is

called rationing healthcare to keep the costs down.

If you are willing to pay a surgical referral clinic about $500.00 you

can speak to a surgeon within a couple of weeks and some of the

surgeons at the clinic do resurfacing. You will get about an hour of

the doctor's time and tons of information. This doesn't get you

higher in the surgical waitlist, but you get to skip the consult list.

If you want to know more about that email me privately (just click

on my address above) and I can give you more information.

I know several people who are definitely not in the rich or even kind

of well off category who decided that their life was more important

than anything else and for the price of a used car (or less), they got

their hips done and are got their lives back. My husband and I both

got our s done at the same time and travelled to Belgium. Believe

me, it was an easy decision to go to the bank and borrow the money.

19 months after surgery we can do anything we want - If we chose to

wait it out here we would still be waiting.... what can I say. When

we need our other hips done if the lists are long we won't wait - we

will borrow again and forgo cars, vacations whatever it takes just to

be able to get on with life without pain.

Either one of us would happy to give you more information about

doctors here or abroad, the BHR or the Referral Clinic.

Pamela and Cliff

LBHR and RBHR De Smet Oct/02

> Hi All,

>

> Am new to this format so excuse me if I stumble (or is it limp?) a

> little. At the present time I am waiting for an appointment with a

> surgeon in Vancouver who it appears will keep me waiting as long as

> might be convenient for him. I live on Vancouver Island so the

> availability of surgical treatment (BHR or equivalent) here is non-

> existent other than THR... Anyone have other options/solutions for

> getting through to another doctor? Working for the federal government

> precludes being able to afford going elsewhere for surgery so I am

> forced to wait until the list moves along a little. Any suggestions?

>

> MC

[Guest guest]

If you want resurfacing your choices are very limited here in BC and

in Canada as a whole. There are 5 doctors in BC who are doing

resurfacing, most of them now using the Durom I think. They are all

excellent surgeons, but they are also the busiest in BC and, as you

know, their waitlists just to talk to them can be up to two years. I

don't believe that any of them keep people waiting until it is

convenient for the doctor - they simply are not given operating time -

some of the the top BC surgeons are alloted 3 -5 days a month of

surgery. The college of surgeons says they should be operating 16

days a month to stay current, but they can't get the time. It is

called rationing healthcare to keep the costs down.

If you are willing to pay a surgical referral clinic about $500.00 you

can speak to a surgeon within a couple of weeks and some of the

surgeons at the clinic do resurfacing. You will get about an hour of

the doctor's time and tons of information. This doesn't get you

higher in the surgical waitlist, but you get to skip the consult list.

If you want to know more about that email me privately (just click

on my address above) and I can give you more information.

I know several people who are definitely not in the rich or even kind

of well off category who decided that their life was more important

than anything else and for the price of a used car (or less), they got

their hips done and are got their lives back. My husband and I both

got our s done at the same time and travelled to Belgium. Believe

me, it was an easy decision to go to the bank and borrow the money.

19 months after surgery we can do anything we want - If we chose to

wait it out here we would still be waiting.... what can I say. When

we need our other hips done if the lists are long we won't wait - we

will borrow again and forgo cars, vacations whatever it takes just to

be able to get on with life without pain.

Either one of us would happy to give you more information about

doctors here or abroad, the BHR or the Referral Clinic.

Pamela and Cliff

LBHR and RBHR De Smet Oct/02

> Hi All,

>

> Am new to this format so excuse me if I stumble (or is it limp?) a

> little. At the present time I am waiting for an appointment with a

> surgeon in Vancouver who it appears will keep me waiting as long as

> might be convenient for him. I live on Vancouver Island so the

> availability of surgical treatment (BHR or equivalent) here is non-

> existent other than THR... Anyone have other options/solutions for

> getting through to another doctor? Working for the federal government

> precludes being able to afford going elsewhere for surgery so I am

> forced to wait until the list moves along a little. Any suggestions?

>

> MC

[Guest guest]

--- Hi:

I am from montreal and they do the resurfacing at a

few hospitals. I am getting my right hip done on june 11. I brought

in my xrays at the end of april. You have to be a good candidate and

be under 60. It is coming fast but from what I hear about a 2 year

waiting list I am a lucky one.Maybe medicare will cover you if you

go to montreal.

from montreal.

