3rd. opinion is a CHARM!

[Guest guest]

I developed right hip pain for the first time last October. Blew it

off at first as a pulled muscle, groin pull, or just getting older.

Got worse and decided to see a OS December 23, 2004.

First OS I saw looked at my x-rays and MRI and explained that I had

AVN of right hip and life as I knew it was over. He said I needed a

total hip replacement and I would need most likely two or three

revisions in my life. He said no more sports or other physical

activities.

Second OS said yes I did have AVN and bone on bone of right hip but

was to young (40) for total hip replacement and should deal with the

pain for five or ten years and then get it done. ( I can hardly walk

mind you) We also tried physical therapy without any success.

It all changed on my third opinion yesterday. Taking the advice of

many of you hippies out there, I called to scheduled an appointment

with Dr. Mont on March 30, 2004. ( I live in the Baltimore area) He

could not see me until yesterday. My appointment was at 8:30 am.

When my appointment was over at 12:30 pm. I had learned that I do NOT

have AVN just severe OA, I am an ideal candidate for resurfacing,

and I was scheduled for surgery on June 21, 2004. So if everything

goes well with the insurance it looks like come June, I will join the

ranks of surfacehippy.

Needless to say, I am happier today than I have been since last

December 23, when I was told, " life as I knew it was over " . I now

have hope that I will resume a fairly normal life after hip

resurfacing.

Without this great group, I would have probably already received a

THR and would be worrying about revision surgery in the future.

Thanks everyone for all the posts, support, and most importantly a

positive attitude. This site has helped me greatly.

FYI - Dr. Mont was to learn yesterday afternoon if he was eligible

for 50 more trial hip resurface procedures from eith the FDA or the

manufacture of the C+, I can't remember which one and he seemed to be

very confident it would happen. So it looks like there is hope out

there for another 50 of us.