Re: AVN and hip resurfacing

[Guest guest]

> HI all,

>

> I am 27 years old, I have lupus (since 1997) anc i was placed on

> steroids. Now I have AVN on my left hip, its now in a pretty late

> stage and it is severely limiting my mobility. I was told to have a

> hip replacment if i really cannot tolerate the pain anymore. I was

> also told that a ceramic hip is good. But as i was reseraching i

> found out about hip resurfacing, it really intrigues me as I am so

> young. I just have some questions that i hope you can help me with.

>

> 1. Is there anyone in the group who had resurfacing for avascular

> necrosis?

There are several people in this group who have been resurfaced for

AVN. I'm not one of them, but I'm sure they'll chime in soon (if they

haven't already).

>

> 2. I have been told that resurfacing is not for avascular necrosis,

> is this true?

Resurfacing requires *some* good bone on the head of the femur. It all

depends on how much intact bone you have left. The only way to find

out for sure is to get some X-rays done and send them to a surgeon who

actually does resurfacing (an orthopedist who doesn't do resurfacing

won't be able to evaluate this, because they just don't know what to

look for). Surgical skill is an important factor in the success of

marginal cases, so you may have to contact several surgeons. As I

said, there are a number of people here who have been successfully

resurfaced for AVN, so it definitely *can* be done.

>

> 3. How is the process of recovering from a hip resurfacing? I cant

> get off work long and I need this job.

Typically, recovery is 2-3 times faster than for a total hip. This

seems to be pretty individual, and your youth will should let you

recover more quickly than average (particularly if you do some

strength and conditioning before your surgery). The European docs (who

have more experience with resurfacing and are more comfortable with

it) tend to remove activity and movement restrictions sooner tha the

US surgeons.

I'm 48 years old and in pretty good physical condition (if I do say so

myself). I had a bilateral resurfacing (both hips in a single

operation) 13 days ago. I live in Colorado and had my surgery in Los

Angeles. I've been home for the last 8 days. I live alone (well,

technically, I live with my dog). I'm managing to take care of myself

pretty well, although I've had friends help with errands, etc. I could

actually manage *some* work now (I'm a software engineer), but I have

a lot of leave built up, so I'm going to devote as much time to

recovery and rehab as possible for the next few weeks.

I'm on crutches, of course. I can comfortably walk a couple of blocks

now. The main limitation is actually discomfort in my hands/wrist from

using the crutches.

You're young enough to be my daughter - I expect that your recovery

would be faster than mine (although everybody's different). How soon

you can return to work depends very much on what your job is (heavy

manual labor takes much longer).

>

> 4. I was also told that the metal debris from a resurfacing are not

> good, and its not advisable for women who still want to have

> children, is this also true?

Well, the final word on metal ions isn't in, but one thing is known

for sure: the metal ions produced by implant wear do *not* cross the

placental barrier and hence do not affect the developing fetus. In

other words, it's a non-issue as far as child-bearing is concerned.

There's no evidence of any other health effects, either, but there

aren't any long-term studies yet. Some of us in the US have

volunteered for a long-term study of metal ion levels in resurfacing

patients to answer the ion question conclusively.

I'm pretty sure that there soe women in this group who have had

children after their operations. I hope they'll respond.

Welcome to the group!

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

[Guest guest]

> HI all,

>

> I am 27 years old, I have lupus (since 1997) anc i was placed on

> steroids. Now I have AVN on my left hip, its now in a pretty late

> stage and it is severely limiting my mobility. I was told to have a

> hip replacment if i really cannot tolerate the pain anymore. I was

> also told that a ceramic hip is good. But as i was reseraching i

> found out about hip resurfacing, it really intrigues me as I am so

> young. I just have some questions that i hope you can help me with.

>

> 1. Is there anyone in the group who had resurfacing for avascular

> necrosis?

There are several people in this group who have been resurfaced for

AVN. I'm not one of them, but I'm sure they'll chime in soon (if they

haven't already).

>

> 2. I have been told that resurfacing is not for avascular necrosis,

> is this true?

Resurfacing requires *some* good bone on the head of the femur. It all

depends on how much intact bone you have left. The only way to find

out for sure is to get some X-rays done and send them to a surgeon who

actually does resurfacing (an orthopedist who doesn't do resurfacing

won't be able to evaluate this, because they just don't know what to

look for). Surgical skill is an important factor in the success of

marginal cases, so you may have to contact several surgeons. As I

said, there are a number of people here who have been successfully

resurfaced for AVN, so it definitely *can* be done.

>

> 3. How is the process of recovering from a hip resurfacing? I cant

> get off work long and I need this job.

Typically, recovery is 2-3 times faster than for a total hip. This

seems to be pretty individual, and your youth will should let you

recover more quickly than average (particularly if you do some

strength and conditioning before your surgery). The European docs (who

have more experience with resurfacing and are more comfortable with

it) tend to remove activity and movement restrictions sooner tha the

US surgeons.

I'm 48 years old and in pretty good physical condition (if I do say so

myself). I had a bilateral resurfacing (both hips in a single

operation) 13 days ago. I live in Colorado and had my surgery in Los

Angeles. I've been home for the last 8 days. I live alone (well,

technically, I live with my dog). I'm managing to take care of myself

pretty well, although I've had friends help with errands, etc. I could

actually manage *some* work now (I'm a software engineer), but I have

a lot of leave built up, so I'm going to devote as much time to

recovery and rehab as possible for the next few weeks.

I'm on crutches, of course. I can comfortably walk a couple of blocks

now. The main limitation is actually discomfort in my hands/wrist from

using the crutches.

