Re: sf bay area resurf docs

[Guest guest]

Alan,

I think you'd probably want tomake sure whoever does your

resurf has done at LEAST 50. I personally would not settle for less.

There is a learning curve to the technique involved. Amstutz and De

Smet have emphasized greatly the nead to have an experienced surgeon

for this procedure.

Chris

n surfacehippy , " Alan Ray " wrote:

> Hello again, boys and girls...

>

> Until today I was under the impression that the nearest

resurfacing

> doc to San Francisco was at JRI...which, as most know, is in Los

> Angeles. Then I went on the Medical website, did a

physician

> locator search...and found two in San Francisco. One has called

back

> to confirm he does resurfacing. Has anybody heard of, or been

> resurfed by, Dr. Ries? His office is on Parnassus St. in

the

> City.

>

> As much as I'd like to think I can have this done locally, I'm

really

> convinced that Dr. Amstutz is probably the best this side of

Belgium.

>

> I'm open to ideas and possibilities.

>

> Thanks to all. Every day I learn something (usually more than one

> something) new here.

>

> Alan

[Guest guest]

Alan,

I think you'd probably want tomake sure whoever does your

resurf has done at LEAST 50. I personally would not settle for less.

There is a learning curve to the technique involved. Amstutz and De

Smet have emphasized greatly the nead to have an experienced surgeon

for this procedure.

Chris

n surfacehippy , " Alan Ray " wrote:

> Hello again, boys and girls...

>

> Until today I was under the impression that the nearest

resurfacing

> doc to San Francisco was at JRI...which, as most know, is in Los

> Angeles. Then I went on the Medical website, did a

physician

> locator search...and found two in San Francisco. One has called

back

> to confirm he does resurfacing. Has anybody heard of, or been

> resurfed by, Dr. Ries? His office is on Parnassus St. in

the

> City.

>

> As much as I'd like to think I can have this done locally, I'm

really

> convinced that Dr. Amstutz is probably the best this side of

Belgium.

>

> I'm open to ideas and possibilities.

>

> Thanks to all. Every day I learn something (usually more than one

> something) new here.

>

> Alan

[Guest guest]

Much as I don't like to criticize docs selected by other people, I'll go out

on a limb and join the refrain, to say that much of the resurf success

results from good surgical technique. You don't get good surgical technique

without

lots of practice under careful tutelage.

The patient also needs to be carefully selected. Experience teaches the

surgeon to determine which patient will be best suited for a resurf.

A bad resurf is a disaster because it will need to be converted, most likely

into a THR. That means two surgeries.

As far as I know, there aren't any experienced resurf docs in the Bay Area,

and I've lived here for 26 years. There may be some who've done a few. I heard

that someone at Stanford Hospital did a few once. But the fact it that almost

all orthopods here recommend THR. Why? Because no-one here is doing

successful resurf's yet. If there were, they'd know about it.

In order to do successful ones, you have to train with someone who's done

lots of them before setting yourself loose on the public.

Ergo, i.e., e.g. and therefore, find an experienced surgeon and let someone

else be a guinea pig.

I went to Treacy all the way over in Birmingham because he's done thousands

successfully, does them in about half an hour, and I received an excellent

recommendation from one of his patients who's into the same physical activities

as

I am.

I looked into JRI before my first resurf. I didn't go to JRI because it was

almost three times the price for a surgeon with about a tenth of the

experience, at the time. Also the surgery took four or five times longer

(therefore

much longer under anesthetic) and from what I've heard, the early track records

of JRI surgeons were inconsistent at best. Things sound like they've improved

and I'm glad for their more recent patients. For me, it was a no-brainer. The

risk of flying there and back alone, and staying in a hotel alone for two weeks

to recover, was less than the medical risks of having a less experienced

surgeon do the operation. There was no insurance coverage at all.

If I had it to do over again, I'd still go to Treacy or McMinn, even if I had

insurance coverage in the US that would pay for it here.

This is more than two cents worth, but I won't charge extra.

Des Tuck

In a message dated 5/14/2004 5:28:36 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

redace_us@... writes:

Until today I was under the impression that the nearest resurfacing

doc to San Francisco was at JRI...which, as most know, is in Los

Angeles. Then I went on the Medical website, did a physician

locator search...and found two in San Francisco. One has called back

to confirm he does resurfacing. Has anybody heard of, or been

resurfed by, Dr. Ries? His office is on Parnassus St. in the

City.

As much as I'd like to think I can have this done locally, I'm really

convinced that Dr. Amstutz is probably the best this side of Belgium.

I'm open to ideas and possibilities.

[Guest guest]

Much as I don't like to criticize docs selected by other people, I'll go out

on a limb and join the refrain, to say that much of the resurf success

results from good surgical technique. You don't get good surgical technique

without

lots of practice under careful tutelage.

The patient also needs to be carefully selected. Experience teaches the

surgeon to determine which patient will be best suited for a resurf.

A bad resurf is a disaster because it will need to be converted, most likely

into a THR. That means two surgeries.

