Re: what should I do?

[Guest guest]

20 BHR's is not a very large number! There are 12 doctors in the US

taking part in the study. Many of them are able to get insurance

coverage with no problems. There should be a list of them on

ActiveJoints.com. I know my doctor (Dr. Gross) in Columbia, SC does

bilateral hip resurfacings all the time. TimmyT can attest to that.

He was in the hospital with me when I had my RHR done. He had both

done. I'm sure DeSmet is very good, but if you are interested in

staying in the US, there are good doctors here who have done hundreds

of them (not just 20!).

Dr Gross 6/12/03

RHR C2K

[Guest guest]

> I posted a message on this great site a month or so about my

situation. I am a 35 yo athlete with an 80 yo hip, lots of pain,

including lower back problems. After posting, I got many great

messages back encouraging me not to wait further to have surgery. One

person encouraged me to look in the US for surgeons.

>

> Tentatively, I have an appointment in Belgium on Dec. 17th for a

right BHR. However, I have also contacted a surgeon in NJ, Dr

Feldman, who tells me that insurance will cover his procedure. He

has done 20 procedures and assures me that the insurance carriers are

billed in such a way that they do not have any problems with

reimbursement.

>

> I know that Dr DeSmet has done many more than 20 BHRs. How

important is it to have this procedure done by a surgeon with that

much more experience? How much chance is there of Blue Cross/Blue

Shield covering this procedure in Belgium?

>

> What should I do???? Should I continue to explore surgeons in the

US or should I make plans to go to Belgium? Any advice??

I can't answer to BC/BS, but the American surgeons are wonderful

also. Many have done well over 200 resurfs each,(I was Dr Gross's

220 something resurf, and that was over 2 months ago) and are

knowledgeable, caring and extremely skilled. I wouldn't count them

out, unless you have very challenging physical conditions. (Some of

our surgeons are more hesitant to take on very challenging and

therefore somewhat risky conditions, not because they aren't capable

of handling them, but because they can change the outcomes of the

clinical trials. These are not on trial in Europe, so they are freer

to take on more iffy cases.) Or, if you know for sure your insurance

won't cover anything and you can only afford to go to Belgium, then

go for it. I would give the doc (american) a chance to submit your

pre-cert to insurance and see what happens. Personally, I'd rather

stay in the states, and would do just about anything to accomplish

that. There is nothing second rate about our resurf docs. They were

chosen by the companies making the resurf devices for their skill as

surgeons.

It can't hurt to do some more investigation. Just about every person

here will swear that their doc was the best in the world, so of

course, bias will prevail. Since a predominant number of us have

successful implants, that attests to the skill of all the doctors

doing the procedure. Feldman is in NJ, Mont in Baltimore, Gross in

SC, and others are scattered all over the country. You have plenty

to choose from.

You don't necessarily have to visit, also. Some, like Gross, will

evaluate xrays that you send him by e-mail. I didn't actually meet

him until the day before my op! But I spoke with him beforehand by

phone for a long period, and spent much time either on the phone or e-

mailing with his wonderful assistant, Lee, and his office staff.

He's further for me than any of the other northeast docs ( I live in

CT), but I really liked everything about him and his procedures, so

that's where I went. It was a piece of cake.

Lois

Gross 8/6/03

[Guest guest]

> I posted a message on this great site a month or so about my

situation. I am a 35 yo athlete with an 80 yo hip, lots of pain,

including lower back problems. After posting, I got many great

messages back encouraging me not to wait further to have surgery. One

person encouraged me to look in the US for surgeons.

>

> Tentatively, I have an appointment in Belgium on Dec. 17th for a

right BHR. However, I have also contacted a surgeon in NJ, Dr

Feldman, who tells me that insurance will cover his procedure. He

has done 20 procedures and assures me that the insurance carriers are

billed in such a way that they do not have any problems with

reimbursement.

>

> I know that Dr DeSmet has done many more than 20 BHRs. How

important is it to have this procedure done by a surgeon with that

much more experience? How much chance is there of Blue Cross/Blue

Shield covering this procedure in Belgium?

>

> What should I do???? Should I continue to explore surgeons in the

US or should I make plans to go to Belgium? Any advice??

