Pre appt. procedure require surgery report first before accepting me as patient.

Shirley..

my first hip is a dupuy metal surgical steel with poly cups no metal on metal rubbing to cause pseudo tumors, heavy metals into blood stream etc. stay away from any hip replacement not coated even the small parts were designed in this MOM hip designed by STRYKER turning my life upside down. My first dupuy hip has lasted 14  years still counting. 

It's MOM THAT CAUSES THE PAIN. stay away from any design with any parts large or small bare metal period. It's been known since the 60's MOM is dangerous. They fail and worse yet MOM fretting into the blood stream from wear can cause heavy metals tissue necrosis, bone necrosis, & heavy metals to leach into the blood stream then to major organs till eventual death.. So who is really at fault when a patient has a MOM implant... The good doctor ot the manufacturer...or both?

David UR story is exactly what I have been dealing with too. It's a total nightmare that doctors r so STUPID.. We r not. If u have done any research u know why u hip implant has failed. I know mine was recalled and I knew it was bad before the last post op checkup. The dr lied to me that no metal on metal parts were in the design, he then implanted the device. Then 8 months later crying over the phone to me...telling me....to replace it & that I could die..from heavy metal poisoning. True story...as I am writing this that is a quote. I wish I had the conversation recorded...then he moved out of state left us all to fend for ourselves.

600 miles away to get justice out of the "circle UR wagons..u go for it! Yep cover they cover their patooties. Cute little act they have .. That's why we need to stay together and sue them to protect others from this hell, while patients suffer the unimaginable pain. And worse yet I too may have to travel to another state for a hip joint revision.. The whole implant must be removed due to design. The femur bone broken to remove the section bone has grown into, as well as the ball joint area.  Then a larger implant put in... A brace or cast on the revision a longer recovery and rehab added to the three years of hell I already suffered.

u should be mad as hell. I am more than mad I will get even.. Doctors are not untouchable the district attorney is investigating kickbacks.to drs from the Manufacturer. There's a lot more to this than just medical. The Manufacturers r setting the stage to corral doctors to use their products promising the drs that the manufacturer will cover for them...even the manufacturer reps r in the surgical room assisting in the technique to assure the implant is applied to each of the patients according to specs.. 

Please keep in touch. Private email is a option here to communicate without feeling the consequences..take care David. Do UR homework.. U can get a revision a dr who specializes in revisions can do this for you.. 

I have hope and a cure for you and I send healing prayers UR way every day until u r pain free.

 

I would just change one word you wrote: STUPID  to MALICIOUS.

David u r absolutely right ... It's is just that MALICIOUS ...

thank u for UR support. 

PLZ do keep in touch.

I have the Zimmer CPT prosthesis which apparently is without recall fault although dozens of individual  mfg faults discovered. My xrays show the stem into the femur is way off center. This particular device is very complicated and has 9 different stems to choose from, so I appear to be a case of surgeon  error. Would not have blamed him had he owned up to it. I go to Cleveland Cllinic in 10 days but the implant surgeon wants to see me on Friday, and that should be interesting. This is the guy who originallly told me nothing wrong. Lawyers say I need to get his full evaluation one more time so I go and let him hang himself while I say as little as possible.

The Zimmerman is another manufacturer. They had a recall years ago on their cement which failed in holding the femur implant in place. Today most are press fit as both mine. The angle is always a issue and should have been taken care of immediately. We trust our dr to do the right thing and when they DONOT it is a betrayal.

The post op X-rays should show the error . I know the pain u r in I can really understand that UR attorney recognizes this. I hope things go well.

I wasn't aware of any cement issue with Zimmer. The only recall I know of was for their Durom Cup and onlly lasted 30 days and it was right back on the market. Radiologist who analyzed my last noted "movment cannot be excluded." Did not mention stem being grossly off-center. Oh, and by the way, I was mistaken, I see the implant surgeon tomorrow. Since he found out I obtained all my recorrds and tried to see other orthopedists, he's changed his attitude somewhat. I'm not telling him anything and will let him ask all the questions. If he suddenly wants to correct his mistake, I tell him I want a second opinion and he'll sh*t a brick when I tell him where I"m going.

