Please talk some sense into me..

Hi Charlie-

That's a good question to be asking but the answer is a long one.  Simply put hip resurfacing is a bone sparing surgery that is intended for people who expect to live active, athletic or physically impactfull lives.  It is a more technically difficult surgery and therefore the choice of surgeon is especially crucial,  Being a more difficult surgery fewer surgeons learn or even want to learn how it's done.  When it was first introduced decades ago there were a high level of failures as well as a failed prosthesis that needed recalling.  This resulted in a bad reputation for the procedure that is and has been slow to resolve itself favorably despite several decades of excellent results, continuing improvements in the surgical techniques and prosthesis.  There are many examples of re surfacing patients returning to professional high impact sports in hockey, martial arts and basketball.  Most of the patients I have communicated with though the re surfacing website are more athletic than I am and include marathon runners, black diamond skiers, serious bicyclists, mountain climbers and generally a very physically fit and active crowd.  The website can be found searching "surface hippies" or hip resurfacing website- you'll find it.  As mentioned choice of surgeon is crucial and there are directories of surgeons on the website that do the procedure, how many they've done [most in the 1000s], their success rates, the kind of prosthesis they use and a world of valuable information.  In the UK there is McMinne Center- you can you tube and research that as well if in the UK.  There are size and age restrictions and rest assured most orthopedic surgeons will try to steer you away but they have a vested interest in doing so.  I can not begin to express how pleased I am with my results.  I am at just 8 weeks and still have a hip to go with bad OA that inhibits my walking far but I am back in the gym, using the machines and weights, swimming laps, doing my PT, pain free and gaining flexibility slowly but surely.  Don't know where you are but I would recommend researching Dr. Jim Pritchett in Seattle, his website is an excellent starting point for educating yourself on this procedure, he has done several thousand of this procedure and has several you tube videos that are informative.  Like several other of the top resurfacing surgeons, people fly in from all over the world for his work as many do for the other surgeons.  He did my orthopedic surgery and will do the other.  I have an absolute confidence in his skills, knowledge, integrity and concern for his patients and I am not someone who even owns a pair of rose colored glasses let alone ever puts a pair on.  Best of luck.

I am not having hip resurfacing Jim. 

As a woman hip resurfacing has not been recommended and will not work on my body as my bones are much softer than yours.

I am having my entire hip sawed out, my whole leg dislocated and I will lose my entire joint at 43 so not having any fear about this would indeed seem rather irrational.

This is my second hip replacement. I nearly died during my first, I was given too much medication and was very seriously ill. I do not have a good experience to draw on, so this is a big deal for me. Analysis doesn't really come close.

You can not know that this happened to me, or the hospital investigation that followed, as you don't know me, but believe me my fears I real.

I apologise if I seem upset but until you go through a total hip replacement it is really impossible to explain the worry. I had to sign a form that said 1 in 100 will die from this surgery. I have two little wide eyed children that I will leave behind if this happens to me. 

A total hip replacement is major major surgery. I will not be made to feel bad and my deep fear invalidated 

Best of luck to you, I wish I could have another option too.

Awww Rose. Are we not so silly to ourselves. My son tells me off he says " Mum, don't get inured head!" 

I always worry I may not wake up. I've had a few surgeries now. Each time it's the same. I write letters to my husband and kids in case I don't return. Tell myself I won't know anyway and suck it up and go to hospital. I'm still here. So happy both my hips are done for sure. You've researched and got a good surgeon and hospital. Just do it ? as the Nike slogan says. Good luck. 

Please could you explain exactly what you mean by another way!

Cheers Richard