I can't answer to BC/BS, but the American surgeons are wonderful

also. Many have done well over 200 resurfs each,(I was Dr Gross's

220 something resurf, and that was over 2 months ago) and are

knowledgeable, caring and extremely skilled. I wouldn't count them

out, unless you have very challenging physical conditions. (Some of

our surgeons are more hesitant to take on very challenging and

therefore somewhat risky conditions, not because they aren't capable

of handling them, but because they can change the outcomes of the

clinical trials. These are not on trial in Europe, so they are freer

to take on more iffy cases.) Or, if you know for sure your insurance

won't cover anything and you can only afford to go to Belgium, then

go for it. I would give the doc (american) a chance to submit your

pre-cert to insurance and see what happens. Personally, I'd rather

stay in the states, and would do just about anything to accomplish

that. There is nothing second rate about our resurf docs. They were

chosen by the companies making the resurf devices for their skill as

surgeons.

It can't hurt to do some more investigation. Just about every person

here will swear that their doc was the best in the world, so of

course, bias will prevail. Since a predominant number of us have

successful implants, that attests to the skill of all the doctors

doing the procedure. Feldman is in NJ, Mont in Baltimore, Gross in

SC, and others are scattered all over the country. You have plenty

to choose from.

You don't necessarily have to visit, also. Some, like Gross, will

evaluate xrays that you send him by e-mail. I didn't actually meet

him until the day before my op! But I spoke with him beforehand by

phone for a long period, and spent much time either on the phone or e-

mailing with his wonderful assistant, Lee, and his office staff.

He's further for me than any of the other northeast docs ( I live in

CT), but I really liked everything about him and his procedures, so

that's where I went. It was a piece of cake.

Lois

Gross 8/6/03

[Guest guest]

You certainly can't go wrong with DeSmet. I opted for the BHR

because there are more size options with their device and I really

liked what I read about their manufacturing technique. DeSmet is

highly skilled, compassionate and his team is excellent. I got

60% reimbursed by my insurance when I submitted forms that

DeSmet's office filled out. Follow up? He feels it is not necessary

for overseas patients. Most of his patients on this website will

agree. As he told me, " I know how well my patients do. " He had

not had any problems with any of his North American patients at

the time I had my surgery. (May). I hope this helps. At any rate,

have it as soon as possible. Life is too short and absolutely

wonderful post op. Feel free to email me personally.

Ruth RBHR DeSmet 5/13/03

[Guest guest]

The surgeon and his experience is very important to me. Does anyone

have a rundown of the number of resurfs that the U.S. surgeons have

done compared to DeSmet?

For that matter, since I live in Ontario, any numbers for Canadian

surgeons involved in the trials?

I'm still waiting for my appt with Dr. Kim in Ottawa but it's

becoming a really long stretch to January or February 2004 (been

waiting since June for a date) and my knee and back are taking a lot

of punishment lately because I'm favouring (that's Canadianese for

favoring, eh) my hip so much.

For other Ontarians: is there no way that OHIP will cover out-of-

province services if I have to wait so long here?

Rainer

[Guest guest]

The surgeon and his experience is very important to me. Does anyone

have a rundown of the number of resurfs that the U.S. surgeons have

done compared to DeSmet?

For that matter, since I live in Ontario, any numbers for Canadian

surgeons involved in the trials?

I'm still waiting for my appt with Dr. Kim in Ottawa but it's

becoming a really long stretch to January or February 2004 (been

waiting since June for a date) and my knee and back are taking a lot

of punishment lately because I'm favouring (that's Canadianese for

favoring, eh) my hip so much.

For other Ontarians: is there no way that OHIP will cover out-of-

province services if I have to wait so long here?

Rainer

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharry,

Yes, he's already seen my x-rays and given me the okay.

Rainer

> Hi Rainer

> I don't know if this would work with Dr Kim, but I got in to

see Dr Smit in White Rock, B.C., in June for a consult by paying

$250.00 myself. His secretary said it somehow bypassed MSP (our

OHIP), but wouldn't compromise MSP paying for the surgery. Otherwise

I would have had to wait until November. As it was, he said my hip

was too bad for him to do a resurf on, and tried to talk me into a

THR. DeSmet had already seen my xrays and given me the okay, but I

had been hoping I could get it done here and avoid the cost of going

to Belgium. No such luck.

> The other thing is that I know people in B.C. who have had Dr

Kim do the surgery and they just had to send their xrays to him,

without having to go there twice - once for a consult and once for

surgery. Has he already seen your xrays?

> Sharry

> Re: what should I do?

>

>

> The surgeon and his experience is very important to me. Does

anyone

> have a rundown of the number of resurfs that the U.S. surgeons

have

> done compared to DeSmet?

>

> For that matter, since I live in Ontario, any numbers for

Canadian

> surgeons involved in the trials?

