forgive me, I'm new to this

July 1, 2004

Corriekins corriekins@...> wrote :

> I am 43 years old and destined for hip replacements. I was hoping

> get my hip(s) resurfaced instead, but am overwhelmed by the lack of

> clear information on the internet.

>

> Specifically, I am in Seattle Washington and can't quite figure how

> to search for doctors in my area who will perform resurfacing.

Corrie,

Dr. Sparling in Vancouver is the closest to you, with Dr. Boyd (my surgeon and

personal favorite) in Salem the next closest. Check activejoints.com for a more

complete list of resurfacing surgeons.

Cindy

C+ 5/25/01 and 6/28/01

July 1, 2004

I am 43 years old and destined for hip replacements. I was hoping

get my hip(s) resurfaced instead, but am overwhelmed by the lack of

clear information on the internet.

Specifically, I am in Seattle Washington and can't quite figure how

to search for doctors in my area who will perform resurfacing. I'm

also trying to figure out how I can get the best health care

coverage. (Currently I am with Group Health, who does not even

perform such procedures, so I am looking for a new provider.)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Corrie

July 1, 2004

> I am 43 years old and destined for hip replacements. I was hoping

> get my hip(s) resurfaced instead, but am overwhelmed by the lack of

> clear information on the internet.

>

> Specifically, I am in Seattle Washington and can't quite figure how

> to search for doctors in my area who will perform resurfacing.

Okay, there are only two resurfacing devices available (on an

" investigational " basis) in the United States: the Conserve Plus,

made by Medical in Tennessee, and the Cormet 2000, made by

Corin in the UK. You'll see these devices referred to as the " C+ "

and " C2K " in this group. The " Active Joints " web site, a sort of

" sister site " for this group, has lists of surgeons currently

participating in these trials:

http://www.activejoints.com/hipdocs.html

http://www.activejoints.com/corindocs.html

The first link contains the surgeons participating in the C+ study,

the second contains the surgeons participating in the C2K study.

Other devices are available outside the United States, most notably

the Birmingham Hip (BHR), which has the longest clinical track record

of any of the metal-on-metal resurfacing devices. The manufacturer of

the BHR has not yet attempted to get FDA approval to market it in the US.

> I'm

> also trying to figure out how I can get the best health care

> coverage. (Currently I am with Group Health, who does not even

> perform such procedures, so I am looking for a new provider.)

Well, there's the rub. Many insurers in the US will not cover

resurfacing or will only provide partial coverage, due to its current

status as an " investigational " procedure. For example, my insurer

(CIGNA) covered the surgery and hospitalization, but required me to

pay for the resurfacing devices out of my own pocket. Some insurers

(like Aetna) have provided full coverage for resurfacing.

Many Americans who could not obtain coverage for the procedure in the

US have opted to be resurfaced in Europe, where the procedure is much

more common.

Steve (bilateral C+ 4/20/04, Amstutz)

July 1, 2004

Hi Corrie!

I live in Spokane and had resurfacing about 2 years ago. I went to Belgium for

mine, but Dr Ed Sparling in Vancouver, WA 360 254-6161 and Dr Harold Boyd in

Salem, OR 503 581-4402 do resurfacing. From feedback on this site OS in Seattle

are pretty uninformed about the current facts of the resurfacing procedure...I

am convinced it is the way to go if you are considered a candidate. I have

returned to heavy duty cycling, snow boarding, kick boxing and my obsession-

rock climbing. I truly have my active life back. There is a lot of research

available on the surfacehippy site. Check into the files or links. You will

find info on the different manufacturers and many of the docs also have some

websites. You can also look through the archives. Soon you will know the who's'

who in the resurfacing world. Garner all your facts and then go for opinions.

I chose Belgium and De Smet and felt confident in my choice. That is most

important.

Good luck to you,

Rock climbin' Jude

LBHR De Smet 09/11/02

forgive me, I'm new to this

I am 43 years old and destined for hip replacements. I was hoping

get my hip(s) resurfaced instead, but am overwhelmed by the lack of

clear information on the internet.

