RE: questions to ask

[Guest guest]

Hi Marilyn,

I had an MRI prior to my first surgery -- and now that I'm ready for the second, I've had another MRI too. Granted, they weren't looking at the operated side, but it was an MRI nonetheless.

CarolMarilyn <mwelton@...> wrote:

I don't know of any orthopods who require an MRI prior to total joint surgery. Afterwards, you won't be able to have an MRI bacause of the metal in the prosthesis. Marilyncheryl schlegel wrote:

Thanks for responding to my post.

A quick question for anyone: How many of you have had a MRI as well as an x-ray to determine the range of surgery? My 2nd opinion appointment is on Tues. 2/15/2005. First opinion – bone on bone – need total hip replacement due to arthritis.

A nurse told me that I should definitely have a MRI before even considering a hip replacement. Thoughts? Is this common?

[Guest guest]

Now that is a comforting message. How I did hate that bullet and being inserted into it!

marge

I don't know of any orthopods who require an MRI prior to total joint surgery. Afterwards, you won't be able to have an MRI bacause of the metal in the prosthesis. Marilyn

[Guest guest]

Interesting, I was told I could still have an MRI because none of the

materials used in the prosthesis are magnetic (Cobalt, Chromium, and

Molybdenum).

(48)

RC2K 48/54 Dr. Gross 3/24/04

>

> > Thanks for responding to my post.

> >

> >

> >

> > A quick question for anyone: How many of you have had a MRI as well

> > as an x-ray to determine the range of surgery? My 2nd opinion

> > appointment is on Tues. 2/15/2005. First opinion – bone on bone –

> > need total hip replacement due to arthritis.

> >

> >

> >

> > A nurse told me that I should definitely have a MRI before even

> > considering a hip replacement. Thoughts? Is this common?

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi Cheryl

had an MRI before my THR but not to check to see if I

needed one. They used the measurements from it to

custom make my knew joint. It didnt hurt so if they

suggest one then I would go with it, I think it is

really interesting to look at the films afterwards.

Liney

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[Guest guest]

Hi Cheryl,

My consultant made me have 2 MRI before he

would do my surgery- 1 for my hip and 1 for my spine. The waiting list

for the scans was nearly as long as the list for my op. I really didn’t

enjoy it and wouldn’t be sorry if I never had one again. I was in

there for nearly an hour altogether and was as stiff as a board when I came out

and had really bad back pain for days but it’s a necessary evil!

Jo

From:

cheryl schlegel [mailto:schlegel@...]

Sent: 13 February 2005 00:29

Joint Replacement

Subject: RE:

Re: Questions to ask

Thanks for responding to

my post.

A quick question for

anyone: How many of you have had a MRI as well as an x-ray to

determine the range of surgery? My 2nd opinion appointment is

on Tues. 2/15/2005. First opinion – bone on bone – need total

hip replacement due to arthritis.

A nurse told me that I

should definitely have a MRI before even considering a hip replacement.

Thoughts? Is this common?

Now, I am wondering if I

have muscle problems, too??

Cheryl in Missouri

-----Original

Message-----

From: Sigrid Macdonald

[mailto:fontgirl2002@...]

Sent: Friday, February 11, 2005

12:29 AM

Joint Replacement

Subject:

Re: Questions to ask

Hi Cheryl,

I would definitely agree w/the last poster re the

cane. Pride goes

before the (literal) fall in this case! Ask the

surgeon what sports

he recommends post-op. You seem to be very active

and there's some

controversy over sports after a THR. My own doc

told me that I could

ice skate but if I fell, I'd surely break my hip,

so I'm gonna pass

on that one, altho I know other people who have

returned to skating

and even downhill skiing. But the later is a huge

risk.

When do you see the surgeon? January sounds like a

long way away for

the operation if you're already having a rapid

deterioration. Pain

can be a real downer. Also, by postponing, your

muscles may atrophy

if you can't be active.

Don't worry about " whining. " We've all

been there - at least, I

certainly have.

You might ask if you should donate blood, if the

doc recommends a

spinal or general anesthesia, if you'll be on

crutches or a walker

after, and approximately how long you'll have to

take off from work.

I had very bad anemia after my THR. I was sorry

that I hadn't

donated blood because I'm a fainter.

Good luck with your decision. It's a tough one. No

one likes

surgery. The only perk is that the pain will

either disappear or

gretaly diminish afterwards :-)

Best, Sigrid

> On February 15th I will be going in for my

second opinion.

>

> I am looking for questions that you

suggest I ask? (That way I

won't

> forget something.)