In surfacehippy , " Pamela Jansen "

wrote:

> If you want resurfacing your choices are very limited here in BC

and

> in Canada as a whole. There are 5 doctors in BC who are doing

> resurfacing, most of them now using the Durom I think. They are

all

> excellent surgeons, but they are also the busiest in BC and, as you

> know, their waitlists just to talk to them can be up to two

years. I

> don't believe that any of them keep people waiting until it is

> convenient for the doctor - they simply are not given operating

time -

> some of the the top BC surgeons are alloted 3 -5 days a month of

> surgery. The college of surgeons says they should be operating 16

> days a month to stay current, but they can't get the time. It is

> called rationing healthcare to keep the costs down.

>

> If you are willing to pay a surgical referral clinic about $500.00

you

> can speak to a surgeon within a couple of weeks and some of the

> surgeons at the clinic do resurfacing. You will get about an hour

of

> the doctor's time and tons of information. This doesn't get you

> higher in the surgical waitlist, but you get to skip the consult

list.

> If you want to know more about that email me privately (just

click

> on my address above) and I can give you more information.

>

> I know several people who are definitely not in the rich or even

kind

> of well off category who decided that their life was more important

> than anything else and for the price of a used car (or less), they

got

> their hips done and are got their lives back. My husband and I

both

> got our s done at the same time and travelled to Belgium. Believe

> me, it was an easy decision to go to the bank and borrow the

money.

> 19 months after surgery we can do anything we want - If we chose to

> wait it out here we would still be waiting.... what can I say.

When

> we need our other hips done if the lists are long we won't wait -

we

> will borrow again and forgo cars, vacations whatever it takes just

to

> be able to get on with life without pain.

>

> Either one of us would happy to give you more information about

> doctors here or abroad, the BHR or the Referral Clinic.

>

> Pamela and Cliff

> LBHR and RBHR De Smet Oct/02

>

> > Hi All,

> >

> > Am new to this format so excuse me if I stumble (or is it limp?)

a

> > little. At the present time I am waiting for an appointment with

a

> > surgeon in Vancouver who it appears will keep me waiting as long

as

> > might be convenient for him. I live on Vancouver Island so the

> > availability of surgical treatment (BHR or equivalent) here is

non-

> > existent other than THR... Anyone have other options/solutions

for

> > getting through to another doctor? Working for the federal

government

> > precludes being able to afford going elsewhere for surgery so I

am

> > forced to wait until the list moves along a little. Any

suggestions?

> >

> > MC

[Guest guest]

Hi MC,

l had a hip resurfacing done in Montreal. l just want to underline

that the healthcare is a provincial juridiction. Medical coverage may

varry from one province to another. l read on this board that a guy

from BC, who had a hip resurfacing in Vancouver, had to pay $3,500.00

for mechanism of the conserve +. This means that someone from BC

could in theory come here for his resurfacing, but he must expect

that he will be charged if BC healthcare only cover the surgery as it

was stated by someone on this board.

Coming to montreal from BC is not as if you were already in montreal

and needed surgery. If you want l can try to check how out of

province patient could have their surgery done here. lf it happens

that you want to come down, our family will be happy to invite you as

our guest.

from Montreal

> > > Hi All,

> > >

> > > Am new to this format so excuse me if I stumble (or is it

limp?)

> a

> > > little. At the present time I am waiting for an appointment

with

> a

> > > surgeon in Vancouver who it appears will keep me waiting as

long

> as

> > > might be convenient for him. I live on Vancouver Island so the

> > > availability of surgical treatment (BHR or equivalent) here is

> non-

> > > existent other than THR... Anyone have other options/solutions

> for

> > > getting through to another doctor? Working for the federal

> government

> > > precludes being able to afford going elsewhere for surgery so I

> am

> > > forced to wait until the list moves along a little. Any

> suggestions?

> > >

> > > MC

[Guest guest]

Hi MC,

l had a hip resurfacing done in Montreal. l just want to underline

that the healthcare is a provincial juridiction. Medical coverage may

varry from one province to another. l read on this board that a guy

from BC, who had a hip resurfacing in Vancouver, had to pay $3,500.00

for mechanism of the conserve +. This means that someone from BC

could in theory come here for his resurfacing, but he must expect

that he will be charged if BC healthcare only cover the surgery as it

was stated by someone on this board.

