Dysplasia and bone/bone now...

[Guest guest]

In the resurface groups they say that THR is never good... and it seems like I cannot afford a resurface... >>>

Marina that's a common problem with some.... it's like doctors~ one tends to recommend what they do or know from personal experience.... that's not to say that it's any "better" a solution to your problem then another type of treatment available. Resurfacing is no more nor no less of an advantage to a patient in need with hip issues in my view.... it is merely another alternative in CHOICE of treatment to the patient. One is just as much of a benefit as the other~ some are not even candidates for surfacing and yes I do recommend that people exhaust ALL possible alternatives in treatment before resorting to the "extreme end" of things. Yes resurfacing does buy you time in saving your femurs head and the POSSIBLITY of not having to have a THR done IF IT WORKS FOR YOU. But truth of the matter is none of them truly know your case history nor that resurfacing would actually benefit you more then a THR. There are just as many "faulty" resurfacing cases as there are THR.... sometimes things are going to happen regardless of your choice on the matter. And the majority of THR patients don't have complications or limitations on their life anymore so then someone with a resurfaced hip. Fact is.... some resurfaced patients dance, hike, BLA BLA BLA with the "terrific out come" same as do some THR patients... there are on BOTH sides of the issue just as many stuck in between with "SOME problems" and BOTH resurfacing & THR have their share of failures. "NEVER GOOD" is to me having your days filled with limited mobility ruled by pain which effects your quality of life! I for one don't recommend or suggest one over the other.... even though I am a THR patient. One has to weigh the pros & cons and believe me they BOTH have a listing all their own... the very same is true with procedures & implant choices available. NOTHING IS PERFECT resurfacing included. So don't let all that concern you or sway your thoughts on the matter at hand. Fact is... you've got a screwed up leg that needs something done in order for you to have the possiblities of a better quality of life. Bottom line in it is... you need to make a choice that's right & fitting for your needs and don't base that on anothers out come~ THEIR BODY & case history WILL NOT be at YOUR SURGERY regardless of your choice.

Has anybody had a THR in Harbor/UCLA in Torrance (Los Angeles)? I am pretty desperate at this point and would appreciate any suggestions? >>> Sorry I can't help you there. You might want to consider as far as payment & insurance goes.... about checking to see if your specific hip condition is a qualifying diagnosis under Vocational Rehabilitation Services in your area. They sponsored payment on my first operation. You have to contract that your wanting to return to the work force and there is an "urgent" listing which they follow~ which translates to a "worst case first" treatment option and means you'll wait awhile depending upon the patient cases contracted before yours.... but they might be able to help you out. If your on a fixed income you can also contact social services in your area and question them about obtaining a medical necessity spin down card. It's kinda like medicaid/medicare program that the federal government assists in~ they base your payment upon your income limitations & the doctors are opted an adjustable write off as a tax break to them.... but it differs from state to state about guidelines & some don't even participate. You can also check with the hospitals human resource department.... some offer payment scale down for patients & you can recieve services for a fraction of the orginal cost. Here is a VERY beneficial web site which also might help you to find assistance.

TOOL KIT FOR THE UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED - National Women's Health Resource Center/Healthywomen.org

http://www.healthywomen.org/uninsured/pg12.html

If they can't help you personally... maybe they can at least point you in a helpful direction. I wish you the best of luck and hope how soon your walking well.

[Guest guest]

Thank you for suggesting that website. We are planning on immigrating to the states and doing our best to find out about medical insurance. This looks like a good site to do some research. I know you sent it for other reasons...but I will be able to use it as well! >>> Your very welcome Val~ I hope it helps ya out.... I found it a good while back trying to help my sis-in-law. I'm not sure that they can actually help either of you... but it certainly can't hurt to ask... and in asking maybe they can at least point you in the right direction toward finding the help you need. Best of luck with it~

[Guest guest]

Nina

I don't think it is accurate that we say that THR is never good. We

stress very much that resurfacing is preferable if you are a

suitable candidate. It allows great range of motion, greater lifting

capacity, greater impact resistance, and most of all if it fails 10

years down the road you are now into yoour first THR rather than a

THR revision. That is a priceless advantage.