On my first visit he  tried to prevent me from seeing any other docs by telling  me that I would not survive another surgery. He said, and this is a direct quote, " Stay out of doctor's offices because they will kill you." He was so defensive that I was immediately alerted to something being very wrong. That was 6 months ago when I only had moderate pain compared with being crippled and dependent on a 'Rollator today.  I'm not bitter or discouraged but I do intend to make that liar pay for his infidelity and violation of his oath.

THANKX Carmen.. This is a real hell & we r suffering terribly. There r thousands with this bad designed hip implanted. In less than 12 months 35,00 alone in this country r suffering revision next. Many who from New York to California r is a class action law suit against the manufacturer STRYKER. of course they are the largest manufacturer of many medical prothesis to instruments etc that the millions this law suit will cost them is a drop in the bucket. It's the doctors who get the kickbacks from the manufacturer who also should be sued.

I know that some day it will get better. With support from people like u I know many hearts understand. I pray that no one else ever has to have this happen to them never, ever again. I had a normal healthy life now I am a shadow of who I was. No one deserves that..

hope u r well..keep in touch..

peace, luv & laughter.

 

There is no connection with care vs the class action law suit. PLZ ck the Internet under Stryker ABG ll recall legal issues.

the hip joint revisions are very risky only a few docs r trained for this proceedure. I wanted to set up appt for the revision docs and the op reports was what came up .. Yes I guess this is a lot mor complicated than  I ever expected I expected to call make a appt to see the doc that dies revisions not the send UR op reports the docs will see if they will take UR case? That's is exactly why I out my complaint on here. I don't understand this pre op report study first before I am accepted as a patient at all.

Yes it is corrupt as many big corporations r today.  There are law suits all the time against these companies who r involved ..in the news ...

my doc lied to me ... He denied any metals in the design. Yet the manufacturer rep made sure it was implemented correctly in the op room BECAUCE the Manu rep was there. What does that say?

I agree he should rot in hell. There are over 35,000 of us who received this same implant. It was recalled because many patients with the device were having all the typical issues of failed mom hips within a few months of surgery. Then and only after patients complained did the manufacturer do a voluntary recall. Well the damage to thousands were already done. We r not cars with parts that can potentially cause harm.. It has been known since the 6o's that any metal on metal parts warn in hip prothesis cause these life & death issues.

it is unforgivable.. 

THANKX so much for UR support. If u have any more questions I will be happy to answer them. I just hope the heavy metals don't effect my major organs  before I can get the STRYKER ABGll THR removed.

 

Allow me to comment on you r perception that the US healthcare is totally corrupt. I recently underwent 8 surgeries in two years, including open heart. They all went perfectly well with no ensuing problems. Thus I would not say our system is TOTALLY  corupt. Corruption exists everywhere and in some areas more than others.  Hip and knee replacements happen to be those others. About 17,000 out of 3 million hip replacements have so far gone bad. That is not an outrageous ratio, is it?

David I think that is what we meant. There r areas that fall below the welbeing of the patient. In every country not just here. These manufactures r huge because there market is world wide. So if we r only taking us the static it's r not fully included in other countries that use the samr products.

i agree with the system is not TOTALLY corrupt just the section  in referencein my post.

 

David, I read a left wing paper and from what I see or hear on TV the American system seems to be based on money and profit. This is my perception. The British system is going the same way. I have never heard or seen anything positive about the US health system. Here we may have incompetence but not corruption. This is how it is perceived in UK. Here if you have cancer or cardiovascular disease the care is excellent. Arthritis and related things like joint replacement don't have the same"glamour". Post op rehab is very poor. Hip replacement is a bit of a joke, seen as a rite of passage to old age in this culture. I was relatively young when I began to have pain in my hip and I often felt embarrassed to tell people. It's a kind of invisible affliction and not understood and there's not much sympathy. Anyway I have wandered off topic somewhat.

