Re: Need advice about surgery and surgeons in Colorado

[Guest guest]

Hi, I don't know if there's a surgeon in CO who does the resurf, but even

if you have to travel -- it's well worth it. My surgeon is in S. Carolina,

and his office did all of the insurance work and my insurance (United

Health Care) paid for the procedure -- although I had a slightly higher

co-pay since I was " out of network. " Check out Dr Gross's website and feel

free to email or call them. They've had patients from all over the

country. www.grossortho.com And I'm sure others will write to tell you of

surgeons who are closer to you than S.C. The facility in L.A., for

instance. Good luck. Joyce (Dr Gross, LHR, 2/2/04) p.s. Typical ortho

surgeons almost NEVER tell people about resurfacing. There are many

reasons why, but my belief is that for ortho surgeons, the THR is an

assembly line cash cow. And I'm not really a cynic!

sungold518@...

Need advice about surgery and surgeons in Colorado

Hi everyone,

I'm 48 and live in Colorado. I was diagnosed w/ severe osteoarthritis

of the hip 5 years ago...and can now only get around while taking 20mg

of Bextra a day. I belong to Kaiser Permanente...and the surgeons

there will only do a THR. I like to ski and play non-check ice

hockey...and was also told that those activities would have to stop

after surgery (although it's pretty tough right now to do them..I

actually skate with a limp!! ) I've heard alot about the resurfacing

procedure and am wondering if it's right for me..and if so..is there

anyone in Colorado doing the procedure. What about getting insurance

companies to pay the bill?

Steve

[Guest guest]

> Hi everyone,

>

> I'm 48 and live in Colorado. I was diagnosed w/ severe

osteoarthritis

> of the hip 5 years ago...and can now only get around while taking

20mg

> of Bextra a day. I belong to Kaiser Permanente...and the surgeons

> there will only do a THR. I like to ski and play non-check ice

> hockey...and was also told that those activities would have to stop

> after surgery (although it's pretty tough right now to do them..I

> actually skate with a limp!! ) I've heard alot about the

resurfacing

> procedure and am wondering if it's right for me..and if so..is there

> anyone in Colorado doing the procedure. What about getting

insurance

> companies to pay the bill?

>

> Steve

Hi Steve,

Do not choose a THR until you have evaluated hip resurfacing as an

option to treat your OA!!!! There are several surgeons who have a

good experience with HR. Just stay on this site and look for their

names and locations. I am a 46 yo vascular surgeon who has severe OA

to my right hip. Over the past 5 years I have to give up running,

basketball, racquetball, using the the stairmaster, the elliptical,

and the recline bike. I am left only with able to do the upright

stationary bike, swimming, and weights (no squats. leg presses or

quad step-ups). It has also affected an important professional and

personal social activities as well. I simply have had enough. I too

was intially looking into

THR until no OS could give me a straight answer as to survival lenght

of THR in young active males. They simply did not know much except

the their results were poor. So I research further and found this

site and this operation. I am planning on having a right hip

resurfacing my Dr. Tom P. Gross on 7/21/04 in Columbia, SC. The

phone number to his office is 803 256-4107. His website is

www.grossortho.com. If you have questions there are plenty of people

on this website who can help you better than I since I have not been

resurfed yet. and they have. Good-luck.

Regards,

Dr. Mark

[Guest guest]

> Hi everyone,

>

> I'm 48 and live in Colorado. I was diagnosed w/ severe

osteoarthritis

> of the hip 5 years ago...and can now only get around while taking

20mg

> of Bextra a day. I belong to Kaiser Permanente...and the surgeons

> there will only do a THR. I like to ski and play non-check ice

> hockey...and was also told that those activities would have to stop

> after surgery (although it's pretty tough right now to do them..I

> actually skate with a limp!! ) I've heard alot about the

resurfacing

> procedure and am wondering if it's right for me..and if so..is there

> anyone in Colorado doing the procedure. What about getting

insurance

> companies to pay the bill?

