Guest guest Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 Andy S, You sound like a guy with a great attitude and fierce coping skills, despite having to go through two big ops in a short span of time. Thank you so much for keeping us posted on your progress, and the conclusions the doctor came to concerning your C2K failure. I followed the earlier postings of your post-gym pain and was so bummed to read that your pain was in fact a fracture. It's almost irresistible not to wonder, " why did I have to be the exception? " to the " 99% success " stories when we wind up being in the 1%. I'm glad this is all behind you now and wish you luck with your new big ball: I hope it lasts you a lifetime! Best, Sheila > All, > I am following up on a post that I made about 7 weeks ago. > I posted long notes that last time, so I will try to keep this as > brief as possible. > In 1970, I was diagnosed with a grade 4 SCFE. After 32 years of > limping and 3 years of severe pain, I had decided it was time to do > something about it. > After much research and a great deal of thought, I decided to > proceed with a resurface as opposed to a THR. During my pre-op exams > I was told that I may not be a candidate for the procedure. Since my > femoral head had deformed to a mushroom type shape due to the SCFE > and I had limped for so long, I may not be eligible to be > resurfaced, that I have to be prepared to wake up with a THR. I was > ok with this since I trusted my Dr. and knew he would do what he > felt was best. > So, on the morning of 9/6/02, I was wheeled into the OR. After a 4.5 > hr operation, I woke up with a new C2K resurfaced hip. Part of the > reason the operation took so long was that my hip was fused in the > socket and needed to be chiseled out. They couldn't get it to > dislocate the way they are normally dislocated. > Besides for the pain immediately post op, I was very happy that I > received the C2K and was on the road to recovery. > Things were going well. I was pain free and was going to the gym on > a regular basis. > Four months post op, my leg started to bother me. I felt as though I > had strained the muscles from my cardio routine at the gym. I posted > a not about this at the time. Two days after my leg started to > bother me, I went to the Dr. to have it checked out. My worst > nightmare had come true. The femoral neck had fractured and caused a > failure of the C2K. > Two days later, on 1/18/03, I had my C2K resurface component > converted to a MoM THR. Since the cup side was ok, they did not have > to do anything there. They just had to insert the stem and install a > 48mm ball, which was the same size as the resurfaced head. > Well, there is life after resurfacing. I am almost 7 weeks post op > and getting back to normal. I start back to work tomorrow. > Although I had hoped to get much more than 4 months out of my new > C2K, I am still happy that I did it and would do it again, under > the same circumstances. I am still a believer of resurfacing and > would recommend it to anyone, as long as they are considered a good > candidate. > My Dr. and I concluded that I was probably on the extreme end of > being a good candidate. Since the bone was so deformed pre-op, my > femoral head probably accepted loads differently and wasn't strong > enough to really work with the resurfacing components. > I have read different posts of people who seem to search for the Dr. > that gives them the answer they want to hear. Even if they are told > they are not a candidate for the resurfacing, they search to find > the Dr. that tells them that they can do it. This is something that > I would not do or recommend to anyone else, but to each their own. > Well, I have rambled on long enough. Good luck to all out there that > are resurfers, THR's or prospective patients. > Regards, > AndyS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 Andy S, You sound like a guy with a great attitude and fierce coping skills, despite having to go through two big ops in a short span of time. Thank you so much for keeping us posted on your progress, and the conclusions the doctor came to concerning your C2K failure. I followed the earlier postings of your post-gym pain and was so bummed to read that your pain was in fact a fracture. It's almost irresistible not to wonder, " why did I have to be the exception? " to the " 99% success " stories when we wind up being in the 1%. I'm glad this is all behind you now and wish you luck with your new big ball: I hope it lasts you a lifetime! Best, Sheila > All, > I am following up on a post that I made about 7 weeks ago. > I posted long notes that last time, so I will try to keep this as > brief as possible. > In 1970, I was diagnosed with a grade 4 SCFE. After 32 years of > limping and 3 years of severe pain, I had decided it was time to do > something about it. > After much research and a great deal of thought, I