Re: Help with Arthroplasty Questions - to Terry

[Guest guest]

Hi Terry,

I had arthroscopy done on the right joint (my better joint at the

time) and arthroplasty on the left one year ago. In January, I had

the bilateral joint reconstructions done. For the arthroplasty, I

did have the large incision in front of my ear but you can't even

see it now even though it's been only four months. Usually the

surgeons make the incision right along the front of the ear just

like for a face lift. Mine then sutured it closed by using

dissolving sutures that ran underneath the skin and held the skin

together by using Dermabond (basically superglue made specifically

for skin). If you look very closely, you can see a very faint line

running along the front of my ear that you wouldn't even recognize

as a scar unless you knew to look for it. Cammie can attest to that;

she saw my scar last summer.

The arthroplasty didn't hurt much and was much easier to recover

from than the orthognathic surgeries. I was having so much pain

before the surgery that the post-op pain was actually a relief from

what I'd been having and much more manageable. I was able to go on a

soft diet right away after being on liquids only for 9 months after

the initial orthognathic surgery. I went back to work without any

problems 2 weeks after the arthroplasty.

Yes, it has been very expensive. After five surgeries, the total is

easily over $200,000. Luckily insurance has paid 80-90% of it.

It sounds like your surgeon has great credentials so I'd stay with

him too if I were you. Don't worry about asking lots of questions.

It's your jaw and you should be well informed. When do you think

you'll have your surgery?

[Guest guest]

's right on, here. I saw not a thing, but her supportive husband

and her two sweet, tiny, energetic children!

She's bright and knowledgeable, which helped, no doubt, through all

this trouble. Brave, as well, as is her husband.

These docs know how to hide the signs of their work, I think. At

least once the obvious things, like splints and braces, can be

ditched.

C.

> Hi Terry,

>

> I had arthroscopy done on the right joint (my better joint at the

> time) and arthroplasty on the left one year ago. In January, I had

> the bilateral joint reconstructions done. For the arthroplasty, I

> did have the large incision in front of my ear but you can't even

> see it now even though it's been only four months. Usually the

> surgeons make the incision right along the front of the ear just

> like for a face lift. Mine then sutured it closed by using

> dissolving sutures that ran underneath the skin and held the skin

> together by using Dermabond (basically superglue made specifically

> for skin). If you look very closely, you can see a very faint line

> running along the front of my ear that you wouldn't even recognize

> as a scar unless you knew to look for it. Cammie can attest to

that;

> she saw my scar last summer.

>

> The arthroplasty didn't hurt much and was much easier to recover

> from than the orthognathic surgeries. I was having so much pain

> before the surgery that the post-op pain was actually a relief from

> what I'd been having and much more manageable. I was able to go on

a

> soft diet right away after being on liquids only for 9 months after

> the initial orthognathic surgery. I went back to work without any

> problems 2 weeks after the arthroplasty.

>

> Yes, it has been very expensive. After five surgeries, the total is

> easily over $200,000. Luckily insurance has paid 80-90% of it.

>

> It sounds like your surgeon has great credentials so I'd stay with

> him too if I were you. Don't worry about asking lots of questions.

> It's your jaw and you should be well informed. When do you think

> you'll have your surgery?

>