Guest guest Posted December 29, 2003 Report Share Posted December 29, 2003 they are doing great " stuff " at Hopkins + I think Dr. Mond performs in your area (from this sites you can find his name and location); these would be the best sources for your questions since he is still on chemo all the best Miren C2K Dr. Gross 5/12 5/14 2003 College Kid with AVN I just happened onto this group, and I'm hoping you can help. My son was diagnosed with leukemia 2 years ago at the age of 17. The high dose steroids that saved his life did a number on his hips. His right hip collapsed last January, but wasn't very painful. He had a core decompression on the left one in March for pain control. It worked for several months, but now it is collapsing. He has moderate pain most of the time in both hips, and considerably less range of motion. The surgeon is suggesting resurfacing. My son wants the procedure (left hip during spring break and right hip just after spring quarter is over), but also wants to continue going to college, living in the dorm. He did well at school on crutches with no weight bearing for 6 weeks after the core decompression. He's a very determined kid, but my " mother's flags " are going up. Can anyone share their experiences, positive and negative, that will help him reach a decision that we parents can support? Similar ages, recovery times, pain control, increased range of motion, surgeons you'd recommend (we live in land), unexpected difficulties, insurance woes or successes - anything you can share would be appreciated. This kid has been through a lot, and still has 15 months of chemo left. Thanks for your help. Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2003 Report Share Posted December 29, 2003 they are doing great " stuff " at Hopkins + I think Dr. Mond performs in your area (from this sites you can find his name and location); these would be the best sources for your questions since he is still on chemo all the best Miren C2K Dr. Gross 5/12 5/14 2003 College Kid with AVN I just happened onto this group, and I'm hoping you can help. My son was diagnosed with leukemia 2 years ago at the age of 17. The high dose steroids that saved his life did a number on his hips. His right hip collapsed last January, but wasn't very painful. He had a core decompression on the left one in March for pain control. It worked for several months, but now it is collapsing. He has moderate pain most of the time in both hips, and considerably less range of motion. The surgeon is suggesting resurfacing. My son wants the procedure (left hip during spring break and right hip just after spring quarter is over), but also wants to continue going to college, living in the dorm. He did well at school on crutches with no weight bearing for 6 weeks after the core decompression. He's a very determined kid, but my " mother's flags " are going up. Can anyone share their experiences, positive and negative, that will help him reach a decision that we parents can support? Similar ages, recovery times, pain control, increased range of motion, surgeons you'd recommend (we live in land), unexpected difficulties, insurance woes or successes - anything you can share would be appreciated. This kid has been through a lot, and still has 15 months of chemo left. Thanks for your help. Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2003 Report Share Posted December 29, 2003 they are doing great " stuff " at Hopkins + I think Dr. Mond performs in your area (from this sites you can find his name and location); these would be the best sources for your questions since he is still on chemo all the best Miren C2K Dr. Gross 5/12 5/14 2003 College Kid with AVN I just happened onto this group, and I'm hoping you can help. My son was diagnosed with leukemia 2 years ago at the age of 17. The high dose steroids that saved his life did a number on his hips. His right hip collapsed last January, but wasn't very painful. He had a core decompression on the left one in March for pain control. It worked for several months, but now it is collapsing. He has moderate pain most of the time in both hips, and considerably less range of motion. The surgeon is suggesting resurfacing. My son wants the procedure (left hip during spring break and right hip just after spring quarter is over), but also wants to continue going to college, living in the dorm. He did well at school on crutches with no weight bearing for 6 weeks after the core decompression. He's a very determined kid, but my " mother's flags " are going up. Can anyone share their experiences, positive and negative, that will help him reach a decision that we parents can support? Similar ages, recovery times, pain control, increased range of motion, surgeons you'd recommend (we live in land), unexpected difficulties, insurance woes or successes - anything you can share would be appreciated. This kid has been through a lot, and still has 15 months of chemo left. Thanks for your help. Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2003 Report Share Posted December 30, 2003 Jane Your son will need down time after the surgery. It is a BIG proceedure and you want your body to heal well. I vote . . . lt it be a long time before one needs surgery again:-) He may be OK to live in the dorm etc . . but maybe not right away. Spring break is one week long - right. Not sure if that comprises enough down time to be ready to take on active campus life. Can any courses be followed via the computer? My nephew in college does MOST of his work on the computer (although he does attend class on campus). I would be sure to speak to the OS about your son's total health pic. Bless his heart he is determined! I see Mont has been recommended several times to you on this board. Consult with him and another resurface OS too! Dr Gross and probably there are others who will consult by phone. Good luck with your search and your son's progress. All the Best Alyce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2003 Report Share Posted December 30, 2003 Jane Your son will need down time after the surgery. It is a BIG proceedure and you want your body to heal well. I vote . . . lt it be a long time before one needs surgery again:-) He may be OK to live in the dorm etc . . but maybe not right away. Spring break is one week long - right. Not sure if that comprises enough down time to be ready to take on active campus life. Can any courses be followed via the computer? My nephew in college does MOST of his work on the computer (although he does attend class on campus). I would be sure to speak to the OS about your son's total health pic. Bless his heart he is determined! I see Mont has been recommended several times to you on this board. Consult with him and another resurface OS too! Dr Gross and probably there are others who will consult by phone. Good luck with your search and your son's progress. All the Best Alyce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2003 Report Share Posted December 30, 2003 Jane Your son will need down time after the surgery. It is a BIG proceedure and you want your body to heal well. I vote . . . lt it be a long time before one needs surgery again:-) He may be OK to live in the dorm etc . . but maybe not right away. Spring break is one week long - right. Not sure if that comprises enough down time to be ready to take on active campus life. Can any courses be followed via the computer? My nephew in college does MOST of his work on the computer (although he does attend class on campus). I would be sure to speak to the OS about your son's total health pic. Bless his heart he is determined! I see Mont has been recommended several times to you on this board. Consult with him and another resurface OS too! Dr Gross and probably there are others who will consult by phone. Good luck with your search and your son's progress. All the Best Alyce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2003 Report Share Posted December 30, 2003 > I just happened onto this group, and I'm hoping you can help. My son was diagnosed with leukemia 2 years ago at the age of 17. The high dose steroids that saved his life did a number on his hips. His right hip collapsed last January, but wasn't very painful. He had a core decompression on the left one in March for pain control. It worked for several months, but now it is collapsing. He has moderate pain most of the time in both hips, and considerably less range of motion. The surgeon is suggesting resurfacing. My son wants the procedure (left hip during spring break and right hip just after spring quarter is over), but also wants to continue going to college, living in the dorm. He did well at school on crutches with no weight bearing for 6 weeks after the core decompression. He's a very determined kid, but my " mother's flags " are going up. Can anyone share their experiences, positive and negative, that will help him reach a decision that we parents can support? Similar ages, recovery times, pain control, increased range of motion, surgeons you'd recommend (we live in land), unexpected difficulties, insurance woes or successes - anything you can share would be appreciated. This kid has been through a lot, and still has 15 months of chemo left. > > Thanks for your help. > Jane > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2003 Report Share Posted December 30, 2003 Hi Jane, Wow...you've got a great son who has done a tremendous job of dealing with his health challenges and pushing on with his education! I'm sure you're very proud of him. My first reaction is that you're right to have some concerns about his plans. Although I'm a good bit older than your son (40), I can tell you that he'll need to take time to rest and heal after a resurfacing procedure. I wasn't even released from the hospital