Arthritis in the hip!

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Since he was merely reporting his own experience, it would take a crack lawyer to make his report out to be "advice."

And frankly, given what passes for "helpful advice" these days, it's just as well that the current system discourages it.

But you brought it up and the OP was merely asking some fellow officials what they thought of his situation. I don't think he would go to Mexico for some miracle treatment based on the advice of someone he probably never met face to face before.

[BillyClyde 68]

Just asking for some info. All of you lawyers need to fine another post to read! I know what doctors tell you is not the ways things happen all the time. who better can you trust than a ref?

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by BillyClyde 68

who better can you trust than a ref?

Do you mean about basketball rules, medical care, or how to fix a diesel engine?

[runonmt]

Originally Posted by BillyClyde 68

What is the recovery time for the Birmingham Procedure? I went to my family Dr and he has told me to go see a cutting Dr. He said with my age the Birmingham method might be a good deal for me.

Totally depends on your physical/mental condition and how successful the surgery was. I was out of the hospital one day following the hip replacement. (They won't let you go home until you demonstrate you can walk up and down a couple of stairs with crutches or a walker.) Was walking on one crutch within a week. Driving and back to work (desk job) in two weeks. Walking long distances and using an elliptical within a couple of months. Reffed first game eight months after surgery starting a full schedule (for me) of fifty-plus games with no problems and no pain. Downhill skiing the following winter with no problems (wouldn't recommend that to anyone as there's a definite danger to the hip from a hard fall - but relating it to show how well the hip can perform with a successful surgery).

My hips were too far gone for a resurfacing option but that's an alternative to replacement and has a lot of positives including saving your ball joint and a quicker recovery time. Both are major surgery. You need to consult a top ortho surgeon to get options and make an informed decision.

Good luck!

[BillyClyde 68]

Thanks, just trying to get all the info before I make my decision. I an leaning toward the birmingham method and want the turnaround for that one?

[ref2coach]

Originally Posted by BillyClyde 68

Thanks, just trying to get all the info before I make my decision. I an leaning toward the birmingham method and want the turnaround for that one?

BHR = Birmingham Hip Resurfacing.
See my previous post.

[BillyClyde 68]

What was the time from you got operated on till you could ref?

[ref2coach]

About 14-15 weeks. But, I rehabbed 6 days a week, normal schedule was 2 or 3 days per week.

[refprof]

Thanks all for your experiences.

I have been suffering with similar complaints for about 2 years. My discomfort is expressed as tighteness in my thigh muscles, and craking whenever I rotate around the head of the femur.

I spoke with my orthopedic surgeon 2 yrs ago. Lat month when he noticed that i was listing as i walked (the arthritis has taken all the cartilidge out of the joint, so my right leg is 1/2" shorter than my left) he redid an MRI.

We talked of a resurfacing, and he recommended against it. He said that the stress placed on the bond could be very high in my case (6', 220 lbs) that it was too high a risk.

I am now scheduled for full replacement at the end of august.

Thanks for all the insights.

RefProf

[ref2coach]

Originally Posted by refprof

Thanks all for your experiences.

We talked of a resurfacing, and he recommended against it. He said that the stress placed on the bond could be very high in my case (6', 220 lbs) that it was too high a risk.

Thanks for all the insights.

RefProf

RefProf, I am 6'2", 210 lbs. My Surgeon used the cement-less cup and ball so that bone grew into the the irregular surfaces of the prosthetic attaching points.

Has your surgeon been trained and certified to do the BHR? In spite of being surgeons they still have to make a living. If he is not able to provide the BHR he may be less willing to recommend it as he would have to refer you to a surgeon who has traveled and payed to be trained.

The 8 to 10 year studies are showing a stress failure rate of <2% with the BHR, the total hip has a higher stress failure rate.

"The Birmingham Hip Resurfacing was released in 1997. In Mr. McMinn's series of nearly 2700 BHRs to date, the failure rate has been 1.2% at nearly 9 years. In the younger age group (under 55 years) with osteoarthritis, the failure rate of Mr. McMinn's resurfacings is 0.2% (survival 99.8%) at 11 years follow-up. The failure rate with a traditional hip replacement in this age group by comparison is 19% at 10 years and 67% at 16 years according to the Swedish Hip Arthroplasy Register."

I have been so satisfied with the BHR, I should try to get a job as a marketing representative for the company.