Guest guest Posted January 14, 2004 Report Share Posted January 14, 2004 DEAR JOYCE, YOUR AGONY BREAKS MY HEART. I WISH YOU COULD COME AND SHARE MY SURGEON. PEOPLE COME TO HIM IN GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. HE HAS THE LOWEST INFECTION RECORD IN THIS COUNTY, IF NOT THE STATE. HE IS SCHEDULED THREE MONTHS AHEAD OF WHEN YOU TALK TO HIM. I HAD MY THP IN OCTOBER AND AM SCHEDULED FOR TKR IN MARCH. HE CONSIDERED MY SIZE AND MY ACTIVITY AND MY ATTITUDE AND CHOSE STEEL FOR MY JOINT. HE TOLD ME THAT WHEN HE GOT IN THERE, HE WAS ABLE TO USE A LARGER SOCKET THAN WHAT HE HAD ORIGINALLY INTENDED, AND THEREFORE I WILL HAVE MUCH MORE STABILITY. THIS TELLS ME HE IS PREPARED IN THAT SURGERY ROOM. IT TELLS ME THAT HE IS FORWARD THINKING, AND READY TO MAKE NEEDED CHANGES QUICKLY. THE FIRST TIME I MET HIM, AS HE WAS LEAVING THE ROOM, I TOLD HIM, "THANK YOU. I FEEL LIKE YOU CARE WHETHER OR NOT I CAN WALK." AND HE ANSWERED, "OH YES, I DO! NEXT TO YOUR FAMILY, I CARE THE MOST!" MY SCAR IS [ ACCORDING TO THE THREE WHOM I HAVE ALLOWED TO SEE IT--LOL ] JUST BEAUTIFUL. MY HIP DOES NOT HURT AND IT IS WORKING WONDERFULLY WELL. I CHOSE HIM BECAUSE OF WHAT THE LADIES IN MY POOL THERAPY CLASS TOLD ME. NUMBER ONE, THEY PROMISED ME HE WOULD NOT TELL ME TO LOSE WEIGHT FIRST. NUMBER TWO, THEY HAD VARIOUS SHOULDERS, KNEES, ANKLES, AND HIPS THAT HE HAD ALREADY DONE, AND TO A WOMAN--THEY ARE ALL SMILING AND MOVING AND DOING THINGS. I AM SO BLESSED THAT I COULD LET HIM MAKE THE DECISIONS, AND TIME HAS PROVEN IT TO BE THE RIGHT THING TO DO. "CARTILAGE REPLACEMENT ! So, if it's not perfected right now (and I don't know that it's not), what if it's perfected in a year? Could some doctor explain that option to me?? ABSOLUTELY, A DOCTOR SHOULD EXPLAIN THAT TO YOU! AND EXPLAIN AND EXPLAIN UNTIL YOU ARE SATISFIED IN YOUR HEART! I CARE. MARGE, YOUR WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH. I might come to believe that this is the only sort of place I will be able to get people willing to talk details (and truth) about this whole joint replacement stuff. I've just seen an OS. I now have an appointment for THR on Feb. 10th !! Maybe that's exactly the right thing to do. But I have such distrust that I've got enough information or that I was really seen as a woman who is getting ready to make the choice to have part of her thigh bone cut off. That's a daggone HUGE choice to make. He dismissed "resurfacing" as a failure. Uses the longest incision offered -- thereby, I assume, cutting the muscle & tendons & ligaments), uses a ceramic-on-ceramic implant (Howmedic) and didn't tell me why. In fact, he didn't really tell me the why or what of much. Why can't a doctor, even if he believes his approach to be the best, talk about and explain and listen and dialogue about this whole damned experience? So, folks, help me think this through, will you? What about resurfacing? I looked at my Xrays and saw no sign of cartiladge on that left hip socket, but the femur ball was beautifully round and solid. There is an MRI report which says there is an area consistant with Avascular Necrosis. But anyway, I saw no deformity or collapse or any such thing which might make resurfacing impossible. Why not discuss with me, Doc, why you don't like that approach? It would make my trust in YOUR approach possible! And then I have found sites, just tonight, which show places (s Hopkins) where the OS are working on, trying, out, investigating CARTILADGE REPLACEMENT ! So, if it's not perfected right now (and I don't know that it's not), what if it's perfected in a year? Could some doctor explain that option to me?? I want to make an informed decision. I NEED to make an informed decision. I will have no peace until I feel like I have enough information and a professional who sees me as at least a partner in making this choice. The surgeon I saw said he didn't do resurfacing, mumbled that they "don't last," and said I could choose that if I wanted -- no, he couldn't tell me who might do it -- because he doesn't do it. I mean... Anway, folks. Talk to me. Please. Give me feedback. I'm not really lambasting on hard-working surgeon, I'm talking about much more than that. Maybe the arrogance of an entire, vital system that I shudder whenever I have to use. For just this reason. Tell me about your surgeries, your implants, why you made your choices, what sorts of things you thought about. Many, many thanks, Joyce in Kentucky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2004 Report Share Posted January 15, 2004 Hi Marge, Your surgeon sounds wonderful......what is his name? Judie Re: Pain FOR JOYCE DEAR JOYCE, YOUR AGONY BREAKS MY HEART. I WISH YOU COULD COME AND SHARE MY SURGEON. PEOPLE