Re: hip replacement *minimally invasive*

[Guest guest]

I just found out that I have avn. I need a total left hip replacement. I am scared.

Then you are hanging around with the right people here. We were all terrified before our first operations. Just keep talking. We listen.

Hugs and blessings

Marge

[Guest guest]

Hi, In much pain --

I have AVN and had a total left hip replacement on 10/28. They used an epidural during surgery, and gave me something to make me sleepy. I was out of the hospital in 2 days, and am now back at work and doing pretty well. I did not have the minimally invasive procedure, I have a ceramic on ceramic, custom joint and a long 8" scar. That said, I'm really, really happy with the results. Within a week I moved from crutches to a cane, and by the end of the year, expect to be walking normally.

I was terrified thinking about surgery too, and put it off for too long. But now, I can't wait to do the other hip.

Take care,

Carol

pmwbr <pj4lab@...> wrote:

I just found out that I have avn. I need a total left hip replacementI am scared. I am looking for any information on the minimally invasive surgery, anyone that has had it done and details.I live in the Wilkes barre / Scranton PA area, Help me pleaseIn much pain

[Guest guest]

In much pain:

I had Legg Calve Perthes disease when I was a kid - I understand

Perthes is a form of AVN. I had a metal-on-metal resurfacing done in

March and I am very happy with the results. It's a slightly different

procedure from a conventional total hip replacement. You can find out

more about it at the website:

http://www.activejoints.com

and through the Group SurfaceHippy at:

surfacehippy/.

If you are interested in the Minimally Invasive Surgery, a friend of

mine had one of her hips done by Dr. Barry Waldman at the Rubin

Institute for Advanced Orthopedics which is at Sinai Hospital in

Baltimore, land. In that same practice is Dr. Mont who is

one of the pioneers of metal-on-metal resurfacing in the U.S. Contact

information for both doctors can be found at this web page:

http://www.lifebridgehealth.org/sinaibody.cfm?id=1084

She is very happy with the result and felt the rehab time was much

less than it was for her other hip which was done the " old " way.

(48)

RC2K Dr. Gross 3/24/04

>

>

> I just found out that I have avn. I need a total left hip replacement

> I am scared. I am looking for any information on the minimally

> invasive surgery, anyone that has had it done and details.

>

> I live in the Wilkes barre / Scranton PA area,

>

> Help me please

>

> In much pain

[Guest guest]

>

>

> I just found out that I have avn. I need a total left hip

replacement

> I am scared. I am looking for any information on the minimally

> invasive surgery, anyone that has had it done and details.

>

> I live in the Wilkes barre / Scranton PA area,

>

> Help me please

>

> In much pain

I haven't posted or responded in ages, hadn't much time. Saw where

you are from and you could investigate Dr. Dana Mears at UPMC

(University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) @ Shadyside. I am

originally from Pgh, now living in Youngstown, OH for 18 years now.

My parents have always saved articles from the Post-Gazette there

and gave me one about him and Minimally Invasive surgery. He has

been doing it about 10 years now. You could look on post-

gazette.com. Date: Tuesday, Aug. 3,2004 titled " Joints in a Jiffy "

I just inquired about it there, but decided to stay here in

Youngstown with the OS i have been seeing. I am scheduled for a

right THR on Jan 10th. I am going nuts with so much here at home...

I am 42 with a family, we are finishing up a huge kitchen remodel

with addition, our X-Mas decorations are not up, I work part time,

and I'm trying to prepare for surgery!! I know there are others I've

been reading about for a couple months that are worse off than me

and my heart goes out to you all. I do understand the pain though.

It is so sneaky how it builds up, wears you down and stresses you

out!!

Anyway, didn't mean to ramble. I was due to report in. I also

decided for a traditional surgery with my doctor because as he

explained it, the minimally invasive cannot be done yet with a

ceramic-on-ceramic implant. I thought I would prefer a longer

wearing implant with a longer (but not huge) incision.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Research everything. Knowledge is empowering and your surgeon should

welcome and explain all that you find and present to him. Mine did

not send me down any particular paths, yet I found most on my own

and he supported and answered all of my questions as well as other

doctor's opinions.

Take care,

Liz