Had my hip resurfaced on 1/10. Let me know if anyone is interested in
details.

"grinder" <seagle@earthlink.invalid> wrote in message
news:rsTzf.4016$Hd4.1059@newsread1.news.pas.earthl ink.net...

A good thing about posting information on a health or support group is
that it might help someone a long time from now or today. Just tell us
how it all started and why you made the choices you made and the results.
It will be cross posted to ASA also.

Harv

Harv, that's what I'll always remember about you: your initial
encouragement to share one's own experiences, in order to help others. I've
tried to live by that. Nanny
"Harvey R. Stone" <none@nobody.net> wrote in message
news:q6Uzf.12077$F_3.1161@newssvr29.news.prodigy.n et...

"Nanny" <dorlchas@tds.net> wrote in message
news:43d03bb2_3@newspeer2.tds.net...
I believe that people as a rule want to help each other to live as well
as they can and a little conversation about what life has taught a person is
a good thing but everynow and then something will slap a person up side the
head and make a person rethink things.
A little truth that you will not read in the papers or hear on the news,
Houston is really paying for opening our arms,,, opening our pocketbooks,,,,
opening our hearts is really turning around to bite us.
With our towns murder rate going down each year for several years,,,,, this
year it is up by somewhere between a 100 to 150. Every other day or so the
local news will have a spot about a gang war a one of the schools and the
children involved are much younger than a person would think. The older
kids the fighting is much more serious with people really getting hurt.
We still have a couple hundred thousand people from the Louisiana coast
in our area that are filling our hotels and apartment houses that have not
found work.
If a person has to go the emergency ward,,,, lots of luck and it does not
matter what day its on..... I don't know,,,, I don't know. A person has
to do what they think is right at the time things happen and live with the
changes that come about. In a way,,,, its like the old saying,,,, watch
what you pray for,,,, you might get your way.... I really want things to
be Gods way but I am going through a period of time in my life where I am
not sure anymore of the which way that is. So it goes. Just some thoughts
and its late.
Harv

Yeah, I am. please post, love to read the details. i just had the 2nd
of both hips totally replaced so would love to know more about your
surgery altho it's after the fact with me. i'm home from the hosptital
only a week so have plenty of extra time to read. take care.

<tsedinger@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1138051854.893610.39300@z14g2000cwz.googlegro ups.com...
Day of Surgery:
Everything went smoothly. I was given an epidural and wheeled into the
operating room. I remember looking around and finally staring at the
ceiling. The Anesthesiologist said I was going to get a shot of pain killer
in the epidural after the operation and then said I was going to sleep. I
remember looking at the ceiling and thinking "this is taking longer than I
thought it would." Next thing I remember is being told the operation was
over. I found myself in a large recovery room still in a daze. I was
wheeled into my room and promptly threw up. Someone said it was probably
from the motion of the bed. Not so. I threw up about every 1-1/2 hours
from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. I was also itching. That was the worst. Both
the throwing up and the itching were do to the anesthesia or pain killer.
In any case I did not want another shot and didn't receive any.

Day 2:
Started on the walker. No big deal. The biggest problem was getting out of
bed but after I mastered that I began walking around the floor using the
walker. No or very little pain. Had the drain removed from the hip and the
epidural removed from my back. Only one needle still inserted (hand).
I spent 10% of time doing exercises, 10% of time walking and 80% of time
lying
in bed.

Day 3:
Started using the crutches. I walked around the floor out of boredom. No
or
very little pain. Doctor visited and liked what he saw in terms of
progress. Had the last needle (in my hand) removed. Doctor said I could
return to the gym the following week and ride a stationary bike with the
non-operated leg going along for the ride. I spent 10% of time doing
exercises, 10% of time walking, and 80% of time lying in bed.

Day 4:
Discharged from Hospital. I took a Tylenol before trip because I was
expecting some pain after relative inactivity over last 3 days. Took cab to
airport. I entered back seat through driver's side. Slid along seat and
kept
operated leg in well. I was met at airport with wheelchair. I sat down
roughly
since I had not gauged the level of the seat. The angle between thigh and
torso was close to 90 but improved when the 4" seat cushion was placed on
the seat. Wheeled to gate and sat for 2 hours with a short walk to
bathroom. Pre-boarded and sat in bulkhead seat on the 4" seat cushion. No
problem with angle. Flight was about an hour. Met at gate with wheelchair
and was wheeled to the car in the ramp. No problem getting into car.
Thigh - torso angle was good. To this point had been sitting down for
about 5 hours. Thigh of operated leg had swelled and the swelling was very
cool to the touch. I elevated the leg for next 3 hours. I slept in supine
position with pillow between my legs.
I spent 5% of time doing exercises, 90%
of time sitting and 5% of time walking.