As far as I know, there aren't any experienced resurf docs in the Bay Area,

and I've lived here for 26 years. There may be some who've done a few. I heard

that someone at Stanford Hospital did a few once. But the fact it that almost

all orthopods here recommend THR. Why? Because no-one here is doing

successful resurf's yet. If there were, they'd know about it.

In order to do successful ones, you have to train with someone who's done

lots of them before setting yourself loose on the public.

Ergo, i.e., e.g. and therefore, find an experienced surgeon and let someone

else be a guinea pig.

I went to Treacy all the way over in Birmingham because he's done thousands

successfully, does them in about half an hour, and I received an excellent

recommendation from one of his patients who's into the same physical activities

as

I am.

I looked into JRI before my first resurf. I didn't go to JRI because it was

almost three times the price for a surgeon with about a tenth of the

experience, at the time. Also the surgery took four or five times longer

(therefore

much longer under anesthetic) and from what I've heard, the early track records

of JRI surgeons were inconsistent at best. Things sound like they've improved

and I'm glad for their more recent patients. For me, it was a no-brainer. The

risk of flying there and back alone, and staying in a hotel alone for two weeks

to recover, was less than the medical risks of having a less experienced

surgeon do the operation. There was no insurance coverage at all.

If I had it to do over again, I'd still go to Treacy or McMinn, even if I had

insurance coverage in the US that would pay for it here.

This is more than two cents worth, but I won't charge extra.

Des Tuck

In a message dated 5/14/2004 5:28:36 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

redace_us@... writes:

Until today I was under the impression that the nearest resurfacing

doc to San Francisco was at JRI...which, as most know, is in Los

Angeles. Then I went on the Medical website, did a physician

locator search...and found two in San Francisco. One has called back

to confirm he does resurfacing. Has anybody heard of, or been

resurfed by, Dr. Ries? His office is on Parnassus St. in the

City.

As much as I'd like to think I can have this done locally, I'm really

convinced that Dr. Amstutz is probably the best this side of Belgium.

I'm open to ideas and possibilities.

[Guest guest]

Much as I don't like to criticize docs selected by other people, I'll go out

on a limb and join the refrain, to say that much of the resurf success

results from good surgical technique. You don't get good surgical technique

without

lots of practice under careful tutelage.

The patient also needs to be carefully selected. Experience teaches the

surgeon to determine which patient will be best suited for a resurf.

A bad resurf is a disaster because it will need to be converted, most likely

into a THR. That means two surgeries.

As far as I know, there aren't any experienced resurf docs in the Bay Area,

and I've lived here for 26 years. There may be some who've done a few. I heard

that someone at Stanford Hospital did a few once. But the fact it that almost

all orthopods here recommend THR. Why? Because no-one here is doing

successful resurf's yet. If there were, they'd know about it.

In order to do successful ones, you have to train with someone who's done

lots of them before setting yourself loose on the public.

Ergo, i.e., e.g. and therefore, find an experienced surgeon and let someone

else be a guinea pig.

I went to Treacy all the way over in Birmingham because he's done thousands

successfully, does them in about half an hour, and I received an excellent

recommendation from one of his patients who's into the same physical activities

as

I am.

I looked into JRI before my first resurf. I didn't go to JRI because it was

almost three times the price for a surgeon with about a tenth of the

experience, at the time. Also the surgery took four or five times longer

(therefore

much longer under anesthetic) and from what I've heard, the early track records

of JRI surgeons were inconsistent at best. Things sound like they've improved

and I'm glad for their more recent patients. For me, it was a no-brainer. The

risk of flying there and back alone, and staying in a hotel alone for two weeks

to recover, was less than the medical risks of having a less experienced

surgeon do the operation. There was no insurance coverage at all.

If I had it to do over again, I'd still go to Treacy or McMinn, even if I had

insurance coverage in the US that would pay for it here.

This is more than two cents worth, but I won't charge extra.

Des Tuck

In a message dated 5/14/2004 5:28:36 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

redace_us@... writes:

Until today I was under the impression that the nearest resurfacing

doc to San Francisco was at JRI...which, as most know, is in Los

Angeles. Then I went on the Medical website, did a physician

locator search...and found two in San Francisco. One has called back

to confirm he does resurfacing. Has anybody heard of, or been

resurfed by, Dr. Ries? His office is on Parnassus St. in the

City.

As much as I'd like to think I can have this done locally, I'm really

convinced that Dr. Amstutz is probably the best this side of Belgium.

I'm open to ideas and possibilities.

[Guest guest]

Actually I'm still trying find out if Dr. Ries has ever done a

resurf, or whether he's just the local franchisee. I'm figuring I

really don't want to deal with anybody who's done fewer resurfs than

Dr. Amstutz.

I know from endless, endless, endless hours or practicing at handball

that THE ONLY THING THAT MAKES YOU GOOD AT SOMETHING IS DOING

IT...OVER...AND OVER...AND OVER AND AND OVER. AND THEN AGAIN.

Somebody's going to have come with a real good sales pitch to lure me

away from JRI.

It's late in my day (which starts at 2:00 a.m., Pacific Time)

All the best to all.