I know that you have no insurance etc. but as has been pointed out

before, unless you qualify for a " charity " THR, the cost of being

resurfaced in India is less than the cost of a THR in the US, and

that is including all fares an expenses. Also, just today, a

Canadian resurfacing doctor quoted $12,000 US to do a resurface,

with 3 days hospital stay, which again is less than you would pay

for a THR in the US. You would then usually stay in a hotel for a

week and go for PT a few times as an outpatient. Costs for that are

very minimal.

Chris

De Smet RBHR June 23,2004

u LASR May 27,2005

-- In Joint Replacement , " nina5555 "

nina5555@...> wrote:

Hi everybody,

I have been lurking for a while here and with resurface hippies. I

am 50 y/o 130lbs and used to be pretty active for my hip condition

some 3 years ago. However now I can hardly move anymore and I have

no insurance (when I came to the USA a few years ago and until I got

situated it was already too late)...so what now? is the cardinal

question. In the resurface groups they say that THR is never

good...and it seems like I cannot afford a resurface...

Has anybody had a THR in Harbor/UCLA in Torrance (Los Angeles)?

I am pretty desperate at this point and would appreciate any

suggestions?

Thanks Marina

[Guest guest]

Thank you for suggesting that website. We are planning on immigrating to the states and doing our best to find out about medical insurance. This looks like a good site to do some research. I know you sent it for other reasons...but I will be able to use it as well! Thank you again! Val

Relax. virus scanning helps detect nasty viruses!

[Guest guest]

You certainly are a busy lady. and agree with you about the website, once my husband gets home he likes to read things that have small print, so will enjoy this. If possible we will immigrate back to the states. BUT...the only thing that is stopping me now is medical insurance. Even though I have a tough time here I do understand that the medical staff are trying to help me and understand this american!!! The cultures are so different and they really don't understand why I feel the way I do! Great hearing about your escapades, hope your daughter is ok...how old is she? Val

Relax. virus scanning helps detect nasty viruses!

[Guest guest]

Hey I sent my x-rays to Dr DeSmet and he wrote back that for

my not regular hipbones a resurface could be done but he recomends a

ceramic on ceramic THR. He would fix both hips in the same operation

and I could be on my way home 2 weeks later. I think he is one of

the worlds best and think that with him I would be making the best

decision - what do you think since you know him yourself?

Now the costs...I have no family and I work as a self contracter a

few hours a day but I am doing ok and have a good credit.

I think even if I could have it here most likely as a cherity I

think I would do better to finance it and be able to walk, sleep and

work again...what do you think?

Thanks

Marina

>

> Hi everybody,

> I have been lurking for a while here and with resurface hippies. I

> am 50 y/o 130lbs and used to be pretty active for my hip condition

> some 3 years ago. However now I can hardly move anymore and I have

> no insurance (when I came to the USA a few years ago and until I

got

> situated it was already too late)...so what now? is the cardinal

> question. In the resurface groups they say that THR is never

> good...and it seems like I cannot afford a resurface...

> Has anybody had a THR in Harbor/UCLA in Torrance (Los Angeles)?

> I am pretty desperate at this point and would appreciate any

> suggestions?

>

> Thanks Marina

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Pat, thank you for writing . I e-mailed with Dr DeSmet and he

suggested a THR ceramic on ceramic because my dysplasia was pretty

bad to begin with. I think he is the best doc and I will follow his

advice...and I hope that I might be able to crawl on the floor with

my pooch ?...

Marina

>

> Hi Marina

> I don't think anyone on the surface hippy group would ever say a

THR is never good. THat is the only alternative if you need a

revision of a resurfaced hip later in life. Many just prefer going

the resurfaced hip route becasue there are no restrictions on your

activities and movements after you heal. And you still have your

complete femor bone left for a revision later in the future. If you

are young, it is almost inevitable that either way you will probably

need to get revised at some later time in your life.

>

> I could have gotten an almost free THR at the hospital in Columbus

OH. My husbands company went out of business and dropped our

insurance. We have been without an income since last May. He has

started a new business since then and hopefully we will start making

some money again. We are 60 and 61. But I have been very active

during my life and we have 16 dogs. I am always on the floor

brushing, cutting nails, etc. EVery doctor that wanted to give me a

THR said I could not continue doing that after a THR. One would not

even let me mow the lawn on uneven ground.