>

> I'm still waiting for my appt with Dr. Kim in Ottawa but it's

> becoming a really long stretch to January or February 2004 (been

> waiting since June for a date) and my knee and back are taking a

lot

> of punishment lately because I'm favouring (that's Canadianese

for

> favoring, eh) my hip so much.

>

> For other Ontarians: is there no way that OHIP will cover out-of-

> province services if I have to wait so long here?

>

> Rainer

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Congratulations, Ken. Welcome to surfie-dom. The first two weeks

are the hardest, becaseu of stiffness, but it gets better and

better. I'm 7 1/2 weeks post-op, have had no restrictions at all for

weeks now, and don't feel as if I've had major surgery.

Let us all know of your progress.

Virginia

(right BHR on a THR stem, because of pre-existing fracture, 27/08/03)

> Have been reading since July, as of 10-13-03 an official HIPPY.

Done by DR

> Grecula @ UTMB. Galveston. in the great state of TEXAS.

> C+ LHR

> Ken

[Guest guest]

Congratulations, Ken. Welcome to surfie-dom. The first two weeks

are the hardest, becaseu of stiffness, but it gets better and

better. I'm 7 1/2 weeks post-op, have had no restrictions at all for

weeks now, and don't feel as if I've had major surgery.

Let us all know of your progress.

Virginia

(right BHR on a THR stem, because of pre-existing fracture, 27/08/03)

> Have been reading since July, as of 10-13-03 an official HIPPY.

Done by DR

> Grecula @ UTMB. Galveston. in the great state of TEXAS.

> C+ LHR

> Ken

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharry,

Actually come to think of it, when I first talked to Sylvia at Dr.

Kim's office after Dr. Kim had okayed me for the surgery, I got the

impression that my appt with Dr. Kim was for surgery. I thought it

was unusual not to have a consultation first so I thought I must have

imagined that scenario. But maybe....

Still I would not go to surgery without having a consultation with

Dr. Kim first, even if it meant moving out the surgery even further.

So my appt in Jan/Feb is for a consultation -- I'd like

to 'interview' Dr. Kim to see if I'm comfortable with him, e.g. his

experience, his thoughts on re-surfacing, etc.

Naturally the fact that OHIP would cover the surgery is very

attractive and also the fact that any post-op problems can be dealt

with without going out of the country. Even though he may be a good

OS, my biggest concern may be his lack of re-surfs done compared to

others like DeSmet, Amstutz, McMinn.

Rainer

> > Hi Rainer

> > I don't know if this would work with Dr Kim, but I got in

to

> see Dr Smit in White Rock, B.C., in June for a consult by paying

> $250.00 myself. His secretary said it somehow bypassed MSP (our

> OHIP), but wouldn't compromise MSP paying for the surgery.

Otherwise

> I would have had to wait until November. As it was, he said my

hip

> was too bad for him to do a resurf on, and tried to talk me into

a

> THR. DeSmet had already seen my xrays and given me the okay, but

I

> had been hoping I could get it done here and avoid the cost of

going

> to Belgium. No such luck.

> > The other thing is that I know people in B.C. who have had

Dr

> Kim do the surgery and they just had to send their xrays to him,

> without having to go there twice - once for a consult and once

for

> surgery. Has he already seen your xrays?

> > Sharry

> > Re: what should I do?

> >

> >

> > The surgeon and his experience is very important to me. Does

> anyone

> > have a rundown of the number of resurfs that the U.S.

surgeons

> have

> > done compared to DeSmet?

> >

> > For that matter, since I live in Ontario, any numbers for

> Canadian

> > surgeons involved in the trials?

> >

> > I'm still waiting for my appt with Dr. Kim in Ottawa but it's

> > becoming a really long stretch to January or February 2004

(been

> > waiting since June for a date) and my knee and back are

taking a

> lot

> > of punishment lately because I'm favouring (that's

Canadianese

> for

> > favoring, eh) my hip so much.

> >

> > For other Ontarians: is there no way that OHIP will cover

out-of-

> > province services if I have to wait so long here?

> >

> > Rainer

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharry,

Actually come to think of it, when I first talked to Sylvia at Dr.

Kim's office after Dr. Kim had okayed me for the surgery, I got the

impression that my appt with Dr. Kim was for surgery. I thought it

was unusual not to have a consultation first so I thought I must have

imagined that scenario. But maybe....

Still I would not go to surgery without having a consultation with

Dr. Kim first, even if it meant moving out the surgery even further.

So my appt in Jan/Feb is for a consultation -- I'd like

to 'interview' Dr. Kim to see if I'm comfortable with him, e.g. his

experience, his thoughts on re-surfacing, etc.