Day 5:
Started taking Indocine, Prevacid and Coumadin. I experienced some swelling
principally in thigh, but slightly in calf of operated leg. Rested it.
Swelling went down but not completely. Other leg normal. I am still not
taking
any pain meds. I received prescription - over 24 hours since last dose of
Indocine and Prevacid. Pain level 1.5 of range 0-10. Start taking
Coumadin.
I had some pain in specifically in the hip when I went to bed but did not
take anything for it. It was at a level of 3-3.5 from 1-10. Pain level is
about what I had expected from the operation. I found I can alleviate the
pain in the lower back at night by placing the pillow under the knee rather
than between the legs. It seems my back hurts when the pillow is between
the legs and my leg hurts when the pillow is under the knee. I alternate.
I am eating well during the day. Unbelievable that eating as little as
possible of the hospital foods for 4 days with very little exercise and I
gained 4 pounds. I slept more soundly than any night since operation.
I spent 5% of time doing exercises, 90% of time sitting and 5% of time
walking.



Day 6:

Operated leg is still swollen slightly but no pain.

I can use the stairs easily. Sleeping at night getting easier but find I
need to take a nap in the afternoon.

I had a photo taken of the incision.

I spent 10% of time doing exercises or lying down, 85% of time sitting and
5% of time walking.


Day 7:
Returned to work (administration and work at home) which is good since it
kept my mind off of condition. Leg still slightly swollen (mostly in thigh
but some in calf). Pain level during the day was 0-.5 from 1-10. Leg feels
good. Instead of sitting in dining room chair I put two sofa cushions on
top of each other. It provides enough support while raising the sitting
surface. It also allows me to elevate the leg on the table in front of the
sofa. After about an hour in this position the leg gets a little tight.
Walking with crutches seems to loosen it up. Tweaked the leg a little when
I
forgot to take my crutches once when walking. Leg gave out but I caught
myself before fall. I was driven to the lab to give first blood sample. No
problem getting in and out of car. No problems using stairs. I slept well
at
night. A little pain was experienced when raising operated leg into bed but
it went away. No pain in the lower back or otherwise experienced during the
night.



Day 8:

I continue to have no pain and I am not taking any pain medication. Got
blood results and found out the current dosage of Coumadin is resulting in
the blood being too thin. Because my blood was too thin they want me to skip
the next dose and then alternate between 1 mg /day and 2 mg / day until
further notice. I asked about taking Tylenol with the Coumadin since it
says in the pamphlet not to do so (I only took the one tablet on the way
home from the hospital but wanted the base covered). After checking with
Doctor I was told it was o.k. to do so and it was accepted protocol. No
pain but ankle of operated leg swollen significantly at the end of the day
which is probably due to me sitting most of the day at work. Raised leg in
the evening and swelling decreased. Blood discoloration is migrating down
the leg and discoloration around incision beginning to fade. There is
slight pain and swelling in upper butt just north of the end of the
incision. Slept well. I spent 5% of time doing exercises, 90% of time
sitting and 5% of time walking.



Day 9:

There is some cramping in the thigh which can be eliminated with exercise
but the main pain is in butt around the end of the incision - not taking any
pain meds. Discoloration around incision has continued to migrate down the
leg to the ankle. The swelling around the thigh and calf has decreased but
the swelling has increased significantly at the ankle. This appears at the
end of the day. No pain in the ankle. Raising the leg overnight eliminates
the swelling. Increased time spent exercising and walking. I spent 5% of
time doing exercises, 5% of time laying down, 80% of the time sitting and
10% of time walking.



Day 10:

I increased time walking and concentrated on exercises. To date I would
walk for 5-10 minutes at a time. Today I walked from 20 minutes without a
break with half of that being on a slight grade. Pain (1 on scale from
0-10) is located at the north end of incision and very slightly in upper
quad. Tape sutures are beginning to fall off. The Coumadin dosage has been
cut from 2 mg / day to 1 mg / day. No problem getting into or out of car
(riding only). Swelling is still present around ankle and slightly at calf
which decreases when foot is elevated. No swelling at quad. Discoloration
around incision continues to fade. I spent 5% of time doing exercises, 5% of
time lying down, 80% of the time sitting and 10% of time walking.



Day 11:

Increased time walking (nearly double) over previous walks. Only pain is at
the north end of the incision where there appears to be slight swelling the
size of a golf ball (although the swelling has been going down). I continue
to do my exercises. The level of pain increased slightly in the evening
which is probably due to the increased walking. I spent 5% of time doing
exercises, 75% of the time sitting and 20% of time walking.





Day 12:

Rode in car and went on errands. No problem getting into or out of car. I
went on a medium length (3/4 mile) walk through the woods. Again the only
pain seems to be at the north end of the incision and that is tolerable. No
pain meds needed. Have some periodic numbness on the inside of the forearms
probably due to using crutches. I spent 5% of time doing exercises, 80% of
the time sitting and 15% of time walking.



