Re: Question for post op hippies

[Guest guest]

How long is the incision? Is it the same as what a THR is?

I am considering Dr. Gross -- as well as DeSmet -- undecided and still have

to be accepted I guess. I hurt so bad I want it tomorrow!

Thanks -- Margo from Fargo

[Guest guest]

Hi Margo,

Incision is about 5 inches ... almost faded after 1 year ... Dr Gross performed

my surgery on 17Jan02. Plan on riding to Sturgis this August (from Chicago).

Best wishes,

Wolf

Maia728@... wrote:How long is the incision? Is it the same as what a THR

is?

I am considering Dr. Gross -- as well as DeSmet -- undecided and still have

to be accepted I guess. I hurt so bad I want it tomorrow!

Thanks -- Margo from Fargo

[Guest guest]

My left hip (Gross 10-30-02) incision is 5 inches. light pink,

straight, slightly raised. My right hip (Gross 02-12-03) incision

is 3 and 3quarter inches. More skin color. I know my local THR doc

leaves a 4 inch incision. His " claim to fame " is the " mini-incision "

for THR, which leads me to believe it is normally much longer. Best

to just ask the doc you choose. Regarding the " magicians " mentioned,

you can't go wrong with either one of them. They both have patients

beeming with glee.

Best to you.

Quinn

> How long is the incision? Is it the same as what a THR is?

> I am considering Dr. Gross -- as well as DeSmet -- undecided and

still have

> to be accepted I guess. I hurt so bad I want it tomorrow!

>

> Thanks -- Margo from Fargo

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks -- I guess that is larger than what my OS told me the THR would be -

he told me 3 - but he uses a new procedure -- anyway I still don't know where

I will go - I need to get going and schedule something - I am so afraid of

insurance apporving this etc. Did your cover it? OR did you go to Belgium?

Margo

[Guest guest]

Thanks Quinn --

I haven't scheduled anything yet - still trying to understand all of this -

since I discovered it two weeks ago. I want to go to DeSmet - and he said

something like he can get insurance to cover it - -in another country? I

have BCBS but I don't think so - I don't know - and I don't wish to bring

attention to this yet.

I am concerned about that as well as the quality of my Dr. -- and how soon I

can get in and if I qualify... so much, so much. I am stressing a bit right

now and taking way too much pain killer - I work full time and am ready to

collapse.

Thanks again Quinn -- any advise is appreciated -- it helps so much - to

know more.

Take care - Margo

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the Thanks.

R you taking pain killers or anti-inflams?? Bextra and/or Arthrotec

worked wonders for me. Both are non-addictive anti-inflamatory drugs-

similar to Celebrex and Vioxx. Neither Cel or Vioxx worked for me.

Pain killers are addictive and tend to have side effects. I suggest

you try one of the anti-inflams, pick your doc, and go for it. Try

not to stress. Dr Gross' administrative people are excellant at

getting insurance companies to follow through. BUT...you have to

move forward. Sooner the better. Quinn

> Thanks Quinn --

>

> I haven't scheduled anything yet - still trying to understand all

of this -

> since I discovered it two weeks ago. I want to go to DeSmet - and

he said

> something like he can get insurance to cover it - -in another

country? I

> have BCBS but I don't think so - I don't know - and I don't wish to

bring

> attention to this yet.

> I am concerned about that as well as the quality of my Dr. -- and

how soon I

> can get in and if I qualify... so much, so much. I am stressing a

bit right

> now and taking way too much pain killer - I work full time and am

ready to

> collapse.

>

> Thanks again Quinn -- any advise is appreciated -- it helps so

much - to

> know more.

>

> Take care - Margo

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks again!

I have been taking Vioxx for a while on and off - now on all the time--

Bextra didn't work for me -- I take Ultram now for almost a year. That does

help and I don't know what people talk about when they say it is addictive --

I only take it for pain - and if I don't have pain, I don't however I have no

pain free days anymore - that is the bad part.

So -- Dr. Gross - seems to be the way I am leaning -- sound like a plan --

What do you think about the idea of taking photos with a digital camara of my

X-rays and sending them via E-mail - do you think he would accapt that -

someone on Surfacehippy did that with DeSmet I think.