COME TO HIM IN GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. HE HAS THE LOWEST INFECTION RECORD IN THIS COUNTY, IF NOT THE STATE. HE IS SCHEDULED THREE MONTHS AHEAD OF WHEN YOU TALK TO HIM. I HAD MY THP IN OCTOBER AND AM SCHEDULED FOR TKR IN MARCH. HE CONSIDERED MY SIZE AND MY ACTIVITY AND MY ATTITUDE AND CHOSE STEEL FOR MY JOINT. HE TOLD ME THAT WHEN HE GOT IN THERE, HE WAS ABLE TO USE A LARGER SOCKET THAN WHAT HE HAD ORIGINALLY INTENDED, AND THEREFORE I WILL HAVE MUCH MORE STABILITY. THIS TELLS ME HE IS PREPARED IN THAT SURGERY ROOM. IT TELLS ME THAT HE IS FORWARD THINKING, AND READY TO MAKE NEEDED CHANGES QUICKLY. THE FIRST TIME I MET HIM, AS HE WAS LEAVING THE ROOM, I TOLD HIM, "THANK YOU. I FEEL LIKE YOU CARE WHETHER OR NOT I CAN WALK." AND HE ANSWERED, "OH YES, I DO! NEXT TO YOUR FAMILY, I CARE THE MOST!" MY SCAR IS [ ACCORDING TO THE THREE WHOM I HAVE ALLOWED TO SEE IT--LOL ] JUST BEAUTIFUL. MY HIP DOES NOT HURT AND IT IS WORKING WONDERFULLY WELL. I CHOSE HIM BECAUSE OF WHAT THE LADIES IN MY POOL THERAPY CLASS TOLD ME. NUMBER ONE, THEY PROMISED ME HE WOULD NOT TELL ME TO LOSE WEIGHT FIRST. NUMBER TWO, THEY HAD VARIOUS SHOULDERS, KNEES, ANKLES, AND HIPS THAT HE HAD ALREADY DONE, AND TO A WOMAN--THEY ARE ALL SMILING AND MOVING AND DOING THINGS. I AM SO BLESSED THAT I COULD LET HIM MAKE THE DECISIONS, AND TIME HAS PROVEN IT TO BE THE RIGHT THING TO DO. "CARTILAGE REPLACEMENT ! So, if it's not perfected right now (and I don't know that it's not), what if it's perfected in a year? Could some doctor explain that option to me?? ABSOLUTELY, A DOCTOR SHOULD EXPLAIN THAT TO YOU! AND EXPLAIN AND EXPLAIN UNTIL YOU ARE SATISFIED IN YOUR HEART! I CARE. MARGE, YOUR WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH. I might come to believe that this is the only sort of place I will be able to get people willing to talk details (and truth) about this whole joint replacement stuff. I've just seen an OS. I now have an appointment for THR on Feb. 10th !! Maybe that's exactly the right thing to do. But I have such distrust that I've got enough information or that I was really seen as a woman who is getting ready to make the choice to have part of her thigh bone cut off. That's a daggone HUGE choice to make. He dismissed "resurfacing" as a failure. Uses the longest incision offered -- thereby, I assume, cutting the muscle & tendons & ligaments), uses a ceramic-on-ceramic implant (Howmedic) and didn't tell me why. In fact, he didn't really tell me the why or what of much. Why can't a doctor, even if he believes his approach to be the best, talk about and explain and listen and dialogue about this whole damned experience? So, folks, help me think this through, will you? What about resurfacing? I looked at my Xrays and saw no sign of cartiladge on that left hip socket, but the femur ball was beautifully round and solid. There is an MRI report which says there is an area consistant with Avascular Necrosis. But anyway, I saw no deformity or collapse or any such thing which might make resurfacing impossible. Why not discuss with me, Doc, why you don't like that approach? It would make my trust in YOUR approach possible! And then I have found sites, just tonight, which show places (s Hopkins) where the OS are working on, trying, out, investigating CARTILADGE REPLACEMENT ! So, if it's not perfected right now (and I don't know that it's not), what if it's perfected in a year? Could some doctor explain that option to me?? I want to make an informed decision. I NEED to make an informed decision. I will have no peace until I feel like I have enough information and a professional who sees me as at least a partner in making this choice. The surgeon I saw said he didn't do resurfacing, mumbled that they "don't last," and said I could choose that if I wanted -- no, he couldn't tell me who might do it -- because he doesn't do it. I mean... Anway, folks. Talk to me. Please. Give me feedback. I'm not really lambasting on hard-working surgeon, I'm talking about much more than that. Maybe the arrogance of an entire, vital system that I shudder whenever I have to use. For just this reason. Tell me about your surgeries, your implants, why you made your choices, what sorts of things you thought about. Many, many thanks, Joyce in Kentucky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2004 Report Share Posted January 16, 2004 DR. JAMES JENNINGS JR. PIEDMONT ORTHOPAEDICS 35 INTERNATIONAL DRIVE GREENVILLE S C 29615 864 234 7654 MARGE I wander about like a lost sheep; so come and look for me... Hi Marge, Your surgeon sounds wonderful......what is his name? Judie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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