Coming to montreal from BC is not as if you were already in montreal

and needed surgery. If you want l can try to check how out of

province patient could have their surgery done here. lf it happens

that you want to come down, our family will be happy to invite you as

our guest.

from Montreal

> > > Hi All,

> > >

> > > Am new to this format so excuse me if I stumble (or is it

limp?)

> a

> > > little. At the present time I am waiting for an appointment

with

> a

> > > surgeon in Vancouver who it appears will keep me waiting as

long

> as

> > > might be convenient for him. I live on Vancouver Island so the

> > > availability of surgical treatment (BHR or equivalent) here is

> non-

> > > existent other than THR... Anyone have other options/solutions

> for

> > > getting through to another doctor? Working for the federal

> government

> > > precludes being able to afford going elsewhere for surgery so I

> am

> > > forced to wait until the list moves along a little. Any

> suggestions?

> > >

> > > MC

[Guest guest]

> l read on this board that a guy

> from BC, who had a hip resurfacing in Vancouver, had to pay

$3,500.00 for mechanism of the conserve +.

$3500? Canadian? That's what, $2600 US????? I paid US $6050 apiece for

those suckers. I could understand them being cheaper in Canada if they

weren't made in the United States, but they're made in Tennessee,

fercryinoutloud. It's bad enough that the C+ isn't FDA-approved yet,

but having it cost over twice as much here as over the border is just

obscene.

Steve (bilat C+ 4/20/04, Amstutz)

[Guest guest]

> l read on this board that a guy

> from BC, who had a hip resurfacing in Vancouver, had to pay

$3,500.00 for mechanism of the conserve +.

$3500? Canadian? That's what, $2600 US????? I paid US $6050 apiece for

those suckers. I could understand them being cheaper in Canada if they

weren't made in the United States, but they're made in Tennessee,

fercryinoutloud. It's bad enough that the C+ isn't FDA-approved yet,

but having it cost over twice as much here as over the border is just

obscene.

Steve (bilat C+ 4/20/04, Amstutz)

[Guest guest]

Steve it's not the C+ - it's either the BHR or the Durom and that is

only the extra cost over the cost of the THR that they would have

used. Because the resurfacing device is not approved in Canada you

actually have to pay the difference and supposedly the doctors have to

get compassionate leave to actually use it. Unfortunately if someone

from BC wants to go to another province for the surgery the likelihood

is that it will not be covered because they will tell you that you

could get the surgery here, or if you can't wait you could, of course,

have a THR because there will be some doctor in BC who could do it

just as quickly as a doctor in another province. (In other words the

province would get to tell you who your doctor would be).

Given the fact that many Canadians are now saying that not only does

our system need to change, many are actually in favour of people

having a choice whether or not to pay, or at least use a private

facility...it maybe that one day people will be able to get access to

doctors and surgery sooner - but I won't be holding my breath on this one.

Pamela

> > l read on this board that a guy

> > from BC, who had a hip resurfacing in Vancouver, had to pay

> $3,500.00 for mechanism of the conserve +.

>

> $3500? Canadian? That's what, $2600 US????? I paid US $6050 apiece for

> those suckers. I could understand them being cheaper in Canada if they

> weren't made in the United States, but they're made in Tennessee,

> fercryinoutloud. It's bad enough that the C+ isn't FDA-approved yet,

> but having it cost over twice as much here as over the border is just

> obscene.

>

> Steve (bilat C+ 4/20/04, Amstutz)

[Guest guest]

Steve it's not the C+ - it's either the BHR or the Durom and that is

only the extra cost over the cost of the THR that they would have

used. Because the resurfacing device is not approved in Canada you

actually have to pay the difference and supposedly the doctors have to

get compassionate leave to actually use it. Unfortunately if someone

from BC wants to go to another province for the surgery the likelihood

is that it will not be covered because they will tell you that you

could get the surgery here, or if you can't wait you could, of course,

have a THR because there will be some doctor in BC who could do it

just as quickly as a doctor in another province. (In other words the

province would get to tell you who your doctor would be).

Given the fact that many Canadians are now saying that not only does

our system need to change, many are actually in favour of people

having a choice whether or not to pay, or at least use a private

facility...it maybe that one day people will be able to get access to

doctors and surgery sooner - but I won't be holding my breath on this one.