>

> Steve

Hi Steve,

Do not choose a THR until you have evaluated hip resurfacing as an

option to treat your OA!!!! There are several surgeons who have a

good experience with HR. Just stay on this site and look for their

names and locations. I am a 46 yo vascular surgeon who has severe OA

to my right hip. Over the past 5 years I have to give up running,

basketball, racquetball, using the the stairmaster, the elliptical,

and the recline bike. I am left only with able to do the upright

stationary bike, swimming, and weights (no squats. leg presses or

quad step-ups). It has also affected an important professional and

personal social activities as well. I simply have had enough. I too

was intially looking into

THR until no OS could give me a straight answer as to survival lenght

of THR in young active males. They simply did not know much except

the their results were poor. So I research further and found this

site and this operation. I am planning on having a right hip

resurfacing my Dr. Tom P. Gross on 7/21/04 in Columbia, SC. The

phone number to his office is 803 256-4107. His website is

www.grossortho.com. If you have questions there are plenty of people

on this website who can help you better than I since I have not been

resurfed yet. and they have. Good-luck.

Regards,

Dr. Mark

[Guest guest]

> Hi everyone,

>

> I'm 48 and live in Colorado. I was diagnosed w/ severe

osteoarthritis

> of the hip 5 years ago...and can now only get around while taking

20mg

> of Bextra a day. I belong to Kaiser Permanente...and the surgeons

> there will only do a THR. I like to ski and play non-check ice

> hockey...and was also told that those activities would have to stop

> after surgery (although it's pretty tough right now to do them..I

> actually skate with a limp!! ) I've heard alot about the

resurfacing

> procedure and am wondering if it's right for me..and if so..is there

> anyone in Colorado doing the procedure. What about getting

insurance

> companies to pay the bill?

>

> Steve

Hi Steve,

Do not choose a THR until you have evaluated hip resurfacing as an

option to treat your OA!!!! There are several surgeons who have a

good experience with HR. Just stay on this site and look for their

names and locations. I am a 46 yo vascular surgeon who has severe OA

to my right hip. Over the past 5 years I have to give up running,

basketball, racquetball, using the the stairmaster, the elliptical,

and the recline bike. I am left only with able to do the upright

stationary bike, swimming, and weights (no squats. leg presses or

quad step-ups). It has also affected an important professional and

personal social activities as well. I simply have had enough. I too

was intially looking into

THR until no OS could give me a straight answer as to survival lenght

of THR in young active males. They simply did not know much except

the their results were poor. So I research further and found this

site and this operation. I am planning on having a right hip

resurfacing my Dr. Tom P. Gross on 7/21/04 in Columbia, SC. The

phone number to his office is 803 256-4107. His website is

www.grossortho.com. If you have questions there are plenty of people

on this website who can help you better than I since I have not been

resurfed yet. and they have. Good-luck.

Regards,

Dr. Mark

[Guest guest]

Wow, another doc, and another Steve in Colorado! )

There's another guy in CO named Steve and he had a bilateral from Dr.

Amstutz in LA at the Joint Replacement Institute (JRI).

I'm not an official hippy...yet...soon enough though! I am making my

final decision on where I will be paying for my resurf since

insurance turned me down. You'll learn a ton on the site Dr.

Steve...hang in there, good luck, and you'll here from Steve in CO

w/in a couple days I'm sure! In the meantime, you can search the

more recent posts looking for sog1927 as he's repeated his story a

few times. FYI, the posts tend to die down a bit on the weekend, and

at night at times!

Good luck and welcome Dr. Steve!

In surfacehippy , " Dr. Steve Feldman "

wrote:

> Hi everyone,

>

> I'm 48 and live in Colorado. I was diagnosed w/ severe

osteoarthritis

> of the hip 5 years ago...and can now only get around while taking

20mg

> of Bextra a day. I belong to Kaiser Permanente...and the surgeons

> there will only do a THR. I like to ski and play non-check ice

> hockey...and was also told that those activities would have to stop

> after surgery (although it's pretty tough right now to do them..I

> actually skate with a limp!! ) I've heard alot about the

resurfacing

> procedure and am wondering if it's right for me..and if so..is there

> anyone in Colorado doing the procedure. What about getting

insurance

> companies to pay the bill?