Alan

> > Hello again, boys and girls...

> >

> > Until today I was under the impression that the nearest

> resurfacing

> > doc to San Francisco was at JRI...which, as most know, is in Los

> > Angeles. Then I went on the Medical website, did a

> physician

> > locator search...and found two in San Francisco. One has called

> back

> > to confirm he does resurfacing. Has anybody heard of, or been

> > resurfed by, Dr. Ries? His office is on Parnassus St. in

> the

> > City.

> >

> > As much as I'd like to think I can have this done locally, I'm

> really

> > convinced that Dr. Amstutz is probably the best this side of

> Belgium.

> >

> > I'm open to ideas and possibilities.

> >

> > Thanks to all. Every day I learn something (usually more than

one

> > something) new here.

> >

> > Alan

[Guest guest]

At 12:25 AM 5/15/2004 +0000, you wrote:

>Until today I was under the impression that the nearest resurfacing

>doc to San Francisco was at JRI...which, as most know, is in Los

>Angeles. Then I went on the Medical website, did a physician

>locator search...and found two in San Francisco.

You might want to be sure he does the Conserve Plus if this is what you

need, instead of the Conserve resurfacing which addresses the femoral side

only.

Or you could come to Salem which is about equidistant from SF. The food is

better, and no La Cucaracha drug dealer doing late night drive-by's. And

no TEDS, and no wedgie from hell, and....

Cindy

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

Dr. Boyd, Salem OR

[Guest guest]

At 12:25 AM 5/15/2004 +0000, you wrote:

>Until today I was under the impression that the nearest resurfacing

>doc to San Francisco was at JRI...which, as most know, is in Los

>Angeles. Then I went on the Medical website, did a physician

>locator search...and found two in San Francisco.

You might want to be sure he does the Conserve Plus if this is what you

need, instead of the Conserve resurfacing which addresses the femoral side

only.

Or you could come to Salem which is about equidistant from SF. The food is

better, and no La Cucaracha drug dealer doing late night drive-by's. And

no TEDS, and no wedgie from hell, and....

Cindy

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

Dr. Boyd, Salem OR

[Guest guest]

At 12:25 AM 5/15/2004 +0000, you wrote:

>Until today I was under the impression that the nearest resurfacing

>doc to San Francisco was at JRI...which, as most know, is in Los

>Angeles. Then I went on the Medical website, did a physician

>locator search...and found two in San Francisco.

You might want to be sure he does the Conserve Plus if this is what you

need, instead of the Conserve resurfacing which addresses the femoral side

only.

Or you could come to Salem which is about equidistant from SF. The food is

better, and no La Cucaracha drug dealer doing late night drive-by's. And

no TEDS, and no wedgie from hell, and....

Cindy

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

Dr. Boyd, Salem OR

[Guest guest]

Hi Alan,

I live in San Francisco and I have never heard of Dr Ries. He is probably

new to resurfacing. Any doctor that is a part of the trials is probably a

good surgeon, but remember, the learning curve for resurfacing is 100...

on 5/14/04 6:50 PM, surfacehippy at

surfacehippy wrote:

> Subject: sf bay area resurf docs

>

> Hello again, boys and girls...

>

> Until today I was under the impression that the nearest resurfacing

> doc to San Francisco was at JRI...which, as most know, is in Los

> Angeles. Then I went on the Medical website, did a physician

> locator search...and found two in San Francisco. One has called back

> to confirm he does resurfacing. Has anybody heard of, or been

> resurfed by, Dr. Ries? His office is on Parnassus St. in the

> City.

>

> As much as I'd like to think I can have this done locally, I'm really

> convinced that Dr. Amstutz is probably the best this side of Belgium.

>

> I'm open to ideas and possibilities.

>

> Thanks to all. Every day I learn something (usually more than one

> something) new here.

[Guest guest]

In surfacehippy , " Alan Ray " wrote:

Good question, Alan...I'm also curious!

Only thing I think I read previously, was that JRI docs didn't get

real experience till more recently...was it '02? ...but Diane had

hers just last Dec 03 ... hhmmmmm... 'cuz lately I'm thinkin' and

researchin' more about De Smet...tho honestly, the last thing I wanna

do is travel for this thing! I know folks do it, I just don't know

that I'm up to it! We'll see.............

> Also curious why you chose to go to Belgium rather than JRI in LA.

> Congratulations again...

> Alan

RE: Diane choosing De Smet vs. JRI ... in Dec 03

[Guest guest]

In surfacehippy , " Alan Ray " wrote:

Good question, Alan...I'm also curious!

Only thing I think I read previously, was that JRI docs didn't get

real experience till more recently...was it '02? ...but Diane had

hers just last Dec 03 ... hhmmmmm... 'cuz lately I'm thinkin' and

researchin' more about De Smet...tho honestly, the last thing I wanna

do is travel for this thing! I know folks do it, I just don't know

that I'm up to it! We'll see.............

> Also curious why you chose to go to Belgium rather than JRI in LA.

> Congratulations again...

> Alan

RE: Diane choosing De Smet vs. JRI ... in Dec 03