Pamela

> > l read on this board that a guy

> > from BC, who had a hip resurfacing in Vancouver, had to pay

> $3,500.00 for mechanism of the conserve +.

>

> $3500? Canadian? That's what, $2600 US????? I paid US $6050 apiece for

> those suckers. I could understand them being cheaper in Canada if they

> weren't made in the United States, but they're made in Tennessee,

> fercryinoutloud. It's bad enough that the C+ isn't FDA-approved yet,

> but having it cost over twice as much here as over the border is just

> obscene.

>

> Steve (bilat C+ 4/20/04, Amstutz)

[Guest guest]

- :

How are you doing with your resurface job. Have you got

yuor youth back. Let me know what you can do now?

from montreal

-- In surfacehippy , " converseur "

wrote:

> Hi MC,

>

> l had a hip resurfacing done in Montreal. l just want to underline

> that the healthcare is a provincial juridiction. Medical coverage

may

> varry from one province to another. l read on this board that a

guy

> from BC, who had a hip resurfacing in Vancouver, had to pay

$3,500.00

> for mechanism of the conserve +. This means that someone from BC

> could in theory come here for his resurfacing, but he must expect

> that he will be charged if BC healthcare only cover the surgery as

it

> was stated by someone on this board.

>

> Coming to montreal from BC is not as if you were already in

montreal

> and needed surgery. If you want l can try to check how out of

> province patient could have their surgery done here. lf it happens

> that you want to come down, our family will be happy to invite you

as

> our guest.

>

> from Montreal

>

>

>

>

> > > > Hi All,

> > > >

> > > > Am new to this format so excuse me if I stumble (or is it

> limp?)

> > a

> > > > little. At the present time I am waiting for an appointment

> with

> > a

> > > > surgeon in Vancouver who it appears will keep me waiting as

> long

> > as

> > > > might be convenient for him. I live on Vancouver Island so

the

> > > > availability of surgical treatment (BHR or equivalent) here

is

> > non-

> > > > existent other than THR... Anyone have other

options/solutions

> > for

> > > > getting through to another doctor? Working for the federal

> > government

> > > > precludes being able to afford going elsewhere for surgery

so I

> > am

> > > > forced to wait until the list moves along a little. Any

> > suggestions?

> > > >

> > > > MC

[Guest guest]

,

The resurfacing job seems to hold on very strongly and gets stronger,

though the range od movement very wide. My os told me he fixed it

that way especialy for the type of heavy work l do and the demanding

active life style l have. Beside my work, l work on my house, clim

the ladder, play socer with the kids, long walks, cycling and

climbing soon. The other hip is hitching and my os offered me to

resurface it. l hope it can hold on for a few years to catch up what

it needs to be done around the house and travel to the west coast. l

have a remote lot which awaits a 4 season cabin.

You are getting you resurfacing in a week. Check out for physical

therapy before you are released from the hospital. l was offered to

go to a rehabilitation center for a few weeks or to go home. l opted

to go home but l should have gone in a center because l began my

physio 2 weeks post op. Have you though taking vitamin supplement?

we live very close from one another and if you think there could be a

way l could be useful l will be glad to help out.

Best regards, from Montreal

> > > > > Hi All,

> > > > >

> > > > > Am new to this format so excuse me if I stumble (or is it

> > limp?)

> > > a

> > > > > little. At the present time I am waiting for an appointment

> > with

> > > a

> > > > > surgeon in Vancouver who it appears will keep me waiting as

> > long

> > > as

> > > > > might be convenient for him. I live on Vancouver Island so

> the

> > > > > availability of surgical treatment (BHR or equivalent) here

> is

> > > non-

> > > > > existent other than THR... Anyone have other

> options/solutions

> > > for

> > > > > getting through to another doctor? Working for the federal

> > > government

> > > > > precludes being able to afford going elsewhere for surgery

> so I

> > > am

> > > > > forced to wait until the list moves along a little. Any

> > > suggestions?

> > > > >

> > > > > MC

[Guest guest]

,

The resurfacing job seems to hold on very strongly and gets stronger,

though the range od movement very wide. My os told me he fixed it

that way especialy for the type of heavy work l do and the demanding

active life style l have. Beside my work, l work on my house, clim

the ladder, play socer with the kids, long walks, cycling and

climbing soon. The other hip is hitching and my os offered me to

resurface it. l hope it can hold on for a few years to catch up what

it needs to be done around the house and travel to the west coast. l

have a remote lot which awaits a 4 season cabin.