>

> So I choose to have my hip resurfaced with Dr De Smet in Belgium

on March 15, 2006. It will cost us about $17,000 for the total trip

and hip. I need my husband to go with me for physical and mental

support. We have almost maxed our credit cards living off them - but

there is room left to charge my resurfaced hip. We both feel so

strongly about the freedom it will allow me that we will go deeper

into debt. Hopefully, I will get a job after I heal and help pay

off the credit cards.

>

> People can talk the talk, but you do have to walk the walk. And we

are going very deep into debt because we feel so strongly about

having a hip resurfacing rather than a THR whenever you can.

Especially for younger and very active people.

>

> It is just our feeling. I understand many people are very active

with THRs, but the 4 doctors I talked to were very restrictive on my

activities after I healed. One did not even want me on my bike.

Such old fashioned doctors and they each cost me $200 to talk to.

The hip resurfacing doctors evaluate you for free and will talk via

email to you any time you have a question.

>

> Just my 2 cents. I started a website with all the information I

have collected about hip resurfacing http://www.surfacehippy.info

>

> Good luck whichever way you go. You need to get back into life

and all it's activities.

>

> Pat in Ohio

> soon 3/15/06 LBHR De Smet

>

[Guest guest]

Hello, Nina: I had a THR ceramic/ceramic last May here in the San Diego area. I was walking without walker after day six, driving on day 12 and got rid of the cane on about day 15. There are no restrictions on what I can do except for no daily jogging and no tennis singles for a year. Since I had an anterior THR, there was no 90 degree rule on the hips. I'm pain free and smiling. And I'm about your age. I also show my dogs and while I won't take them in the ring now, I can groom, cut nails, wrestle on the floor with them, etc.

Harriet

[Guest guest]

Hey I also trust Dr DeSmet fully! He suggested ceramic on

ceramic because I had displasya at birth and my appointment is June

27th. He thinks that I would be better off in the new hospital

because I am coming alone and that is what I will do.

I spoke with a Stanford from Virgin Islands who was his patient a

year ago and he said he he had the same ceramic on ceramic as I will

have and he stayed 2 weeks and that he went with his wife to Paris

since it was so close and he put some 2o miles on his new hips...

Thank God for Dr DeSmet!!! and Dr DeSmet is soooo humble - he

Insists to be called Koen and I think 'oh my God I am calling God by

his first name' LOL - God bless his heart!!!

Marina

> > >

> > > Hi everybody,

> > > I have been lurking for a while here and with resurface

hippies.

> I

> > > am 50 y/o 130lbs and used to be pretty active for my hip

> condition

> > > some 3 years ago. However now I can hardly move anymore and I

> have

> > > no insurance (when I came to the USA a few years ago and until

I

> > got

> > > situated it was already too late)...so what now? is the

cardinal

> > > question. In the resurface groups they say that THR is never

> > > good...and it seems like I cannot afford a resurface...

> > > Has anybody had a THR in Harbor/UCLA in Torrance (Los Angeles)?

> > > I am pretty desperate at this point and would appreciate any

> > > suggestions?

> > >

> > > Thanks Marina

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Harriet, thank you so much for your response! I will have my ceramic

on ceramic on June 27th with Dr DeSmet and I was warried about my

mobility because I also have a dog...Pekanese - my buddy, partner

and my love and I love to crawl on the floor with him - well, right

now I am crawling like sedated slowpoke...but hey I am crawling and

he doesn't know me any different ...but my dream is to Walk him

and pick up on my life...yeah, having had displasya from bith...pick

up on a life I never had...

Marina

GOD BLESS AMERICA

>

>

> Hello, Nina: I had a THR ceramic/ceramic last May here in the San

Diego

> area. I was walking without walker after day six, driving on day

12 and got rid

> of the cane on about day 15. There are no restrictions on what I

can do

> except for no daily jogging and no tennis singles for a year.

Since I had an

> anterior THR, there was no 90 degree rule on the hips. I'm pain

free and smiling.

> And I'm about your age. I also show my dogs and while I won't take

them in

> the ring now, I can groom, cut nails, wrestle on the floor with

them, etc.

> Harriet

>