Juliette, of course the US system is based on money and profit, is there something wrong with that? Have you ever tried operating anything including your household at a loss? Some people believe profit is an evil word, others think that money is evil. I trust that I don't need to explain why this isnt' so.

I won't deny that there is a widespread perception that greed has taken over US healthcare and the problem likes with both the US government and hospitals. The hospital billing situation is nothing short of criminal but it is government that made it that way. It has forced hospitals to treat the poor and non-paying for free. Hospitals cannot operate at a loss for long so what they do is pass teh losses onto those who can pay.

BTW I had \hip replacement due to accident injury, nodt by choice.

Your both right. Both good and bad  situations affect the medical industry when the largest manufactures in the world r involved.. Kickbacks is in the news and it exist it's in a lot of world economy. Legal or illegal it's always there. We the patients only the side effects of when things go wrong. Like my dr implanting metal on metal in my body actually not being honest with me and the device he implanted .All the time the rep from the manufacturer is supervising in the OR making sure all protocols for implementation is correct. covered their patooties....NOT...

yet 35,000 of us in just the US alone received the recalled hip device made by STRYKER A world wide medical device distributer of all types of medical devices.. The docs get kickbacks for using their products in the larger state wide practice of today's culture is worth millions to the manufacturer.

my first hip in 2000 was $21000, this hip recall cost my insurance company $ 44,000. That's a huge mark up .

Either way I'm hurting and totally lost respect for the medical system in the US. I have been paying the price for greed and bad judgment. Lost my life so that's the end results of how med community works for the patients who strongly have no other choice but THR.

David, None of us on this forum had a hip replacement due to"choice". I have no wish to continue with the discussion about money and profit.

Hope, you mentioned, I believe, something about a state's attorney investigating kickbacks? If so, great news, but there needs to be a lot more of it.  I'm sure you've noticed how drug reps hang out in Dr's offices? Drug Co. kickbacks must run to astronomical amounts and is one of the most blatant and patient damaging corruptions when a Dr. ends up prescribing drugs on the basis of the kickbacks he gets. Then different Dr's load a patient with a dozen or more pills with NO REGARD for drug interactions at all.

Juliette, I was made aware that for many people opting for THR is a choice in contrast to me with a broken joint with three fractures is what I meant. If everyone here suffered a broken hip, so much the worse.

He;;o once again.  I have spoken to u before.  Had a rod placed in my hip 11 months ago and now a screw has come loose.  They now tell me i need a total hip replacement.  Now  i am afraid!!!  Canu or anyone tell me what kind of replacement i should ask for.  Have 2 appta with different doctors.  One told me he does mom (no way with metal! and sometime  ceramic.  Which is best?  Can anyone tell me what is the best to use? 

I don't believe I had any more choice to have a thr than you did. You could have chosen not to have the operation and live life as a cripple. Same here. Yours happened quickly and mine took years.

I would opt for plastic surfacing, ceramic is abrasive and that bothers me. As for who makes a reliable device I've no idea. Thing is, do you trust a stranger on the internet over your surgeon? If so, that spells out the nature of the problem.

I understand UR position. U have every right to UR opinion.

it is a fact that kickbacks occur in the medical industry. If u google any big Pharma company or STRYKER MANUFACTURER of MY HIP THAT WAS RECALLED 8 months after the device was put in my body. U will find many law suits where many states have law suits for any number of reasons. 

I have stated many times that the manufactureres have known that metal on metal parts in THR devices are dangerous. 40 years of history & research proved this. Yet manuf. Reps sell the orthaepedic. Docs a new system easier to install with metal on metal parts = more surgeries less time. 

So who's the guilty party...? The surgeon who can do more THR  because of a new design with mom parts =more $ and by the way how much stock does the surgeon have with his corporations deal with the manufacturer? Hey class action lawyers earn their piece of the pie. I have learned so much from my attorney . The manufacturers Rep who stands literally in the OP room directing the training of the THR device. So what's the REPS  % of SALES/ commission ? The rep is in the Op room with the surgeon trained to install their specific device using their newly designed tables and tools and THR DEVICE & making sure all the criteria of installations are covered.