Naturally the fact that OHIP would cover the surgery is very

attractive and also the fact that any post-op problems can be dealt

with without going out of the country. Even though he may be a good

OS, my biggest concern may be his lack of re-surfs done compared to

others like DeSmet, Amstutz, McMinn.

Rainer

> > Hi Rainer

> > I don't know if this would work with Dr Kim, but I got in

to

> see Dr Smit in White Rock, B.C., in June for a consult by paying

> $250.00 myself. His secretary said it somehow bypassed MSP (our

> OHIP), but wouldn't compromise MSP paying for the surgery.

Otherwise

> I would have had to wait until November. As it was, he said my

hip

> was too bad for him to do a resurf on, and tried to talk me into

a

> THR. DeSmet had already seen my xrays and given me the okay, but

I

> had been hoping I could get it done here and avoid the cost of

going

> to Belgium. No such luck.

> > The other thing is that I know people in B.C. who have had

Dr

> Kim do the surgery and they just had to send their xrays to him,

> without having to go there twice - once for a consult and once

for

> surgery. Has he already seen your xrays?

> > Sharry

> > Re: what should I do?

> >

> >

> > The surgeon and his experience is very important to me. Does

> anyone

> > have a rundown of the number of resurfs that the U.S.

surgeons

> have

> > done compared to DeSmet?

> >

> > For that matter, since I live in Ontario, any numbers for

> Canadian

> > surgeons involved in the trials?

> >

> > I'm still waiting for my appt with Dr. Kim in Ottawa but it's

> > becoming a really long stretch to January or February 2004

(been

> > waiting since June for a date) and my knee and back are

taking a

> lot

> > of punishment lately because I'm favouring (that's

Canadianese

> for

> > favoring, eh) my hip so much.

> >

> > For other Ontarians: is there no way that OHIP will cover

out-of-

> > province services if I have to wait so long here?

> >

> > Rainer

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharry,

I know what you mean about not waiting too long. Aside from the bone

slowly wearing away on my hip, I've noticed the biggest difference in

my left knee which seems to have absorbed the biggest punishment of

my ungainly walk. I've been doing a LOT of physical work around the

house this summer (I bought a new house in January)and my knee is

constantly swollen. My lower back will also sometimes will remind me

that I'm stretching this out too far.

I haven't been in the gym for over a year now -- the longest I've

been out of commission in my life! (In defence of that though, I must

say that I know why people become couch potatoes -- it's nice not to

have have that fitness fanaticsm hang over your head EVERY

day.)

Anyways, to my question -- how long did it actually take for you to

schedule your surgery with DeSmet after he had examined your x-rays?

Rainer

> > > Hi Rainer

> > > I don't know if this would work with Dr Kim, but I got

in

> to

> > see Dr Smit in White Rock, B.C., in June for a consult by

paying

> > $250.00 myself. His secretary said it somehow bypassed MSP

(our

> > OHIP), but wouldn't compromise MSP paying for the surgery.

> Otherwise

> > I would have had to wait until November. As it was, he said

my

> hip

> > was too bad for him to do a resurf on, and tried to talk me

into

> a

> > THR. DeSmet had already seen my xrays and given me the okay,

but

> I

> > had been hoping I could get it done here and avoid the cost

of

> going

> > to Belgium. No such luck.

> > > The other thing is that I know people in B.C. who have

had

> Dr

> > Kim do the surgery and they just had to send their xrays to

him,

> > without having to go there twice - once for a consult and

once

> for

> > surgery. Has he already seen your xrays?

> > > Sharry

> > > Re: what should I do?

> > >

> > >

> > > The surgeon and his experience is very important to me.

Does

> > anyone

> > > have a rundown of the number of resurfs that the U.S.

> surgeons

> > have

> > > done compared to DeSmet?

> > >

> > > For that matter, since I live in Ontario, any numbers for

> > Canadian

> > > surgeons involved in the trials?

> > >

> > > I'm still waiting for my appt with Dr. Kim in Ottawa but

it's

> > > becoming a really long stretch to January or February

2004

> (been

> > > waiting since June for a date) and my knee and back are

> taking a

> > lot

> > > of punishment lately because I'm favouring (that's

> Canadianese

> > for

> > > favoring, eh) my hip so much.

> > >

> > > For other Ontarians: is there no way that OHIP will

cover

> out-of-

> > > province services if I have to wait so long here?

> > >

> > > Rainer

> > >

> > >

> > >