My name is Mark. I had the Birmingham Hip device put in the right hip in January 2008 at age 51 by Dr. Bertin in Salt Lake City. The left hip was done (with the Birmingham device) in November 2009 when I was 53 by Dr. Joshua Hickman in Bountiful, UT.

Personal Info: 6' and 240 lbs male born June 1956. Don't know cause of hip problems but assume I just wore them out. High school and college athlete competed in all sports in high school and football and wrestling for 4 years in college. After college, competed in old-timer wrestling meets and triathalons until age 41. As a hobby, I've farmed the past 23 years and specialize in small bale production and delivery (labor intensive). Other hobbies include hunting and fishing the nearby mountains and high school football officiating. The right hip 'went bad' approximately January 2000. I could no longer run or walk any distance. Approximately June 2005, my left hip 'went bad' and although not impairing my mobility as much as the right hip, the combination of the two caused movement to be extremely painful.

Rt hip: Resurfaced by Dr. Bertin in Salt Lake City in January 2008. Returned to managerial position after missing 9 working days for surgery and recovery and was feeding livestock within 1st week of surgery. Was able to do many of the things I could do prior to the introduction of hip problems including elk hunting the nearby mountains. However, could not ride a horse for any distance nor carry anything heavy for any distance due to left hip immobility.

Lt. hip: Decided to have Lt hip resurfaced by Dr. Bertin in Fall of 2009. However, Dr. Bertin uses LDS church for surgery and LDS would no longer work with my insurance. I decided to switch surgeons and went with Dr. Hickman also in Salt Lake City (Bountiful). Surgery occurred November 16, 2009. It's been almost 2 weeks and I'm returning to work on Monday after missing 10 working days. Verdict is still out on success of this surgery however, I'm very optimistic. Just today, I went to one crutch. Am looking forward to returning to long walks and possible jogging with my wife, playing some backyard basketball with my son, being able to ride horses with my family and to return to officiating this Fall.

Mark