Specifically, I am in Seattle Washington and can't quite figure how

to search for doctors in my area who will perform resurfacing. I'm

also trying to figure out how I can get the best health care

coverage. (Currently I am with Group Health, who does not even

perform such procedures, so I am looking for a new provider.)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Corrie

July 1, 2004

Hi Corrie,

I'm 46 and I was new to this just a few months ago. Be careful about

switching health plans, sadly, you now have a " pre-existing condition "

and unless you work for a big company or the government or are in a

very big actuarial group, it's possible that you would be closed out

of coverage for ANY kind of hip surgery if you switch to a new plan.

If your in-network doctors do not provide this service (resurfacing),

and if you have out of network benefits, consider using them, even if

you end up paying 20% or so. If you have no coverage and want to

consider paying for the surgery out of pocket, going to Belgium may be

less expensive (including airfare, hotel, etc) than using the US's

overpriced healthcare system.

I recommend that you get Peggy 's new book " Hip Replacement or

Hip Resurfacing: a Story of Choices " . You can buy it from Amazon.

She describes her over-seas resurfacing adventure in 2002. She

explains (with excellent drawings) about the differences in the

procedures. She gives lots of good tips too.

You also can speak or email directly to the Medical Sales Rep

or the Corin sales Rep. They are great about getting back to you.

These are the 2 companies that are involved in the US/FDA trials.

You will have many more questions as you go along. Feel free to write

on the message board or directly to the " hippies " . I'm getting my

new hip in August (hoping they'll be able to resurface it and that my

AVN hasn't progressed too far). I've never been a patient in a

hospital, never even had an IV in my arm. I even had my 2 babies at

home.... Even though I work in healthcare (women's health

nurse-practitioner/nurse midwife), I'm just as afraid as the next

person about all this.

I want so much to get back to my active life! I have 2 teenagers and

love hiking, bicycling (I've ridden across the USA and lots

more...though no long trips since becoming a mother). I have a

" fantasy " of climbing Mt Kilamanjaro some day and with a resurfaced

hip (and lots of training, I just might do it! I think this would be

a great way to celebrate my 50th (or maybe even my 48th) birthday!

We are glad you found us! This message board has answered so many of

my questions, and I keep thinking of more of them!

Welcome, fellow hobble-er!

Marie

> I am 43 years old and destined for hip replacements. I was hoping

> get my hip(s) resurfaced instead, but am overwhelmed by the lack of

> clear information on the internet.

>

> Specifically, I am in Seattle Washington and can't quite figure how

> to search for doctors in my area who will perform resurfacing. I'm

> also trying to figure out how I can get the best health care

> coverage. (Currently I am with Group Health, who does not even

> perform such procedures, so I am looking for a new provider.)

>

> Any help would be greatly appreciated.

>

> Thanks!

> Corrie

July 2, 2004

Corrie...

Group Health will do you no good. Period. People here can at least

help point you in the right dirction. I was with Group Health in

Lynnwood when I sustained the injury that eventually got me here.

With proper treatment 8 years ago, it's likely I wouldn't be here

now. The maxim of medicine is " first do no harm " . At Group Health,

the sop is " first do nothing " . It is good you're looking for another

provider, and not just for the hips.

Others in the group will tell you favorite places; and post op

hippies can help you get to where you need to be. Vancouver, BC, is

probably the closest place you'll find a resurf doc. (I'd heard

there might be one in Seattle, but it may only have been a rumor.)

Given the waiting time in BC for medical services, I'd think you're

best bet would be Salem, Or. There are resurf docs in Salem, highly

spoken of by hippies here...(and the legend has it that they work in

a hospital where the food is actually good.) You certainly will want

to go to Amazon.com and get a copy of Peggy 's book on

resurfacing.

As you're here a while, I think you'll be amazed at the helpfulness

and the depth of knowledge the hippie posters bring to the party.

All the best,

Alan

> I am 43 years old and destined for hip replacements. I was hoping

> get my hip(s) resurfaced instead, but am overwhelmed by the lack of

> clear information on the internet.

>

> Specifically, I am in Seattle Washington and can't quite figure how

> to search for doctors in my area who will perform resurfacing. I'm

> also trying to figure out how I can get the best health care

> coverage. (Currently I am with Group Health, who does not even

> perform such procedures, so I am looking for a new provider.)

>

> Any help would be greatly appreciated.

>

> Thanks!

> Corrie

July 2, 2004