decided to > proceed with a resurface as opposed to a THR. During my pre-op exams > I was told that I may not be a candidate for the procedure. Since my > femoral head had deformed to a mushroom type shape due to the SCFE > and I had limped for so long, I may not be eligible to be > resurfaced, that I have to be prepared to wake up with a THR. I was > ok with this since I trusted my Dr. and knew he would do what he > felt was best. > So, on the morning of 9/6/02, I was wheeled into the OR. After a 4.5 > hr operation, I woke up with a new C2K resurfaced hip. Part of the > reason the operation took so long was that my hip was fused in the > socket and needed to be chiseled out. They couldn't get it to > dislocate the way they are normally dislocated. > Besides for the pain immediately post op, I was very happy that I > received the C2K and was on the road to recovery. > Things were going well. I was pain free and was going to the gym on > a regular basis. > Four months post op, my leg started to bother me. I felt as though I > had strained the muscles from my cardio routine at the gym. I posted > a not about this at the time. Two days after my leg started to > bother me, I went to the Dr. to have it checked out. My worst > nightmare had come true. The femoral neck had fractured and caused a > failure of the C2K. > Two days later, on 1/18/03, I had my C2K resurface component > converted to a MoM THR. Since the cup side was ok, they did not have > to do anything there. They just had to insert the stem and install a > 48mm ball, which was the same size as the resurfaced head. > Well, there is life after resurfacing. I am almost 7 weeks post op > and getting back to normal. I start back to work tomorrow. > Although I had hoped to get much more than 4 months out of my new > C2K, I am still happy that I did it and would do it again, under > the same circumstances. I am still a believer of resurfacing and > would recommend it to anyone, as long as they are considered a good > candidate. > My Dr. and I concluded that I was probably on the extreme end of > being a good candidate. Since the bone was so deformed pre-op, my > femoral head probably accepted loads differently and wasn't strong > enough to really work with the resurfacing components. > I have read different posts of people who seem to search for the Dr. > that gives them the answer they want to hear. Even if they are told > they are not a candidate for the resurfacing, they search to find > the Dr. that tells them that they can do it. This is something that > I would not do or recommend to anyone else, but to each their own. > Well, I have rambled on long enough. Good luck to all out there that > are resurfers, THR's or prospective patients. > Regards, > AndyS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2003 Report Share Posted March 6, 2003 Sheila, Thank You for the kind words. When the Dr. told me it failed I was speechless. I was really upset. After that, I blamed myself for quite some time that I could have avoided the failure if I hadn't been so agressive in the gym. After a good deal of soul searching and several discussions with my OS, that is the conclusion that was drawn, was that I was probably on the extreme end of being a good candidate. As I previously stated, I would make the same decision if I had it to do over again. I truly believe in the resurfacing. It was a chance I took and it didn't work out. I am glad though that I took the chance, because if I hadn't had the resurfacing and just had a THR, I would always have wondered about the resurfacing, especially once it is approved by the FDA and becomes the gold standard for young/active people. (Just my opinion. Good luck to all. AndyS > > All, > > I am following up on a post that I made about 7 weeks ago. > > I posted long notes that last time, so I will try to keep this as > > brief as possible. > > In 1970, I was diagnosed with a grade 4 SCFE. After 32 years > of > > limping and 3 years of severe pain, I had decided it was time to > do > > something about it. > > After much research and a great deal of thought, I decided to > > proceed with a resurface as opposed to a THR. During my > pre-op exams > > I was told that I may not be a candidate for the procedure. > Since my > > femoral head had deformed to a mushroom type shape due to > the SCFE > > and I had limped for so long, I may not be eligible to be > > resurfaced, that I have to be prepared to wake up with a THR. I > was > > ok with this since I trusted my Dr. and knew he would do what > he > > felt was best. > > So, on the morning of 9/6/02, I was wheeled into the OR. After a > 4.5 > > hr operation, I woke up with a new C2K resurfaced hip. Part of > the > > reason the operation took so long was that my hip was fused > in the > > socket and needed to be chiseled out. They couldn't get it to > > dislocate the way they are normally