Hi from Lois the second

[Guest guest]

Hi all. Just wanted to send an update - It's now five months and

counting for me since my op with the fabulous Dr gross. I haven't

posted much since about one month after the operation - I had too

much living to do (and still do)

I have a new lease on life - NO pain, NO restrictions, No remnants of

what I used to be, No regrets whatsoever about traveling the 700

miles I did to get this done. In fact, I have to chuckle at myself -

last year, my Christmas letter to distant friends and family told of

my crippled self, having difficulty getting around being in pain (and

that was before the OA got really bad). This year's letter time came

around, I wrote it, mailed it out and later realized I hadn't even

MENTIONED the surgery! I am so totally normal again that I

completely forgot about it. My only reminder is a thin pink line on

my hip and the occasional ratcheting (thunking,clicking,whatever you

want to call it) that I feel in the hip. A true blessing is this

technology.

For those that don't know or remember me, I'm a 50 year old

housewife, about 30 pounds overweight, not particularly athletic but

very flexible and kinda strong for a fat lady (I do work out - I just

don't look like it LOL) Was bone on bone, so went to Dr Gross in

August. Three weeks later, with his blessing, ditched the walker,

and cane, and concentrated on walking without lurching. Once I did

that, and started driving (at 2 1/2 weeks), I hit the ground running

and haven't stopped moving yet. It's a wonderful thing.

I attribute part of my success to several things... 1, obviously is

the skill of the surgeon. I had done much homework and noticed that

Gross patients had a tendency to heal more quickly, with fewer

complications than those of some other doctors. That point, along

with many other factors made me decide to become SOuth Carolina

bound. Secondly, I worked out for about 6 months before the op. It

hurt bad to work those muscles and joints, but I persisted (I'm very

stubborn)and got them rock hard, which contributed greatly, I

believe, to the rapid healing process. As I mentioned before, I am

very stubborn, and there was no way I was going to let this keep me

down, either before or after surgery. Last, and the most elusive, was

luck. I had no complications, made some of the right decisions and

things fell into place. I got lucky. I don't always, but I did this

time.

I hope all of you that are thinking about this op decide to do it -

you will not regret it. I try to spread the word whenever possible -

this surgery is a godsend for those who are eligible, and it sure

beats losing your (femoral) head!

Good luck and good health to all.

Lois (the second)

Dr Gross RHR

8/6/03