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My name is Rick Foster and I've been researching hip replacement
and in particular resurfacing for well over 3 years. I have found
your Surface Hippy website to be one of, if not the best overall
source of information out there!
I have endured moderate to severe hip pain in both hips for the
last 10+ years and as I have a very active job, I have become very
dependent on aspirin (at LEAST 8 per day) and NSAIDs (at least 2
lodines or 4+Advil per day). I had been to two ortho surgeons (here
locally in Orlando, FL) who told me I was a dual hip 'replacement'
candidate. Even though the second one had published material
stating that he performed hip resurfacing, it turned out that he was
not very experienced and was uncomfortable with the increase in
cobalt, chromium ions after resurfacing surgery.
Thanks to your website I found Dr. Stephen Raterman, in Tampa,
FL, received a referral to him from my primary care physician, and I
feel it was a true gift from God! If not for your Surface Hippy
website, I may not have learned that the metal on metal wear is at
least 97% slower than metal on plastic and that metal on plastic
wear can result in osteolysis! I would much rather have the small
amount of metal ions filter through my healthy kidneys than build a
field of microscopic plastic debris in the tissues and bone in the
hip area. I am also excited at the prospect that with at least 97%
slower wear, it may well mean that I may never need a revision in my
lifetime!
Well, two of the most challenging weeks of my life were the two
weeks prior to my first resurfacing operation, during which I was
unable to take any aspirin or NSAIDs yet had to work my active job!
To add insult to injury, I came down with a nasty cold making me
that much more sore & achy during that time!
I had my first resurfacing surgery (on my left hip) on Monday,
March 8, and even though Insurance companies usually approve less
days than you really need in the hospital, I was able to go home
after only 2 days (1 day less than the 3 days they had approved!)
and I continue doing a LOT better then anyone thought I would do!!
They were surprised that on my first day after surgery I walked two
times - once for 250 feet and the second time for 500 feet. I could
have gone farther, but they didn't want me to over-do it.
9 days post-surgery Dr. Raterman was happy with my pace of
recovery. He advanced me from a walker to a cane and scheduled my
second (right) hip surgery for the first available date of April 27,
2010.
Oh, believe me, I have PLENTY of pain!!! But I am able to do
more and more so quickly that it seems almost too good to be true!!
I hope that I can return to work in less than the 6 weeks that they
said would be a very fast recovery time. Better yet, I am on the
'cancellation list' so that if someone cancels their surgery, I may
be able to have mine sooner. I can already tell that this procedure
appears to be every bit as superior to total replacement as I have
read on your website for years. Thank you again for your fantastic
resource!
Very sincerely,
Rick Foster
Orlando, Florida
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