Yeah -- I wish the USA and insurance here would cooperate more like other

countries -- we are so behind.

Have a great day -- how far are you into healing? Do you walk alone yet?

Margo

[Guest guest]

Hi Margo,

I didn't mean to say that all pain killers are addictive. I am

certainly not an expert. I do know that NARCOTICS are addictive.

Glad to know that Vioxx is working for you. Does it make your

stomach bleed sometimes? When i had that symptom, i'd drink milk and

eat a banana (when taking the pill).

I had bilateral x-rays taken Wed here in Las Vegas. I made

address labels on the computer, took em'to the post office, and

mailed them off to Lee Webb, assistant to Dr. Gross. It was about $3

first class postage to send. There's no reason for me to have my x-

rays (except to show them off to my friends). I think the doctor

should read the actual x-rays...but thats my opinion.

Lee made for me a business card size laminated x-ray w/ my name on

it. I use it as explanation if i set off a metal detector or 2!

My healing (thank you for asking) is quite amazing. I am at 8

weeks post-op 2nd surgery. I was walking alone at 4 weeks post-op.

This week i taught 10 (ballet/tap) classes. I don't demonstrate any

high extension type things or jumps,etc....I use my big mouth to

describe what i want, for now. I actually began stretching (splits)

this week. My husband is a master stretcher (he's a former olympic

gymnast). So, he is helping by stretching me so i don't contract any

muscles. I jumped on the trampoline a bit, also....never really liked

that, though. Anyway, my point is that...i have no pain wassoever!

My goal is to be as strong and limber (????)as i was before i

recognized arthritis a few years ago. At this point i can hoof (tap)

like crazy, but professional level stretch and strength....have a

ways to go. But it's only been 8 weeks.

See.....soon you'll be complaining about " should i go bike riding or

rollerblading? " ...and those type of things!!!! My only distant worry

about the resurfacings is " will they last 15 years? 20years?

forever? " I believe it can't hurt to keep the muscles really strong

so as to support the area, and lesson the pressure on that

joint/component...i guess. Sorry....got carried away with this

email. Stay strong...be good to yourself!

Quinn

> Thanks again!

> I have been taking Vioxx for a while on and off - now on all the

time--

> Bextra didn't work for me -- I take Ultram now for almost a year.

That does

> help and I don't know what people talk about when they say it is

addictive --

> I only take it for pain - and if I don't have pain, I don't however

I have no

> pain free days anymore - that is the bad part.

>

> So -- Dr. Gross - seems to be the way I am leaning -- sound like a

plan --

> What do you think about the idea of taking photos with a digital

camara of my

> X-rays and sending them via E-mail - do you think he would accapt

that -

> someone on Surfacehippy did that with DeSmet I think.

> Yeah -- I wish the USA and insurance here would cooperate more like

other

> countries -- we are so behind.

> Have a great day -- how far are you into healing? Do you walk

alone yet?

> Margo

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Margo,

Some extremely good advice, posted repeatedly here, is: Let the doctor's

office personnel handle ALL contacts with your insurance company. I did

and they paid.

My incision is six inches long, but none of the women in my family have

naturally skinny thighs. I know Dr. Gross has done quite a few that

were 5 inches long.

You can get a wealth of information by searching the Surfacehippy

archives. Just type in " Dr. DeSmet " or " Dr. Gross " and you'll be able

to read hundreds of posts covering all phases of the process.

I live in Iowa and I believe one of the best decisions I've made in my

life was to travel to South Carolina to be resurfaced by Dr. Gross. You

can arrange follow-up locally, but I've chosen to go back to him for

follow-ups and will continue to do so.

Skater Gwen

C2K 9/16/02 Dr. Gross

Maia728@... wrote:

>How long is the incision? Is it the same as what a THR is?

>I am considering Dr. Gross -- as well as DeSmet -- undecided and still have

>to be accepted I guess. I hurt so bad I want it tomorrow!

>

>Thanks -- Margo from Fargo

>

>

>