WELL YES the doc and the rep earned their share of the profits so did the hospital, nurses ...it's all ok..it's the fact that all three --the manuf. Rep. The doc. AND  the manufacturer itself who designed the whole system knew the dangers of MOM IMPLANT DEVICES . Over 30,000 have suffered from this one STRYKER implant in the US alone.

Now 2 years of pain & suffering & my life is gone due to this implant..They the Manufacturer, the manuf. Rep and the Doc all know MOM devices ARE dangerous. My surgeon lied to my face literally stating no MOM in my hip prothesis. My other hip have now 14 years it is not MOM & was angle to live a full life before this MOM STRYKER implantation.

Then later crying to me over the phone to my surgeon pleaded with me to have the device removed . Of course this was after he got caught and the hip was recalled. The fall from grace so to speak! So what did he the surgeon do next..he Left the state and left all his STRYKER patients to fend in the medical system for themselves. He opened up a new practice with a clean bill of health.. Is that special.. While his patients like me are suffering from a greedy decision ... Period. 

This has been my life foe 2 years. Every 6 months I have to have a full body Nuclear CAT SCAN with contrast dye that makes me sick for days, at a cost of $2000 and a heavy metal blood test at $500 waiting in line for hours when a can barel stand walk or sit for long periods. AND a full body bone scan $1200. That's $5400.00 in tests per year so far added up to $10,800 to date not to mention my suffering pain and no life.. 

I am involved in a class action law suit . All the details are  on the Internet showing the legal side and many of these kickbacks are involved. Also See: New Jersey vs SRYKER thru the district attorney's office by the state class action law suit.. Or big Pham law suits.. Are also everywhere involving kickbacks with products sold but not safe or approved by the FDA. that's the catch 22.... How many are harmed by these practices are in the millions. 

I beleive money is always the squeaky wheel that keeps the ball in motion. It's when the $ is under the table lining pockets ILLEGALLY..Rather than keeping the squeaky wheel in motion for the good of all & LEGALLY supporting the system and lining pockets. 

Waiting until my pain is bad enough or heavy metal blood tests reach the level to justify a risky joint revision is now my future. Facing the crippling side effects of bad judgement for $ & profit the rest of my life from one illegal decision thru tp a planned action. 

No I do not believe my surgeon intentionally realized the effects of the MOM IMPLANTS.. No I don't just blame any profit made by installing SAFE  non -MOM THR Devices. I am speaking  from my personal experienceS.

THR has it's place. When done correctly like my other hip everybody wins. 

It's also a bad judgement issue when the THR prosthesis is safe and the surgeon has made a error in installation and it is common practice for surgeons to ignore those patients with pain even after 2 yrs from the surgery date. That is a whole other can of worms. It's not only hard enough to endure this surgery it is brutal as most of you all know. I think it's despicable

when a surgeon continues to turn a patient away in pain with very little recourse to treat or help the patient to find a diagnosis and treatment after THR. That is a huge issue in the THR industry. Who will be there for those who's surgeon did not set the implant correctly? Well the answer in my experience is to go out of the medical corporation and orthopedists association contact area or county or my lawyer said in some cases even another state, from the original surgeon.

I always have HOPE that as long as there are those who fight for others that there is always a possibility to prevent more patients from the endless suffering from THR failures. Then the CURE 4 HOPE  is on the horizon. 

It's a oxymoron really in a way to endure the constant pain and further suffering after THR, when the whole issue is for better medicine & for docs to help patients thru THR and manufactures to design better quality hip implant devices so that the patients can enjoy a better quality of life. Unfortunately that's not always the case. 

Sending healing prayers UR WAY.

((HUGS))

HOPE

What do you mean by "you have every right to your opinion." You make it sound like I disagreed with you. Not at all. Did you see my post yesterday? I saw my surgeon and he continues to deny that there is anything wrong, so I'm in the same boat as you. I did not disagree that there are kickbacks and mentioned what I knew about the pill pushers, ,aka legal drug dealers.

Shirley,

first I am so sorry to hear u have to have THR. Good for u two dr appts. That's a good idea. 