You are getting you resurfacing in a week. Check out for physical

therapy before you are released from the hospital. l was offered to

go to a rehabilitation center for a few weeks or to go home. l opted

to go home but l should have gone in a center because l began my

physio 2 weeks post op. Have you though taking vitamin supplement?

we live very close from one another and if you think there could be a

way l could be useful l will be glad to help out.

Best regards, from Montreal

> > > > > Hi All,

> > > > >

> > > > > Am new to this format so excuse me if I stumble (or is it

> > limp?)

> > > a

> > > > > little. At the present time I am waiting for an appointment

> > with

> > > a

> > > > > surgeon in Vancouver who it appears will keep me waiting as

> > long

> > > as

> > > > > might be convenient for him. I live on Vancouver Island so

> the

> > > > > availability of surgical treatment (BHR or equivalent) here

> is

> > > non-

> > > > > existent other than THR... Anyone have other

> options/solutions

> > > for

> > > > > getting through to another doctor? Working for the federal

> > > government

> > > > > precludes being able to afford going elsewhere for surgery

> so I

> > > am

> > > > > forced to wait until the list moves along a little. Any

> > > suggestions?

> > > > >

> > > > > MC

[Guest guest]

,

The resurfacing job seems to hold on very strongly and gets stronger,

though the range od movement very wide. My os told me he fixed it

that way especialy for the type of heavy work l do and the demanding

active life style l have. Beside my work, l work on my house, clim

the ladder, play socer with the kids, long walks, cycling and

climbing soon. The other hip is hitching and my os offered me to

resurface it. l hope it can hold on for a few years to catch up what

it needs to be done around the house and travel to the west coast. l

have a remote lot which awaits a 4 season cabin.

You are getting you resurfacing in a week. Check out for physical

therapy before you are released from the hospital. l was offered to

go to a rehabilitation center for a few weeks or to go home. l opted

to go home but l should have gone in a center because l began my

physio 2 weeks post op. Have you though taking vitamin supplement?

we live very close from one another and if you think there could be a

way l could be useful l will be glad to help out.

Best regards, from Montreal

> > > > > Hi All,

> > > > >

> > > > > Am new to this format so excuse me if I stumble (or is it

> > limp?)

> > > a

> > > > > little. At the present time I am waiting for an appointment

> > with

> > > a

> > > > > surgeon in Vancouver who it appears will keep me waiting as

> > long

> > > as

> > > > > might be convenient for him. I live on Vancouver Island so

> the

> > > > > availability of surgical treatment (BHR or equivalent) here

> is

> > > non-

> > > > > existent other than THR... Anyone have other

> options/solutions

> > > for

> > > > > getting through to another doctor? Working for the federal

> > > government

> > > > > precludes being able to afford going elsewhere for surgery

> so I

> > > am

> > > > > forced to wait until the list moves along a little. Any

> > > suggestions?

> > > > >

> > > > > MC

[Guest guest]

> Hi All,

>

> Am new to this format so excuse me if I stumble (or is it limp?) a

> little. At the present time I am waiting for an appointment with a

> surgeon in Vancouver who it appears will keep me waiting as long as

> might be convenient for him. I live on Vancouver Island so the

> availability of surgical treatment

(BHR or equivalent) here is non-

> existent other than THR... Anyone have other options/solutions for

> getting through to another doctor? Working for the federal government

> precludes being able to afford going elsewhere for surgery so I am

> forced to wait until the list moves along a little. Any suggestions?

>

> MC

Hi there. With regard to the cost of the device, (Conserve Plus) I was quoted

3000 Cdn. this past Dec. I was informed that while to proceedure was approved,

the device was not. When I had my consultation, (Dr. Kim, Ottawa) in mid-March

he told me that the Conserve Plus had just been approved a couple of weeks

earlier and was now fully covered by OHIP. I was resurfaced on May 11th with a

total cost of zero $. Can there be that much of a difference in provincial

health plans??

Ottawa's a good place to have it done and with you working for the feds it's an

opportunity to drop in on your Ministery's " big boss " and give 'im your two

cents worth, face to face. LOL

, Toronto