until the 4th day post-op. The effects of the anesthesia and painkillers stayed in my system for several weeks leaving me dizzy and fuzzy-headed. Even though I didn't have a lot of pain, I was much more tired for the first month or two of recovery; just a little bit of exertion tired me out. (Might the chemo add to the tiredness your son may experience?) The physical restrictions would also make things more difficult. For instance, I wasn't allowed to bend past 90 degrees, which made it impossible to put on socks and shoes without help or assistive devices. Also, I lived in the dorms in college and I wouldn't have wanted to recover from surgery in that environment. I had difficulty sleeping for awhile and found our recliner much more comfortable than a bed for several weeks; he probably wouldn't have that luxury in a dorm room. My unexpected difficulty was that I had a high risk of dislocation due to having lax ligaments. Because of that, I had to wear a brace on my hip for 6 weeks post-op and progressed to unassisted walking slower than most. I don't think this " problem " is very common. I am now 5 months post-op and I'm amazed at my range of motion and flexibility. I thought I'd never be able to reach my toes again or bend easily, but I'm doing it. I'm a preschool teacher, so I'm moving around quite a bit and keeping up with the 3 and 4-year-olds in my class. You've had many people recommend Dr. Mont from Sinai in Baltimore and he's got an excellent reputation. My resurfacing was performed by another excellent doc in Baltimore...Dr. s with Good Samaritan Hospital. (Good Sam is the orthopedic " arm " of s Hopkins.) I spoke consulted with both doctors before going with Dr. s, but I would have been comfortable with either doctor. I'm extremely pleased with my results and I'm amazed how much I can do now that I couldn't do for the past several years. As far as insurance issues, I had no problem with the procedure going through Blue Cross Blue Shield of land (PPO). Sorry to ramble on. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to email me. Best wishes to you and your son! Jodi > I just happened onto this group, and I'm hoping you can help. My son was diagnosed with leukemia 2 years ago at the age of 17. The high dose steroids that saved his life did a number on his hips. His right hip collapsed last January, but wasn't very painful. He had a core decompression on the left one in March for pain control. It worked for several months, but now it is collapsing. He has moderate pain most of the time in both hips, and considerably less range of motion. The surgeon is suggesting resurfacing. My son wants the procedure (left hip during spring break and right hip just after spring quarter is over), but also wants to continue going to college, living in the dorm. He did well at school on crutches with no weight bearing for 6 weeks after the core decompression. He's a very determined kid, but my " mother's flags " are going up. Can anyone share their experiences, positive and negative, that will help him reach a decision that we parents can support? Similar ages, recovery times, pain control, increased range of motion, surgeons you'd recommend (we live in land), unexpected difficulties, insurance woes or successes - anything you can share would be appreciated. This kid has been through a lot, and still has 15 months of chemo left. > > Thanks for your help. > Jane > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2003 Report Share Posted December 30, 2003 At 06:40 PM 12/29/2003 -0500, you wrote: > My son wants the procedure (left hip during spring >break and right hip just after spring quarter is over), but also wants to >continue going to college, living in the dorm. He did well at school on >crutches with no weight bearing for 6 weeks after the core decompression. Jane, I had my hips done in May and June and was going to start school in Sept. I waited another quarter as I was still tired a lot, and needed lots of extra rest. Also (one of the things that shocked me most), the drugs they give you tend to make one temporarily stupid. I took several magazines and a book (Connections-not exactly fluff reading). I read the same three pages over and over and over, and each time was like I had never seen them before. I took the same one magazine (left the rest at home) for my second surgery and read a little further, but still had a raging case of the stupids. I normally read a book plus several magazines a week, so that tells you how bad it was for me. Granted, I was 40 when I had mine done, was working full time, plus singing in one choir, ringing in another, and conducting another, but.... Cindy C+ 5/25/01 and 6/28/01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 31, 2003 Report Share Posted December 31, 2003 Hi Cindy, It seems that the effects of anaesthetic drugs being discussed here are for a general anaethetic (GA). These effects can be prevented if your son's surgeon and anaesthetist agree to a spinal block, with an epidural inserted for post-op pain relief. The post-op epidural load is sufficient for pain relief but usually allows movement. This certainly prevents any problems with morphine and other drugs that others on Surfacehippy, and my hospital roomsmates, have mentioned. After my hip surgery on 27 August 03 when I'd just turned 61, I started some serious, high-concentration scientific reading soon after arriving in the ward, after coming up from the Recovery ward on the day of surgery. I was tired, but the main problem was the interruptions for observations, my delicious hospital meal, and so on. (I'd been yearning, in Recovery, for something to eat, and the kitchen staff had thoughtfully sent up a meal that they knew I would enjoy, remembering from my previous hospital stays. This was in a busy public hospital! I really enjoyed the meal.) Anyway, with an epidural in and no morphine, I was alert and focused - and determined to prove it! After previous surgery, I'd done some reading and note-taking towards my PhD the day after surgery, including the one time I'd had a GA. Everyone recovers at his/her own pace and the body's response to drugs is very individual. So your son will need to listen to his body and talk with the physio to see what is right for him. It helps to be flexible about plans. His youth is on his side. If your son finds he is tired in the weeks post-op, having a blood count done would be a good idea, as low iron levels can contribute to tiredness. Virginia (Brisbane, right BHR on THR stem, 27/08/03) > > My son wants the procedure (left hip during spring > >break and right hip just after spring quarter is over), but also wants to > >continue going to college, living in the dorm. He did well at school on > >crutches with no weight bearing for 6 weeks after the core decompression. > > Jane, > > I had my hips done in May and June and was going to start school in > Sept. I waited another quarter as I was still tired a lot, and needed lots > of extra rest. Also (one of the things that shocked me most), the drugs > they give you tend to make one temporarily stupid. I took several > magazines and a book (Connections-not exactly fluff reading). I read the > same three pages over and over and over, and each time was like I had never > seen them before. I took the same one magazine (left the rest at home) for > my second surgery and read a little further, but still had a raging case of > the stupids. I normally read a book plus several magazines a week, so that > tells you how bad it was for me. Granted, I was 40 when I had mine done, > was working full time, plus singing in one choir, ringing in another, and > conducting another, but.... > > Cindy > C+ 5/25/01 and 6/28/01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 31, 2003 Report Share Posted December 31, 2003 At 01:16 AM 1/1/2004 +0000, you wrote: >Hi Cindy, > It seems that the effects of anaesthetic drugs being discussed >here are for a general anaethetic (GA). These effects can be >prevented if your son's surgeon and anaesthetist agree to a spinal >block, with an epidural inserted for post-op pain relief. But I had spinals for both surgeries, and no epidural post-op. Whatever the sedation was was so light that I woke up several times and asked questions of the surgeon. I have never had a general. Maybe it was the Vicodin and/or Vistoril that gave me the stupids... Cindy C+ 5/25/01 and 6/28/01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2004 Report Share Posted January 2, 2004 Cindy, Sounds as if it were those other drugs, since you had an epidural for the actual surgery, unless it was the sedation. I'm surprised the anaesthetist didn't offer you an epidural for post-op relief. The good thing is being able to have the new components for this new hip surgery and to be so much more mobile that previously. I hope you are feeling good about the outcome. I'm revelling in being normal, and learning to remember that I'm no longer " a disabled person " . No more having to book special assistance when flying! Virginia (Mater Hospital, Brisbane, left BHR on THR stem, 27/08/03) > >Hi Cindy, > > It seems that the effects of anaesthetic drugs being discussed > >here are for a general anaethetic (GA). These effects can be > >prevented if your son's surgeon and anaesthetist agree to a spinal > >block, with an epidural inserted for post-op pain relief. > > > But I had spinals for both surgeries, and no epidural post-op. Whatever > the sedation was was so light that I woke up several times and asked > questions of the surgeon. I have never had a general. Maybe it was the > Vicodin and/or Vistoril that gave me the stupids... > > Cindy > C+ 5/25/01 and 6/28/01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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