dislocated. > > Besides for the pain immediately post op, I was very happy that > I > > received the C2K and was on the road to recovery. > > Things were going well. I was pain free and was going to the > gym on > > a regular basis. > > Four months post op, my leg started to bother me. I felt as > though I > > had strained the muscles from my cardio routine at the gym. I > posted > > a not about this at the time. Two days after my leg started to > > bother me, I went to the Dr. to have it checked out. My worst > > nightmare had come true. The femoral neck had fractured and > caused a > > failure of the C2K. > > Two days later, on 1/18/03, I had my C2K resurface component > > converted to a MoM THR. Since the cup side was ok, they did > not have > > to do anything there. They just had to insert the stem and > install a > > 48mm ball, which was the same size as the resurfaced head. > > Well, there is life after resurfacing. I am almost 7 weeks post > op > > and getting back to normal. I start back to work tomorrow. > > Although I had hoped to get much more than 4 months out of > my new > > C2K, I am still happy that I did it and would do it again, under > > the same circumstances. I am still a believer of resurfacing > and > > would recommend it to anyone, as long as they are considered > a good > > candidate. > > My Dr. and I concluded that I was probably on the extreme end > of > > being a good candidate. Since the bone was so deformed > pre-op, my > > femoral head probably accepted loads differently and wasn't > strong > > enough to really work with the resurfacing components. > > I have read different posts of people who seem to search for > the Dr. > > that gives them the answer they want to hear. Even if they are > told > > they are not a candidate for the resurfacing, they search to find > > the Dr. that tells them that they can do it. This is something that > > I would not do or recommend to anyone else, but to each their > own. > > Well, I have rambled on long enough. Good luck to all out there > that > > are resurfers, THR's or prospective patients. > > Regards, > > AndyS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2003 Report Share Posted March 6, 2003 Sheila, Thank You for the kind words. When the Dr. told me it failed I was speechless. I was really upset. After that, I blamed myself for quite some time that I could have avoided the failure if I hadn't been so agressive in the gym. After a good deal of soul searching and several discussions with my OS, that is the conclusion that was drawn, was that I was probably on the extreme end of being a good candidate. As I previously stated, I would make the same decision if I had it to do over again. I truly believe in the resurfacing. It was a chance I took and it didn't work out. I am glad though that I took the chance, because if I hadn't had the resurfacing and just had a THR, I would always have wondered about the resurfacing, especially once it is approved by the FDA and becomes the gold standard for young/active people. (Just my opinion. Good luck to all. AndyS > > All, > > I am following up on a post that I made about 7 weeks ago. > > I posted long notes that last time, so I will try to keep this as > > brief as possible. > > In 1970, I was diagnosed with a grade 4 SCFE. After 32 years > of > > limping and 3 years of severe pain, I had decided it was time to > do > > something about it. > > After much research and a great deal of thought, I decided to > > proceed with a resurface as opposed to a THR. During my > pre-op exams > > I was told that I may not be a candidate for the procedure. > Since my > > femoral head had deformed to a mushroom type shape due to > the SCFE > > and I had limped for so long, I may not be eligible to be > > resurfaced, that I have to be prepared to wake up with a THR. I > was > > ok with this since I trusted my Dr. and knew he would do what > he > > felt was best. > > So, on the morning of 9/6/02, I was wheeled into the OR. After a > 4.5 > > hr operation, I woke up with a new C2K resurfaced hip. Part of > the > > reason the operation took so long was that my hip was fused > in the > > socket and needed to be chiseled out. They couldn't get it to > > dislocate the way they are normally dislocated. > > Besides for the pain immediately post op, I was very happy that > I > > received the C2K and was on the road to recovery. > > Things were going well. I was pain free and was going to the > gym on > > a regular basis. > > Four months post op, my leg started to bother me. I felt as > though I > > had strained the muscles from my cardio routine at the gym. I > posted > > a not about this at the time. Two days after my leg started to > > bother me, I went to the Dr. to have it checked out. My worst > > nightmare had come true. The femoral neck had fractured and > caused a > > failure of the C2K. > > Two days later, on 1/18/03, I had my C2K resurface