Hip Resurfacing News

So, I am 2 1/2 weeks out from my hip resurfacing with Mr. Treacy in Birmingham, UK. The plane flight back to Colorado was easy on my hip but just very draining overall. This was my second hip surgery on my right hip, prior to the BHR I had surgery for labral tears, micro fracture and the rebuilding of my ligementum teres, which was a stabilizing ligament between the femoral head and the acetablum. I am not that young at 43, but very active, plus tall 5'9' and 125 lbs with a very small frame. I must admit that this second surgery has been so much easier than the first, I have no pain just the itching of my scar. I walk about 1-2 miles a day and do my exercises 3 times a day and just try not to get bored. Taking nothing for pain and only aspirin for the next two weeks. I walk with 2 canes and am working on a nice even stride, stairs are easy and have to be since I have 4 flights of stairs, my cats have shown amazing restraint and don't try to trip me every time I move around the house, they do seem slightly worried and all 3 of them sleep next to me each night. Overall, this has been a very pleasant experience, I would highly recommend my doctor, Mr. Treacy he has done over 4000 of these hips and is a very articulate and charming doctor, the staff at the hospital was great. Continue reading "Leslie RBHR Mr. Treacy 2007"

I left San Francisco on June 19 on upper class ticket with Virgin-Atlantic non-stop (10.5 hours) and arrived on June 20 in London. My girlfriend Debbie, her daughter and my daughter accompanied me and we stayed the weekend in London and left to Birmingham(2.5 hour drive) on Sunday June 22 - rented an apartment in city centre near shopping center known as Mailbox. Nice area with ample restaurants and grocery store within walking distance and only 10 minute cab ride to hospital. Checked into Priory hospital following day June 23 at 11am, which is a day prior to surgery. Mr. Treacy has all his patients check in a day prior, which seemed to be a good idea as they did blood draws, met his assistant, the anesthesiologist and others to prepare for next day surgery. Continue reading "Kal RBHR Dr. Treacy 2008"

My name is Bill Thom, aged 67 and a Scot living in London.   My hip operation was a Birmingham Hip Resurfacing procedure and was done on November 2nd 2009.   I had been consulting my surgeon Mr. Ronan Treacy for about 7 years as my hip was gradually deteriorating which made it difficult for me to enjoy an active life.    I am an accomplished ski-er and I also play tennis every week.   It was becoming increasingly clear that the BHR solution was pretty ideal for me and eventually, the hip joint showed signs of serious wear and Mr. Treacy advised that it was now up to me to decide whether to have the surgery. Continue reading "Bill Thom BHR Mr. Treacy 2009"

I am 47 and had my hip resurfaced in June. Before resurfacing came along, I had been told by an orthopedic surgeon that I would be a candidate for replacement "someday." I had decided to hold out as long as I could for something else to come along, knowing that amazing medical advancements are coming along faster and faster.

I had a minor sports injury to my left hip back in high school, probably resulting in some mild cartilage damage. But, the normal wear and tear caused the cartilage to wear down much faster, and starting in 2001 I started having a lot of trouble. I had developed a pretty good limp due to decreasing loss of mobility in that hip joint. Then, luckily in the spring of 2006 I saw a story on my local news about this "new alternative" to hip replacement.

I am so pleased with my results! I would make the decision again, and (God forbid) I were to need the surgery on my other hip, and I would have it. This procedure truly gives you back your life.

I think that "wait until you can stand it no more" is kind of "old school thinking" when it comes to this procedure. And, interestingly, after I had scheduled my surgery, it seemed my hip declined even faster as I neared my surgery date. I got to the point where I couldn't wait for the surgery!< Continue reading "Kathy Blundon LBHR Dr. Robert Barrack 2007"

The first time I noticed any hip pain was in 2004 when I was jogging and had a very sharp pain in my left groin area which only occurred when my left knee was raised to its highest point which didn’t occur on every run and typically when running hard uphill. The pain subsided and would only reoccur periodically during subsequent runs (I would run about 2-3 times per week) so I put off seeing an orthopedic specialist. About 6 months later while on a long walk with my family I experienced a new pain in my left groin area – very different from my running pain. This was more like a dull ache and honestly didn’t necessarily relate the two symptoms. About 6 months later I began to notice a clicking in my hip when I would move my left leg laterally (typically while shifting my position in bed).