You're young enough to be my daughter - I expect that your recovery

would be faster than mine (although everybody's different). How soon

you can return to work depends very much on what your job is (heavy

manual labor takes much longer).

>

> 4. I was also told that the metal debris from a resurfacing are not

> good, and its not advisable for women who still want to have

> children, is this also true?

Well, the final word on metal ions isn't in, but one thing is known

for sure: the metal ions produced by implant wear do *not* cross the

placental barrier and hence do not affect the developing fetus. In

other words, it's a non-issue as far as child-bearing is concerned.

There's no evidence of any other health effects, either, but there

aren't any long-term studies yet. Some of us in the US have

volunteered for a long-term study of metal ion levels in resurfacing

patients to answer the ion question conclusively.

I'm pretty sure that there soe women in this group who have had

children after their operations. I hope they'll respond.

Welcome to the group!

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

[Guest guest]

> HI all,

>

> I am 27 years old, I have lupus (since 1997) anc i was placed on

> steroids. Now I have AVN on my left hip, its now in a pretty late

> stage and it is severely limiting my mobility. I was told to have a

> hip replacment if i really cannot tolerate the pain anymore. I was

> also told that a ceramic hip is good. But as i was reseraching i

> found out about hip resurfacing, it really intrigues me as I am so

> young. I just have some questions that i hope you can help me with.

>

> 1. Is there anyone in the group who had resurfacing for avascular

> necrosis?

There are several people in this group who have been resurfaced for

AVN. I'm not one of them, but I'm sure they'll chime in soon (if they

haven't already).

>

> 2. I have been told that resurfacing is not for avascular necrosis,

> is this true?

Resurfacing requires *some* good bone on the head of the femur. It all

depends on how much intact bone you have left. The only way to find

out for sure is to get some X-rays done and send them to a surgeon who

actually does resurfacing (an orthopedist who doesn't do resurfacing

won't be able to evaluate this, because they just don't know what to

look for). Surgical skill is an important factor in the success of

marginal cases, so you may have to contact several surgeons. As I

said, there are a number of people here who have been successfully

resurfaced for AVN, so it definitely *can* be done.

>

> 3. How is the process of recovering from a hip resurfacing? I cant

> get off work long and I need this job.

Typically, recovery is 2-3 times faster than for a total hip. This

seems to be pretty individual, and your youth will should let you

recover more quickly than average (particularly if you do some

strength and conditioning before your surgery). The European docs (who

have more experience with resurfacing and are more comfortable with

it) tend to remove activity and movement restrictions sooner tha the

US surgeons.

I'm 48 years old and in pretty good physical condition (if I do say so

myself). I had a bilateral resurfacing (both hips in a single

operation) 13 days ago. I live in Colorado and had my surgery in Los

Angeles. I've been home for the last 8 days. I live alone (well,

technically, I live with my dog). I'm managing to take care of myself

pretty well, although I've had friends help with errands, etc. I could

actually manage *some* work now (I'm a software engineer), but I have

a lot of leave built up, so I'm going to devote as much time to

recovery and rehab as possible for the next few weeks.

I'm on crutches, of course. I can comfortably walk a couple of blocks

now. The main limitation is actually discomfort in my hands/wrist from

using the crutches.

You're young enough to be my daughter - I expect that your recovery

would be faster than mine (although everybody's different). How soon

you can return to work depends very much on what your job is (heavy

manual labor takes much longer).

>

> 4. I was also told that the metal debris from a resurfacing are not

> good, and its not advisable for women who still want to have

> children, is this also true?

Well, the final word on metal ions isn't in, but one thing is known

for sure: the metal ions produced by implant wear do *not* cross the

placental barrier and hence do not affect the developing fetus. In

other words, it's a non-issue as far as child-bearing is concerned.

There's no evidence of any other health effects, either, but there

aren't any long-term studies yet. Some of us in the US have

volunteered for a long-term study of metal ion levels in resurfacing

patients to answer the ion question conclusively.

I'm pretty sure that there soe women in this group who have had

children after their operations. I hope they'll respond.

Welcome to the group!

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

[Guest guest]

If you can get a resurf you should - 27 is too young for a THR. Lots of

folks on this site have had a resurf who had AVN. It just depends on how far

it's gone. You will be off awork a lot shorter time with a resurf. There's

been a lot of discussion on the metal probelem , you may find iti in the

archives. I do know there have been some women who have had resurfs and gone on

to have children. Most of the concern about the metal ions seems nonsense to me

- people have been ahving metal plates etc put into their bodies for years,

with no problems to speak of, that i know about.

You should find a surgeon who does resurfs and get an opinion. If you tell

us where you live, there will be someone here who knows the closest one.

Sharry

AVN and hip resurfacing

HI all,

I am 27 years old, I have lupus (since 1997) anc i was placed on

steroids. Now I have AVN on my left hip, its now in a pretty late

stage and it is severely limiting my mobility. I was told to have a

hip replacment if i really cannot tolerate the pain anymore. I was

also told that a ceramic hip is good. But as i was reseraching i

found out about hip resurfacing, it really intrigues me as I am so

young. I just have some questions that i hope you can help me with.

1. Is there anyone in the group who had resurfacing for avascular

necrosis?

2. I have been told that resurfacing is not for avascular necrosis,

is this true?

3. How is the process of recovering from a hip resurfacing? I cant

get off work long and I need this job.

4. I was also told that the metal debris from a resurfacing are not

good, and its not advisable for women who still want to have

children, is this also true?

Any help will be appreciated.

sincerely,

MK