>

> Steve

[Guest guest]

> Hi everyone,

>

> I'm 48 and live in Colorado. I was diagnosed w/ severe osteoarthritis

> of the hip 5 years ago...and can now only get around while taking 20mg

> of Bextra a day. I belong to Kaiser Permanente...and the surgeons

> there will only do a THR. I like to ski and play non-check ice

> hockey...and was also told that those activities would have to stop

> after surgery (although it's pretty tough right now to do them..I

> actually skate with a limp!! ) I've heard alot about the resurfacing

> procedure and am wondering if it's right for me..and if so..is there

> anyone in Colorado doing the procedure.

Hi, Steve. I live in Boulder. There are no surgeons in Colorado who do

resurfacing. Your closest options are LA and Texas. I had a bilateral

resurfacing ( Conserve Plus) at the Joint Replacement Institute

in Los Angeles on 4/20/04, and I'm absolutely delighted. If you'd like

to talk about it, give me a call at (3 0 3) 4 1 5 - 0 3 2 7. You can

also email me directly at sog " at " ucar " dot " edu.

What about getting insurance

> companies to pay the bill?

Well, there's the rub. You can forget about Kaiser picking up the tab.

I have a CIGNA PPO, and I got them to pay for everything *except* the

resurfacing implants themselves. This basically cut the cost by 1/2 to

2/3. If the C+ gets approved by the FDA this year, I'm going after

CIGNA for the remaining cost. Another option you may wish to consider

is having the surgery done in Europe, where it's more common, the

surgeons are more experienced, and the procedure is significantly less

expensive than here in the US. I have a friend here in Boulder who is

insured with Kaiser and was resurfaced by DeSmet in Belgium..

>

> Steve

Steve, as well (and I was here first, dammit) (bilat C+ 4/20/04, Amstutz)

[Guest guest]

Welcome Dr.,

I am certain you received plenty of great advice already, however, I

thought I would respond. I no longer live in Colorado but I will

always have a soft spot for the great state. I went to University

of Colorado on an althletic scholarship for skiing and played hockey

on the club team. I am 40 with OA in both hips. You came to the

right place and I am certain you will take in all kinds of research

and do your own due diligence. I had several knee operations and I

was fortunate to have, in my estimation, the best OS for knees in

the world. He was our team Dr. for the US Team and he is up in

Vail. My career would have ended many times without his skill as a

surgeon. I did the same due diligence when I encountered my hip

problem. I looked for the best, most experienced surgeon with the

best track record. I am on the East Coast (US) and had surgery last

month in LA by Dr. Amstutz at JRI. I have had no problems, returned

to work in a week and returned to an active pain free life and I am

enjoying every minute of it. I was one of the fortunate ones who

had 100% of my operation and device covered by my insurance. Let us

know what questions you have as you do your research.

Best of luck with your decision... C+ Dr. Amstutz 5/04/04

> Hi everyone,

>

> I'm 48 and live in Colorado. I was diagnosed w/ severe

osteoarthritis

> of the hip 5 years ago...and can now only get around while taking

20mg

> of Bextra a day. I belong to Kaiser Permanente...and the surgeons

> there will only do a THR. I like to ski and play non-check ice

> hockey...and was also told that those activities would have to stop

> after surgery (although it's pretty tough right now to do them..I

> actually skate with a limp!! ) I've heard alot about the

resurfacing

> procedure and am wondering if it's right for me..and if so..is

there

> anyone in Colorado doing the procedure. What about getting

insurance

> companies to pay the bill?

>

> Steve

[Guest guest]

Hello Steve,

I live in Boulder and know of a few people who have had resurfacing.

2 with Dr.Amstutz in LA and 2 with Dr.DeSmet in Belgium. I had mine

done with DeSmet on 4/28/04 and have never been happier with my new

hip. I am doing my follow-up with a Doctor here in Denver who

interned under Amstutz so she knows all about the procedure. Her

name is Dr. Kelley. Also one of the other really good THR

Doctors in the country is in denver Dr.Doug Dennis at the Rose

clinic. He knows about resurfacing and won't talk you out of it but

will explain the THR. Very progressive and hard to see. If your

insurance is UHC good luck unless you go to Dr.Gross in SC and let

them handle all the insurance stuff. They seem to do real well with

it. Aetna I believe pays for it as well as medicare but don't think

you qualify with that one:) You can contact me at my home e-mail and

I'll give you my home # so we can talk.(mbfireboy@...)Hope

this helps.