I had my first hip done in 2000 . The surgeon was seasoned, experienced and told me all about the hip prothesis that are good  had a long life and about the devices that fail and why. He has since retired.

That was 14 years ago and that THR is still going strong a doing much better than the failed THR done in 2011.

There are the metal on metal ball joints with no cushioning that caused serious problems. Metal fretting issues from wear. It has been known since the 60's mom is dangerous.

That is why the best designs have a poly cups that lines the ball joint to prevent metal from rubbing. The joints is cushioned with the poly cups are safer. Although most docs mever test a patients tolerance to sergical steel some patients are intolerant to metals. Jewlry if u get rashes etc. 

Surgical steel and all metal implants are made from a combination of metals designed for strength. Ask what the combination is in the steel UR future implant may contain. Cobalt, chromium are just a few of the metals used.

Also there were recall issues with the various cements used in the design to secure the stems of some THR devices. Now most are press fit no cement.

There are also ceramic ball joint designs. Metals are still used for strength are the best . No metals rub together. Not used in thee area of wearing against the metal ball joint cushioned using ceramic.  The metal stems of the upper and lower devices are inserted in the hip joint and the femor thigh bone.

Ask UR dr about the details of the type of implant he is trained to use. How long he has used the implant important he has a good track record of success in patients. That's the tricky part we have no way of knowing that other than what is shared with us from his office. I think that is where the system is flawed. The patients have no ligitamet system set in place to see the surgical record of the doctor.

Manufacturers today produce the press fit design. Ask how many parts are involved and are there any large or small any metal on metal parts. Ask to see the model.. Or go to a web site that shows the different devices. Also to familiarize urself with the parts and proceedure a video will help u understand the mobility limitations  thru recovery and safeguards to prolong the life of the hip prothesis.

U can go inline look up Dupuy, Zimmerman and STRYKER and other manufacturers of THR devices. See ceramic, and metal  devices online. All thr are metal the ceramic and poly cups in the Ball joints that move  are cushioned with ceramic or poly cups. There is a new design Find the information it has a bearing inside the ball joint made of ceramics .  In my personal experience I'm a little leary until it has been on the market longer for use , testing and failure evaluation. I just think with a bearing included in the ball joint that's just more parts to fail and replace down the road. Revision devices are larger. And heavier.

I have a field day at the airports...it gets so old. As we all know..  I don't like to travel on high alert times. I prefer to strip in privacy. Ya know ...They get crazy...like I could run if I had anything suspicious. LOL

The best advice I can give is to do UR homework be an informed consumer. Be UR own advocate. Attend all pre op consults and be prepared for home safety issuers. Be confident with UR surgeon.. UR life will be so much better. Considering the alternatives,really at least there is THR. I have had one for 14 years just got very unlucky on the other THR.

 Good Luck with UR appointments and let me know how it went. There is always something new to learn.

{{{hugs}}}

HOPE

 

 

 

Please see my reply to you below.. Sorry I have no idea how my post ended up where it is. So it's probably user error...

hope4cure

Yes David I get that &  I was trying to agree with u that's UR opinion is true. true .

i went thru a lot of explaination. Hoping to clarify my position & for patients in UR position.

The problem is it's hard to locate other patients who have had bad experiences & other issues. Only if it effects a individual like u and I most people don't deal with all the illegal issues behind the scenes or dig thru the truth to find answers.

I am sorry that there is a misunderstanding. I'm with u and hope u find a solution dont give up & fight for what u beleive in.  Find legal and moral support. Tell mr perfect that UR going to start filing proceedures for a complaint against him. That's a good place to start. 

Friends ?

((hugs)) HOPE

Hope, I'm sorry if you have already written this, but I find myself thinking about you and why you can't or don't want to, have a revision. Are you physically active and mobile but sitting on the Stryker time bomb? I have a ceramic hip that gives me no problems apart from the noises it makes. I am expected to have yearly x Ray to make sure it is not cracking etc.I am not happy about this but if a ceramic hip shatters, it's a nightmare scenario as cleaning the debris has implications for a revision. I can live with that as who knows what is in the future. Who pays for the scans and blood tests? 