component > > converted to a MoM THR. Since the cup side was ok, they did > not have > > to do anything there. They just had to insert the stem and > install a > > 48mm ball, which was the same size as the resurfaced head. > > Well, there is life after resurfacing. I am almost 7 weeks post > op > > and getting back to normal. I start back to work tomorrow. > > Although I had hoped to get much more than 4 months out of > my new > > C2K, I am still happy that I did it and would do it again, under > > the same circumstances. I am still a believer of resurfacing > and > > would recommend it to anyone, as long as they are considered > a good > > candidate. > > My Dr. and I concluded that I was probably on the extreme end > of > > being a good candidate. Since the bone was so deformed > pre-op, my > > femoral head probably accepted loads differently and wasn't > strong > > enough to really work with the resurfacing components. > > I have read different posts of people who seem to search for > the Dr. > > that gives them the answer they want to hear. Even if they are > told > > they are not a candidate for the resurfacing, they search to find > > the Dr. that tells them that they can do it. This is something that > > I would not do or recommend to anyone else, but to each their > own. > > Well, I have rambled on long enough. Good luck to all out there > that > > are resurfers, THR's or prospective patients. > > Regards, > > AndyS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2003 Report Share Posted March 6, 2003 Sheila, Thank You for the kind words. When the Dr. told me it failed I was speechless. I was really upset. After that, I blamed myself for quite some time that I could have avoided the failure if I hadn't been so agressive in the gym. After a good deal of soul searching and several discussions with my OS, that is the conclusion that was drawn, was that I was probably on the extreme end of being a good candidate. As I previously stated, I would make the same decision if I had it to do over again. I truly believe in the resurfacing. It was a chance I took and it didn't work out. I am glad though that I took the chance, because if I hadn't had the resurfacing and just had a THR, I would always have wondered about the resurfacing, especially once it is approved by the FDA and becomes the gold standard for young/active people. (Just my opinion. Good luck to all. AndyS > > All, > > I am following up on a post that I made about 7 weeks ago. > > I posted long notes that last time, so I will try to keep this as > > brief as possible. > > In 1970, I was diagnosed with a grade 4 SCFE. After 32 years > of > > limping and 3 years of severe pain, I had decided it was time to > do > > something about it. > > After much research and a great deal of thought, I decided to > > proceed with a resurface as opposed to a THR. During my > pre-op exams > > I was told that I may not be a candidate for the procedure. > Since my > > femoral head had deformed to a mushroom type shape due to > the SCFE > > and I had limped for so long, I may not be eligible to be > > resurfaced, that I have to be prepared to wake up with a THR. I > was > > ok with this since I trusted my Dr. and knew he would do what > he > > felt was best. > > So, on the morning of 9/6/02, I was wheeled into the OR. After a > 4.5 > > hr operation, I woke up with a new C2K resurfaced hip. Part of > the > > reason the operation took so long was that my hip was fused > in the > > socket and needed to be chiseled out. They couldn't get it to > > dislocate the way they are normally dislocated. > > Besides for the pain immediately post op, I was very happy that > I > > received the C2K and was on the road to recovery. > > Things were going well. I was pain free and was going to the > gym on > > a regular basis. > > Four months post op, my leg started to bother me. I felt as > though I > > had strained the muscles from my cardio routine at the gym. I > posted > > a not about this at the time. Two days after my leg started to > > bother me, I went to the Dr. to have it checked out. My worst > > nightmare had come true. The femoral neck had fractured and > caused a > > failure of the C2K. > > Two days later, on 1/18/03, I had my C2K resurface component > > converted to a MoM THR. Since the cup side was ok, they did > not have > > to do anything there. They just had to insert the stem and > install a > > 48mm ball, which was the same size as the resurfaced head. > > Well, there is life after resurfacing. I am almost 7 weeks post > op > > and getting back to normal. I start back to work tomorrow. > > Although I had hoped to get much more than 4 months out of > my new > > C2K, I am still happy that I did it and would do it again, under > > the same circumstances. I am still a believer of resurfacing > and > > would recommend it to anyone, as long as they are considered > a good > > candidate. > > My