Day 13:

Walked less but exercised a little more. I noticed numbness and pain in
forearms so I adjusted the crutches so the pad under the arm was lower.
Had a photo taken of the incision. Discoloration is almost completely gone
from the area. Slight discoloration of toes and ankle of operated leg
probably due to migration of the blood. Swelling in ankles is much less
with no observable swelling in thigh or calf. I spent 7% of time doing
exercises, 80% of the time sitting and 13% of time walking.



Day 14:

The swelling in the operated leg/ankle has been reduced significantly.
There is some discomfort once in a while in the hip but it leaves once I
start exercising or walking. Maintaining Coudamin dose at 1 mg / day per
instructions for C.L.A. I spent 5% of time doing exercises, 80% of the time
sitting and 15% of time walking.

Well done Grinder,,,,
Harv

I also want to point out I spent a year researching the process and
physicians. I found two who told me they had done 400-500. Another one
said he had done 100 and studied under the physician I finally chose.
Turns out the "teacher" has done 700 with the present device alone. I
believe he had done about 2800 total.

Nurses in the hospital told me his patients have less pain and shorter
recouperation times.

The research paid off.

BTW, there is a video available on the web where the physician I chose
demonstrates the entire process. It is for instructional purposes and may
scare off people looking to have the procedure done.

I've read your details and found them to be interesting and similar to
some of my experiences with getting total hip replacements. What
exactly is hip resurfacing? what does it do? why did you pick it
instead of replacement. A while back there was a story on TV about a
woman who didn't have insurance so she traveled to SE Asia for
resurfacing. She was shown recovering in five star resort. I meant to
research it at the time but didn't. thanks in advance.

<tsedinger@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1138376120.167439.150210@g43g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
http://www.jri-oh.com/

There is a step by step video of the process. There is also a detailed
video showing the process designed for Doctors that I found difficult to
watch. But then my primary care physician told me not to watch the process.

Unbelieveable this operation has been done in Europe and Asia for 2 decades
but the FDA can't get it's act together to approve it here in the U.S.

Resurfacing is designed for younger patients and more active people. I
picked resurfacing because:
1. Recuperation time is half that of a THP.
2. Bigger ball and socket means less chance of dislocation and wider range
of motion than THP.
3. Metal on Metal components should have longer life than Metal on
cross-hatched polyethylene. It's estimated the life of the devices can be
anywhere between 25 and 40 years depending on use.
4. But the biggest reason is I can always have a THP in the future if I
chose to since there is no amputation of the femur. On the other hand, when
you have a THP you are committed.

"grinder" <seagle@earthlink.invalid> wrote in message
news:9jsCf.7800$Hd4.747@newsread1.news.pas.earthli nk.net...
I forgot to mention the one downside. There will be increased metal ions
floating in my body as a result of the metal on metal. However, I have not
been able to locate a single study nor has any surgeon I spoke with been
able to show me any evidence of detrimental effects.

grinder wrote:
Probably because the wear will not result in ions...

Thanks for the info. it's a shame that it's not available in the US.
Altho I'm 64 I was very active before the arthritis hit and would love
to be so again. How true that you can always have the more invasive
surgery later. Well, too late for me and maybe it wouldn't have been
appropriate for me but increased range of motion, 25 to 40 years of
use, less recuperation time sound wonderful. thanks!

In misc.health.arthritis tsedinger@yahoo.com wrote:
: Thanks for the info. it's a shame that it's not available in the US.
: Altho I'm 64 I was very active before the arthritis hit and would love
: to be so again. How true that you can always have the more invasive
: surgery later. Well, too late for me and maybe it wouldn't have been
: appropriate for me but increased range of motion, 25 to 40 years of
: use, less recuperation time sound wonderful. thanks!

I had a total hip replacement at 63: I wasn't a candidate for
any of the modern small incision techniques because I had a Richards
screw in the leg already, and the larger incision was needed simply to
get it out.

I had the surgery in March of 2003; I was on crutches about 8
days after surgery [they sent me home w/ a walker to use for a few
weeks, but I soon found that its wheels would find every pothole in
town and fall into it, so I went to crutches in spite of the advice]

I was back as stoker on our tandem after about 4 weeks and off the
crutches at 6 weeks. I have close to full range of motion--some of the
positions I sit in would horrify most people whether they've had work
on the hips or not. [I think that any loss of range of motion has
come with age, not with my new hip joint]

We have no car so it's hard for a day to go by where I haven't
done several miles on the tandem: I am no less active than I was
before the surgery, although I do do fewer miles than I did at 40...