Mike

surfacehippy , " Dr. Steve Feldman "

wrote:

> Hi everyone,

>

> I'm 48 and live in Colorado. I was diagnosed w/ severe

osteoarthritis

> of the hip 5 years ago...and can now only get around while taking

20mg

> of Bextra a day. I belong to Kaiser Permanente...and the surgeons

> there will only do a THR. I like to ski and play non-check ice

> hockey...and was also told that those activities would have to stop

> after surgery (although it's pretty tough right now to do them..I

> actually skate with a limp!! ) I've heard alot about the

resurfacing

> procedure and am wondering if it's right for me..and if so..is

there

> anyone in Colorado doing the procedure. What about getting

insurance

> companies to pay the bill?

>

> Steve

[Guest guest]

Hello Steve,

I live in Boulder and know of a few people who have had resurfacing.

2 with Dr.Amstutz in LA and 2 with Dr.DeSmet in Belgium. I had mine

done with DeSmet on 4/28/04 and have never been happier with my new

hip. I am doing my follow-up with a Doctor here in Denver who

interned under Amstutz so she knows all about the procedure. Her

name is Dr. Kelley. Also one of the other really good THR

Doctors in the country is in denver Dr.Doug Dennis at the Rose

clinic. He knows about resurfacing and won't talk you out of it but

will explain the THR. Very progressive and hard to see. If your

insurance is UHC good luck unless you go to Dr.Gross in SC and let

them handle all the insurance stuff. They seem to do real well with

it. Aetna I believe pays for it as well as medicare but don't think

you qualify with that one:) You can contact me at my home e-mail and

I'll give you my home # so we can talk.(mbfireboy@...)Hope

this helps.

Mike

surfacehippy , " Dr. Steve Feldman "

wrote:

> Hi everyone,

>

> I'm 48 and live in Colorado. I was diagnosed w/ severe

osteoarthritis

> of the hip 5 years ago...and can now only get around while taking

20mg

> of Bextra a day. I belong to Kaiser Permanente...and the surgeons

> there will only do a THR. I like to ski and play non-check ice

> hockey...and was also told that those activities would have to stop

> after surgery (although it's pretty tough right now to do them..I

> actually skate with a limp!! ) I've heard alot about the

resurfacing

> procedure and am wondering if it's right for me..and if so..is

there

> anyone in Colorado doing the procedure. What about getting

insurance

> companies to pay the bill?

>

> Steve

[Guest guest]

Hello Steve,

I live in Boulder and know of a few people who have had resurfacing.

2 with Dr.Amstutz in LA and 2 with Dr.DeSmet in Belgium. I had mine

done with DeSmet on 4/28/04 and have never been happier with my new

hip. I am doing my follow-up with a Doctor here in Denver who

interned under Amstutz so she knows all about the procedure. Her

name is Dr. Kelley. Also one of the other really good THR

Doctors in the country is in denver Dr.Doug Dennis at the Rose

clinic. He knows about resurfacing and won't talk you out of it but

will explain the THR. Very progressive and hard to see. If your

insurance is UHC good luck unless you go to Dr.Gross in SC and let

them handle all the insurance stuff. They seem to do real well with

it. Aetna I believe pays for it as well as medicare but don't think

you qualify with that one:) You can contact me at my home e-mail and

I'll give you my home # so we can talk.(mbfireboy@...)Hope

this helps.

Mike

surfacehippy , " Dr. Steve Feldman "

wrote:

> Hi everyone,

>

> I'm 48 and live in Colorado. I was diagnosed w/ severe

osteoarthritis

> of the hip 5 years ago...and can now only get around while taking

20mg

> of Bextra a day. I belong to Kaiser Permanente...and the surgeons

> there will only do a THR. I like to ski and play non-check ice

> hockey...and was also told that those activities would have to stop

> after surgery (although it's pretty tough right now to do them..I

> actually skate with a limp!! ) I've heard alot about the

resurfacing

> procedure and am wondering if it's right for me..and if so..is

there

> anyone in Colorado doing the procedure. What about getting

insurance

> companies to pay the bill?

>

> Steve