Dr. and I concluded that I was probably on the extreme end > of > > being a good candidate. Since the bone was so deformed > pre-op, my > > femoral head probably accepted loads differently and wasn't > strong > > enough to really work with the resurfacing components. > > I have read different posts of people who seem to search for > the Dr. > > that gives them the answer they want to hear. Even if they are > told > > they are not a candidate for the resurfacing, they search to find > > the Dr. that tells them that they can do it. This is something that > > I would not do or recommend to anyone else, but to each their > own. > > Well, I have rambled on long enough. Good luck to all out there > that > > are resurfers, THR's or prospective patients. > > Regards, > > AndyS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2003 Report Share Posted March 6, 2003 Hi Andy. Thank you for your posting. I too have had a failed resurfacing with the fermur ball loosening. I am six month MOM THR and very happy. In fact I am doing everything that I expected with resurfacing. I will eventually need surgery on my right hip and will strongly consider resurfacing since I am still a strong proponent of this procedure. There are three stages to the successful resurfacing. Candidate-surgeon skill-post op activity. Although you are happy with your surgeon he should have known before and during your surgery that it was not going to work. A strong statement but it is something that all candidates must recognize and demand from their surgeon. A part of the surgeons skill is determining the candidacy of a particular patient. Resurfacing will work remarkably well in most patients but those few must be educated to be cautious. I went through two major surgeries in 15 months and I want those who are not strong candidates to be caution and not be afraid of a THR. A successful MOM THR is better than a failed resurfacing and two major surgeries. You are right if a candidate wants to find a willing resurfacing surgeon he will find one. The last time I posted many willing resurfacing candidates posted with worries and I told myself I was not going to post again. I just want to say to all be cautious and ask a lot of questions. Press your surgeon on your candidacy. It is the only way we are going to make this work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2003 Report Share Posted March 6, 2003 Hi Andy. Thank you for your posting. I too have had a failed resurfacing with the fermur ball loosening. I am six month MOM THR and very happy. In fact I am doing everything that I expected with resurfacing. I will eventually need surgery on my right hip and will strongly consider resurfacing since I am still a strong proponent of this procedure. There are three stages to the successful resurfacing. Candidate-surgeon skill-post op activity. Although you are happy with your surgeon he should have known before and during your surgery that it was not going to work. A strong statement but it is something that all candidates must recognize and demand from their surgeon. A part of the surgeons skill is determining the candidacy of a particular patient. Resurfacing will work remarkably well in most patients but those few must be educated to be cautious. I went through two major surgeries in 15 months and I want those who are not strong candidates to be caution and not be afraid of a THR. A successful MOM THR is better than a failed resurfacing and two major surgeries. You are right if a candidate wants to find a willing resurfacing surgeon he will find one. The last time I posted many willing resurfacing candidates posted with worries and I told myself I was not going to post again. I just want to say to all be cautious and ask a lot of questions. Press your surgeon on your candidacy. It is the only way we are going to make this work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2003 Report Share Posted March 7, 2003 There will always be a finite failure rate to this procedure no matter who performs it. This is true of everything in life. So far, even the world wide numbers appear too small to be certain regarding all the factors leading to failure. In 20 years the data will be more certain. The surgical techniques are still evolving. The use of cement, exact angle of placement of the femoral component, design of the acetabular component and other details are being revised from the originals. This is true of all technology which evolves over time. We should all be grateful that it is successful as it appears to be thus far. The good news is that M-O-M THRs will be a good fall back position. Best wishes for all " hippies " of any type. in NC > Hi Andy. Thank you for your posting. I too have had a failed resurfacing > with the fermur ball loosening. I am six month MOM THR and very happy. In > fact I am doing everything that I expected with resurfacing. I will > eventually need surgery on my right hip and will strongly consider > resurfacing since I am still a strong proponent of this procedure. > There are three stages to the successful resurfacing. Candidate- surgeon > skill-post op activity. Although you are happy with your surgeon he should > have known before and during your surgery that it was not going to work. A > strong statement but it is something that all candidates must recognize and > demand from their surgeon. A part of the surgeons skill is determining the > candidacy of a particular patient. Resurfacing will work remarkably well in > most patients but those few must be educated to be cautious. I went through > two major surgeries in 15 months and I want those who are not strong > candidates to be caution and not be afraid of a THR. A successful MOM THR is > better than a failed resurfacing and two major surgeries. You are right if a > candidate wants to find a willing resurfacing surgeon he will find one. > The last time I posted many willing resurfacing candidates posted with > worries and I told myself I was not going to post again. I just want to say > to all be cautious and ask a lot of questions. Press your surgeon on your > candidacy. It is the only way we are going to make this work. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2003 Report Share Posted March 7, 2003 There will always be a finite failure rate to this procedure no matter who performs it. This is true of everything in life. So far, even the world wide numbers appear too small to be certain regarding all the factors leading to failure. In 20 years the data will be more certain. The surgical techniques are still evolving. The use of cement, exact angle of placement of the femoral component, design of the acetabular component and other details are being revised from the originals. This is true of all technology which evolves over time. We should all be grateful that it is successful as it appears to be thus far. The good news is that M-O-M THRs will be a good fall back position. Best wishes for all " hippies " of any type. in NC > Hi Andy. Thank you for your posting. I too have had a failed resurfacing > with the fermur ball loosening. I am six month MOM THR and very happy. In > fact I am doing everything that I expected with resurfacing. I will > eventually need surgery on my right hip and will strongly consider > resurfacing since I am still a strong proponent of this procedure. > There are three stages to the successful resurfacing. Candidate- surgeon > skill-post op activity. Although you are happy with your surgeon he should > have known before and during your surgery that it was not going to work. A > strong statement but it is something that all candidates must recognize and > demand from their surgeon. A part of the surgeons skill is determining the > candidacy of a particular patient. Resurfacing will work remarkably well in > most patients but those few must be educated to be cautious. I went through > two major surgeries in 15 months and I want those who are not strong > candidates to be caution and not be afraid of a THR. A successful MOM THR is > better than a failed resurfacing and two major surgeries. You are right if a > candidate wants to find a willing resurfacing surgeon he will find one. > The last time I posted many willing resurfacing candidates posted with > worries and I told myself I was not going to post again. I just want to say > to all be cautious and ask a lot of questions. Press your surgeon on your > candidacy. It is the only way we are going to make this work. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2003 Report Share Posted March 7, 2003 There will always be a finite failure rate to this procedure no matter who performs it. This is true of everything in life. So far, even the world wide numbers appear too small to be certain regarding all the factors leading to failure. In 20 years the data will be more certain. The surgical techniques are still evolving. The use of cement, exact angle of placement of the femoral component, design of the acetabular component and other details are being revised from the originals. This is true of all technology which evolves over time. We should all be grateful that it is successful as it appears to be thus far. The good news is that M-O-M THRs will be a good fall back position. Best wishes for all " hippies " of any type. in NC > Hi Andy. Thank you for your posting. I too have had a failed resurfacing > with the fermur ball loosening. I am six month MOM THR and very happy. In > fact I am doing everything that I expected with resurfacing. I will > eventually need surgery on my right hip and will strongly consider > resurfacing since I am still a strong proponent of this procedure. > There are three stages to the successful resurfacing. Candidate- surgeon > skill-post op activity. Although you are happy with your