Continue reading "Daniel Fox Bilateral Dr. Barrack 2009/2010"

April 6, 2010

I am a diagnostic radiologist in North Carolina.   I joined Yahoo Surfacehippy
over 8 years ago.   I just passed my 7th resurfacing anniversary. Like most surfacehippys, I really don't think about my hip much doing my daily activities.   My scar is barely noticeable, range of motion is fairly normal.   I am repeating my updated story below. Continue reading "Michael Broder L C+ March 31, 2003 Dr. Vail"

Thank you so very much for your website – I'm grateful for the quality and organized delivery of the information available here - I plan to return to the site in just a few minutes, provide a donation, and buy a fun t-shirt. There is nowhere else to go for the comprehensive information, authentic real-life stories, and descriptions you and your contributors provide here.

I'm scheduled for unilateral hip resurfacing in just a few days, the 23rd of September, and have been surprised to find so little about Dr. Thomas Vail or UCSF (University of California at San Francisco) on your site. I selected Dr. Vail as my surgeon given the number of resurfacings he has performed (+/- 400), his research and development with De Puy and experience with other implants, because he uses computer guidance to place the femoral component, the department's reputation – which Dr. Vail heads, and my impression of the man. I interviewed 5 other resurfacing surgeons – all very reputable and many well liked on surfacehippy – and researched all of my arthroplasty options, studied the issues with cobalt-chrome ions, in-vivo wear studies and many implant mechanical studies and comparisons, etc.

Continue reading "Steve Dana BHR Sept. 23, 2008 Dr. Vail"

I had a bi-lateral hip resurfacing November 25, 2008 with Dr. Tom Vail at UCSF in San Francisco. As a 60 year old energetic and athletic woman who loves hiking, sports and kayaking, I wanted to regain my life.

For the last 6-8 years I have been unable to walk more than a mile without pain so hiking was out of the question and many other sports and activities became difficult or impossible. After much research I decided to go with Tom Vail as he has done a lot of surgeries ( I didn't want to be a guinea pig!) and quite a few bi-laterals.

After our first meeting, I felt confident that he was the man for the job. I had interviewed several other doctors but didn't feel that "connection". I spent the four months before my surgery getting in the best shape possible by working out at least 4-5 times a week for an hour a day, swimming laps, kayaking and taking water aerobics classes. I went into the surgery in good shape which paid off with a very fast recovery.

I'm five weeks out and walking much better than before the surgery with good flexibility. I will say that bi-lateral surgery is not for the faint of heart as the first two weeks are pretty brutal. However, I would say that after the first week, each day I felt better and better.

I've been going to physical therapy twice a week for the last 3 weeks and it has helped tremendously with my flexibility and strength. I'm walking without a cane for the last week or so and and am back to my swimming pool routine (not quite full force yet). I can put on my socks, tie my shoes and bend over without tremendous effort, things that were extremely difficult before the surgery. And I can walk without a limp! My pain and stiffness is minimal and I have been off all pain meds except Tylenol or Aleve for the last three weeks. It will take some time to get the muscles that were not used for a long time back in shape but overall I feel great.

I would highly recommend Dr. Vail to those looking for a surgeon in the Bay Area.

Christine, Oakland, CA

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August 2010 Update

It's now been almost two years since my bi-lateral resurfacing and I have been back to "normal" for well over a year.

I teach 5 aqua aerobics classes a week, kayak fish on the weekends, walk and hike and generally do everything I want to do without thinking about it.  I never take pain meds anymore and I used to take them daily and still have pain.  My happiness and well being have been truly and wonderfully improved by this surgery. 

I will be forever thankful to Dr. Vail and the advancement of technology that led me to this place. If anyone needs to talk about the surgery or the aftermath, I'm available via email at  fishinginc@aol.com  or by phone if you email me first.