>

> This doctor was found as one of 5 who

utilizes the minimally

invasive

> technique in my metro area. He only

does hips. I am not worried

> anymore about a minimally invasive technique,

only success and

lack of

> pain. My hip has gone down hill rapidly

since September when I

first

> found out that I needed a THR. ( Bone

on bone – no possibility of

> resurfacing.) The first doctor put me on

Bextra, but that really no

> longer holds off the pain. As I walk,

sometimes, you can hear the

joint

> grind. Guess that's the word.

From reading your posts, I find

many of

> my fears quelled. However, I have not

had any major surgery at

all.

> Although I am quite tough (about pain), I am

not looking forward

to this

> AT ALL. Many times, nocturnal sleep is

difficult. I can't sleep

on the

> `bad' side at all. As I am a teacher,

going up and down stairs has

> become difficult. You should see me

pull myself up on the

railing! :-)

> When I can I use the elevator. I am thinking

of finding a cane.

This

> would really be a " HOOT " for my 8th

graders. My husband would

like for

> me to put this off until next Jan. I am

worried about the muscles

and

> the heart. As it hurts to walk, I am

not getting the cardio that

I used

> to do. Finding a heated pool to exercise

in would be a blessing.

The

> local classes are during the day, when I

work. My husband and I

are

> (were) quite active – water skiing,

kayaking, boating, bicycling,

and

> snow skiing. As a teacher, I am looking

forward to summer already.

> Maybe I'll do this surgery over the spring

break. I don't want to

> `whine', but it seems that pain does strange

things to you!

>

>

>

> If any one has suggestions about questions to

ask the surgeon, I

welcome

> their input. Thanks so much!

>

>

>

> Cheryl in Missouri

>

>

>

>

> --

> No virus found in this outgoing message.

> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.

> Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.8.2 -

Release Date:

1/28/2005

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Yep I had an MRI before surgery-it can give the surgeon some info on

your muscle structures as well as bone if your case is not straight

forward. I've been back in the scanner since my surgery-its fine-as

modern prosthesises, plates and screws are all non-magnetic.

Leigh

[Guest guest]

My article, " Considering Cochlear Implant Surgery? Read this First! "

has a set of questions to ask, as well as some good resources for

researching about cochlear implants. You can read it online here:

http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/featured_article_073102.htm.

Good luck at your appointment!

a, CI '02, daughter , CI '02

(Best decisions we have ever made!)

[Guest guest]

Sodiq,

> I still feel a little in the dark about the future treatment for Ali

> and have a long list of questions for the consultant, who we are seeing in

> March. So far we have been told that Ali will need an operation taking

> tissue from his leg and knitting it into the area under his eyebrows, when

> he's about four years of age. I have recently read that this may depend on

> his leg length because of the amount of tissue that may be needed, does

> anyone know if this is correct and can anyone suggest any questions that I

> should be asking at our next appointment?

Yes, surgeons either wait until a kid has enough of their own fascia

lata (the leg tisssue) or else use 'donor' (cadaver) fascia lata or

synthetic alternatives such as silicone.

There are links to some excellent articles about BPES that get posted

regularly to this forum. (Most recently 28 January by Shireen). It would

be well worth your while having a look at those for some background.

Apart from technical questions, I always try to ask about my surgeon's

experience with the surgery they are proposing, and also get a 2nd or

3rd (or more) opinion.

Oh, and welcome!

Rob W

[Guest guest]

Hi Steph

Here are some questions I put together for somebody else - maybe you may

like to consider asking them. They are perhaps a little general ... But they

may help to start an exchange of information.

Good luck.

Shireen

London, England

1. What problems are there now, that you know about, and how can we treat

them

2. What problems are likely to develop in years to come?

3. When is the best time for my child to have corrective surgery?

4. How many operations are they likely to need?

5. Does every child with BPES have the same surgical procedure?

6. Does it matter if the operations are delayed or brought forward?

7. Will you operate on both eyes at the same time?

8. Will my child be in pain or discomfort?

9. How soon will the healing process take place?

10. Will there be many scars?

11. How can we best prepare for surgery and aftercare?

12. Will my child need to wear glasses?

13. How is their eyesight affected?

> blepharophimosis questions to ask

>

> Hi!

> We have a son, Ali, who will be three in May. He was

> diagnosed with Bleph in December 2003, in Leicester. Since

> then we've seen a consultant about three or four times and

> had lots of 10 minute eye appointments with opticians etc.

> His vision is normal for his age and he is developing

> normally although he does sometimes seem to put his chin up

> and head back to look upwards.

> I still feel a little in the dark about the future

> treatment for Ali and have a long list of questions for the

> consultant, who we are seeing in March. So far we have been

> told that Ali will need an operation taking tissue from his

> leg and knitting it into the area under his eyebrows, when

> he's about four years of age. I have recently read that this

> may depend on his leg length because of the amount of tissue

> that may be needed, does anyone know if this is correct and

> can anyone suggest any questions that I should be asking at

> our next appointment?

>

> Thanks,

> Steph Sodiq