surgeon he should > have known before and during your surgery that it was not going to work. A > strong statement but it is something that all candidates must recognize and > demand from their surgeon. A part of the surgeons skill is determining the > candidacy of a particular patient. Resurfacing will work remarkably well in > most patients but those few must be educated to be cautious. I went through > two major surgeries in 15 months and I want those who are not strong > candidates to be caution and not be afraid of a THR. A successful MOM THR is > better than a failed resurfacing and two major surgeries. You are right if a > candidate wants to find a willing resurfacing surgeon he will find one. > The last time I posted many willing resurfacing candidates posted with > worries and I told myself I was not going to post again. I just want to say > to all be cautious and ask a lot of questions. Press your surgeon on your > candidacy. It is the only way we are going to make this work. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2003 Report Share Posted March 7, 2003 rubbbob, I am glad that things are working out for you regarding your THR. I am hoping for the same successfull outcome. I agree with your 3 stages to successful resurfacing. I couldn't be happier with my surgeon. He is an excellent surgeon with many years of experience and a wonderful human being as well. We have a very good raport. How many OS's would give you their Cell #'s and home #'s to call them if you had any problems. As far as post op activity, I do not think I was doing anything I shouldn't have. I was 4 months post op and not doing anything that was impacting. Cross trainer, on low tension, treadmill with no incline and not a fast pace and a stationary bike and nu-step, which is what I used in PT. As far as being a candidate, when Dr. helmy first examined me, he was not sure whether or not I would be a candidate, due to the mushrooming deformity that had occured in my hip as a result of the SCFE and 30+ years of wear and tear. He took ex-rays and a had a 3D-CT scan done. 2 weeks after my visit, Dr. Helmy was going to speak at a conference in the UK sponsored by Corin. Since he was unsure whether or not I was a candidate, he took all my " data " to the UK to present. He presented it as a case study to the OS'a that were in attendence from all over the world. Based on discussions he had with some of the OS's who had more years of experience with resurfacing, it was decided that I would be a candidate. So, in light of that, I felt confident that I would be a good candidate. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way. I am only 7 weeks post op THR, but I feel confident that I will be able to do all with this THR that I would have with the resurfacing. My goals we not as lofty as others may have been. Thanks for the response. Good luck with your THR. Best regards, Andy > Hi Andy. Thank you for your posting. I too have had a failed resurfacing > with the fermur ball loosening. I am six month MOM THR and very happy. In > fact I am doing everything that I expected with resurfacing. I will > eventually need surgery on my right hip and will strongly consider > resurfacing since I am still a strong proponent of this procedure. > There are three stages to the successful resurfacing. Candidate- surgeon > skill-post op activity. Although you are happy with your surgeon he should > have known before and during your surgery that it was not going to work. A > strong statement but it is something that all candidates must recognize and > demand from their surgeon. A part of the surgeons skill is determining the > candidacy of a particular patient. Resurfacing will work remarkably well in > most patients but those few must be educated to be cautious. I went through > two major surgeries in 15 months and I want those who are not strong > candidates to be caution and not be afraid of a THR. A successful MOM THR is > better than a failed resurfacing and two major surgeries. You are right if a > candidate wants to find a willing resurfacing surgeon he will find one. > The last time I posted many willing resurfacing candidates posted with > worries and I told myself I was not going to post again. I just want to say > to all be cautious and ask a lot of questions. Press your surgeon on your > candidacy. It is the only way we are going to make this work. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2003 Report Share Posted March 8, 2003 Andy I am 10 weeks postop with a THR after my resurfacing failed after 3 weeks. After 4 months you must have been even more shattered it failed. I have also come to the conclusion I was on the extreme end of being a good candidate. However I wanted to go ahead and still believe it was the right thing to do. Like you, if I had not I would always have wondered whether I should have gone for resurfacing. I thought a failure would involve great pain but mine just seemed to come on gradually while sitting down. I learned later that the device had moved and fractured my femur. I went back over everything I had done and know there was no time I had broken any restrictions. I am now getting used to having the THR and am hopeful that I will be able to do everything I would have been able to do with a resurfacing (within reason). After 2 operations in a month and the fractured hip I am just glad to be mobile again. I still believe resurfacing is the way to go for the right candidates. I am grateful I had a fallback position of the THR. Jill Re: THR After Resurfacing Sheila, Thank You for the kind words. When the Dr. told me it failed I was speechless. I was really upset. After that, I blamed myself for quite some time that I could have avoided the failure if I hadn't been so agressive in the gym. After a good deal of soul searching and several discussions with my OS, that is the conclusion that was drawn, was that I was probably on the extreme end of being a good candidate. As I previously stated, I would make the same decision if I had it to do over again. I truly believe in the resurfacing. It was a chance I took and it didn't work out. I am glad though that I took the chance, because if I hadn't had the resurfacing and just had a THR, I would always have wondered about the resurfacing, especially once it is approved by the FDA and becomes the gold standard for young/active people. (Just my opinion. Good luck to all. AndyS > > All, > > I am following up on a post that I made about 7 weeks ago. > > I posted long notes that last time, so I will try to keep this as > > brief as possible. > > In 1970, I was diagnosed with a grade 4 SCFE. After 32 years > of > > limping and 3 years of severe pain, I had decided it was time to > do > > something about it. > > After much research and a great deal of thought, I decided to > > proceed with a resurface as opposed to a THR. During my > pre-op exams > > I was told that I may not be a candidate for the procedure. > Since my > > femoral head had deformed to a mushroom type shape due to > the SCFE > > and I had limped for so long, I may not be eligible to be > > resurfaced, that I have to be prepared to wake up with a THR. I > was > > ok with this since I trusted my Dr. and knew he would do what > he > > felt was best. > > So, on the morning of 9/6/02, I was wheeled into the OR. After a > 4.5 > > hr operation, I woke up with a new C2K resurfaced hip. Part of > the > > reason the operation took so long was that my hip was fused > in the > > socket and needed to be chiseled out. They couldn't get it to > > dislocate the way they are normally dislocated. > > Besides for the pain immediately post op, I was very happy that > I > > received the C2K and was on the road to recovery. > > Things were going well. I was pain free and was going to the > gym on > > a regular basis. > > Four months post op, my leg started to bother me. I felt as > though I > > had strained the muscles from my cardio routine at the gym. I > posted > > a not about this at the time. Two days after my leg started to > > bother me, I went to the Dr. to have it checked out. My worst > > nightmare had come true. The femoral neck had fractured and > caused a > > failure of the C2K. > > Two days later, on 1/18/03, I had my C2K resurface component > > converted to a MoM THR. Since the cup side was ok, they did > not have > > to do anything there. They just had to insert the stem and > install a > > 48mm ball, which was the same size as the resurfaced head. > > Well, there is life after resurfacing. I am almost 7 weeks post > op > > and getting back to normal. I start back to work tomorrow. > > Although I had hoped to get much more than 4 months out of > my new > > C2K, I am still happy that I did it and would do it again, under > > the same circumstances. I am still a believer of resurfacing > and > > would recommend it to anyone, as long as they are considered > a good > > candidate. > > My Dr. and I concluded that I was probably on the extreme end > of > > being a good candidate. Since the bone was so deformed > pre-op, my > > femoral head probably accepted loads differently and wasn't > strong > > enough to really work with the resurfacing components. > > I have read different posts of people who seem to search for > the Dr. > > that gives them the answer they want to hear. Even if they are > told > > they are not a candidate for the resurfacing, they search to find > > the Dr. that tells them that they can do it. This is something that > > I would not do or recommend to anyone else, but to each their > own. > > Well, I have rambled on long enough. Good luck to all out there > that > > are resurfers, THR's or prospective patients. > > Regards, > > AndyS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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