Hip Resurfacing in Belgium

[Guest guest]

I have developmental dysplasia that is is severe in the right hip and

am need of surgery. I have researched THR and resurfacing, as well

as visited with three OS, one of whom is Dr. Amstutz who is doing the

clinical trial for resurfacing in LA. The hip resurfacing makes more

sense to me than THR but my insurance most likely won't pay. I am 46

year old female. I read Peggy Gariel's book on resurfacing and

wonder if anyone has recently gone to Belgium for the surgery, what

their experience and approximate cost was? They say now that the

mobility is great with the metal-on-metal THR and the main reason to

do resurfacing is bone conservation. Thoughts are appreciated.

Lynda in Colorado

Springs

[Guest guest]

> I have developmental dysplasia that is is severe in the right hip

and

> am need of surgery. I have researched THR and resurfacing, as well

> as visited with three OS, one of whom is Dr. Amstutz who is doing

the

> clinical trial for resurfacing in LA. The hip resurfacing makes

more

> sense to me than THR but my insurance most likely won't pay. I am

46

> year old female. I read Peggy Gariel's book on resurfacing and

> wonder if anyone has recently gone to Belgium for the surgery, what

> their experience and approximate cost was? They say now that the

> mobility is great with the metal-on-metal THR and the main reason

to

> do resurfacing is bone conservation. Thoughts are appreciated.

> Lynda in Colorado

> Springs

Hi Lynda

There are a few other reasons to consider resurfacing besides

conserving bone stock. The firsr is longevity. So far as we can now

tell, with resurfacing being around for about 12 years, it will last

a lot longer than a THR. For a person under 65, a THR is not perhaps

the best first choice,as in most cases, it will not last one's

lifetime.

If nothing else, this gives you the option of getting a THR later on,

if necessary, but you can't do the reverse.

I believe recovery is a lot shorter with a resurf also.

I went to Belgium in august to Dr De Smet. As everyone here says,

who has gone to him, it was worth the time, trouble, and cost. Cost

was 10,500 euros for all the hospital stuff, and pretty much everyone

gets a refund from that.

Hope this helps

Sharry

[Guest guest]

> I discovered in the appeal denial that I don't really have

>conventional insurance through United Healthcare. My husband's

>company's parent corporation has a self-funded ERISA (Employee

>Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) plan. United Healthcare only

>provides administrative and claims payment services. An ERISA plan

>is whatever the self-funding parent company says it is, and it is

>exempt from regulation by state insurance laws. It is nominally

>regulated by the federal Department of Labor, but when I called them

>I learned that they " have regulatory oversight of ERISAs, but no

>teeth. " In other words, large corporations have established these

>plans to avoid the very insurance regulations designed to protect

>consumers. State insurance commisions are powerless to review their

>decidions and, if warrented, overrule them.

,

Have you considered talking to an attorney who specializes in

Employment Law? If I'm not mistaken, ERISA specifically allows

you to sue the plan for denial of benefits in either State or Federal

court. It also prohibits an employer from taking retaliatory action

against an employee for asserting his/her rights to do this. I know

it's drastic, but sometimes a letter from an attorney can accomplish

more than pretty much anything else.

I'm not suggesting that you file suit or even threaten to do so,

just that you consult an attorney (preferably one who specializes

in labor matters) to find out what your options are. It seems to

me that, with tens of thousands of dollars as well as your quality

of life at stake, spending a few hundred dollars on an attorney

might be a good investment.

Steve

(bilateral wanna-be)