My surgery was done with an anterior entrance, a method that
seems to have a much lower dislocation rate than the more common, in
the United States, postereior entrance surgery. A terrific surgeon was
a major factor in the success.
--thelma

"spodosaurus" <spodosaurus@_yahoo_.com> wrote in message
news:43daf967$1@quokka.wn.com.au...
Yes it will. I believe as much as 5 times the amount than found when using
metal on cross hatched polyetheleen. But the levels are still well below
industry limits. It just makes sense. Larger ball and socket. Both the
ball and socket are metal. Increased metal ions generated by wear in the
first year with decreases in RATE observed for subsequent years after the
two components have completely mated.

But it IS available in the USA now... I think what was meant in
previous post was that it was a shame that it took SO LONG to be
approved by our FDA.

There is a Doctor in Columbia SC and also one in MD and one in Calif
that does the hip resurfacing. I do not know a lot about this but
I am 47 and have DJD in both hips.

I am considering the RESURFACING VS. THR myself...

I am so ready to feel better !

take care to all
dawn

Grinder:

Would you mind sharing - either privately - or post to group-
which doctor did your HIP RESURFACING ? I am considering
this myself... weighing pros and cons of each.
Of course, my Orthopedic Surgeon (who only performs THR)
poo-pooed the Resurfacing. He said it did not last very long, etc.
BUt maybe that is just sour grapes on his part.

tks
kimberly dawn

"kim" <drewanddawn2004@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1140469698.525522.45690@z14g2000cwz.googlegro ups.com...
It has NOT been approved by the FDA
http://www.activejoints.com/news.html

And this applies to the BHR device only. Other devices are under
consideration or clinical trials.


There are more Doctor's than that. There are two in L.A., one in Mount
Chasta and I believe one in Vancouver on the West Coast alone.

It is CRITICAL to select a surgeon who has done hundreds of the resurfacing
procedures AND has the fortitude to tell people they are NOT a candidate.

Check out Amstutz at JRI. He has done over 700 and counting. For more FAQ
go to: http://www.jri-oh.com/jri_hip_faqs.php#5

Six weeks after the surgery and I am walking with a cane only.
No pain meds since the surgery.
Driving with no problem at week 3.
Working out on a stationary bike for the last 10 days.
The only restriction is that I don't bring my right knee to the left
shoulder or the left shoulder down to the right knee. Not a dislocation
issue - rather letting the muscles heal.

"kim" <drewanddawn2004@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1140469869.347778.80860@g43g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
Dr. Harlan Amstutz at the Joint Replacement Institute in L.A. One surgeon
who I checked out had a claim to fame that he studied under Amstutz. I
decided to go with the teacher. Nurses said his patients have less pain
than others. No need for blood transfusion. I spoke with Doctors who have
worked with him and they said they learned a lot from his technique. Dr.
Schmalzried is also very good.

I had 5 Orthopedic Surgeons poo-poo the idea of Hip Resurfacing. Usually
they brought up possible problems associated the increased metal ions
associated with metal-on-metal parts. I asked them to refer me to a study
delineating these problems. Nothing. Nada. Nix. However, it is worth
noting that one surgeon who does NOT do hips thought the procedure was
amazing.

If your can stomach a video of the process go to
http://www.wmt.com/conserveplus/physicians/default.asp.

The main reason I chose resurfacing is it preserves bone and you can always
to a THR in the future if you choose. On the other hand, once you do a THR
you are committed to THR in the future. As for lasting, it seems to me
metal on metal would last longer than metal on cross-hatched polyethylene.
I have seen estimates of 30-40 years but long range studies have not been
done.


Check out http://www.grossortho.com/ if the idea of going to L.A. does not
appeal to you.

For what it is worth (not much to me) you can also check out
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/surfacehippy/

In misc.health.arthritis grinder <seagle@earthlink.invalid> wrote:
: Six weeks after the surgery and I am walking with a cane only.
: No pain meds since the surgery.
: Driving with no problem at week 3.
: Working out on a stationary bike for the last 10 days.
: The only restriction is that I don't bring my right knee to the left
: shoulder or the left shoulder down to the right knee. Not a dislocation
: issue - rather letting the muscles heal.

This is very similar to my experience with THR. I went to my 6
week post-surgery appointment with the orthopaedist using 2
crutches. I left using one. I then walked 1 1/2 miles to get
ice-cream, took a city bus home, did a 10 mile ride on the back
of our tandem that afternoon. I used the cane the next day and
after that I walked with no aids...

As to pain meds, I almost never use them, and took nothing but
the anaesthesia for the surgery itself. I had a lot of trouble
in the hospital, fighting off nurses with pills, or worse, in hand.
At the beginning I had to refuse, several times a day, some sort
of pain meds dripped in intravenously.

--thelma
wishing that my carpal tunnel surgery
this December had gone as well