I am trying to get a revision that's the whole point.it hard to get it written in sequence.  I have done required tests by the manufacturer done every 6 months.. Over $10,000 Per yr. They DONOT show enough damage other than the stem could be loose and the heavy metal tests r normal.So they call me report the test findings .. I inform them that I am in pain and they argue that there is no reason for pain in the cat scans X-rays bone scans ....Any one been here before. So I complain and schedule appt to show the revision doc I am in pain, and get the same answer.Again 6 months later same doc same issue. And that they do not administer any pain meds for hips pain, Until after surgery. Just in the past 4 months the hip has dramatically failed .

This has been the issue waiting for it to fail.. Even though it was painful I could never put all my weight on the leg as the months went by the hip slowly got worse. I ask them to help me I am in pain. I get back well I am sorry there is nothing in UR tests show any thing other than a possible loose stem. Not enough for a revision.

so I hobble out of the office biting my tongue clearly I am limping & set off again waiting for the next appt.In the mean time I wanted to get into see another revision specialist.. And they will not even make an appt for me until the revision specialist see a copy of my pre op and post operative reports to review . I asked how long 5-6 weeks. 

The class action lawyer handling thousands of these cases has said that this is not unusual in many cases patients have to go out of state . Due to the overflow of revision patients in certain areas. I'm live in a over flow area. To many revision patients not enough revision specialists.

Heavy metal tests show I'm not  toxic from heavy metal poisoning yet ,the lawyer said the levels the manufacture gives and what is truly in the product and absorbed in tissue are two different things.

Mabe this help I am sorry but this issue is confusing. The surgeon who did the original surgey left the state. Leave in the few revisionists overwhelmed with over 8,000 patients just in my area alone .as many other surgeons just do the implants not revisions. Revisions r complicated. Take loner in surgery recovery some as in my case the femor bone has to be broken to remove the old stem in the theigh. A cast is then applied and worn for 6-8 weeks until bone has healed.

This is also an accumulation of failing hip joints beginning 14 to 18 months after original implant in the surrounding area. For more info please see online : STRYKER ABG ll press fit .

I have really gone down hill rapidly the last three months. I am virtually a prisoner in my own bedroom. I have very limited mobility.

My other hip has a THR which is 14 years old.. ... I knew the statistics and issues involved with recalled implants.  My first surgeon schooled me well . Recalls are due to cements, screws failing, Metal on metal .

I asked my last surgeon all the right questions. Are there any recalls involved with the manufacturer co he was trained in implanting their devices. Were there any MOM pieces in the desigen who was the manufacturer . HE lied to my face claimed no mom involved in the device.

How can a surgeon lie like that. I know I can't visually see the implant in my hip and he did not honestly divulge the number of pieces involved and mom in the design. There are 7 pieces to this hip joint. The surgeon clearly knew  mom was involved in the design. It has been known since the 60's how dangerous mom THR are the body.

I am trying to schedule hip join replacement. I have been jumping thru all the hoops and some how have never find resolution. It's been a living nightmare. It's a made for tv show . 

Let te me know if u have any more questions... I appreciate all UR concern. This has been the hardest fight of my life, and it shouldn't be. 

See: STRYKER pressfit ABG ll ..THR RECALL. easy to google.

thanks for UR interest.

peace, luv & laughter

No it's not an out rageous ratio unless UR are one of them

both my hip failed due to osteoarthritis. Necrosis of the bone the death of bone and tissue due to oster arthritis. Osteo is a wear and tear issue. I am glad I had a choice to have both THR , WITH out that option I would be crippled or worse. Bone on bone rubbing together as walking without the tendons to cushion them is painful and deteriorating bone continues until the the worn out ball jouni is replaced.

hope UR r well.

 

Hi, JUliette, I just read your post of 17 days ago and jus had to make a comment. I don't think you wandered off topidc at all. Comparison of the UK vs the US is very much needed. I don't claim to know your system at all, but the US system is basically fascist, dictated to private businesses (or providers, if you like) by government and a dozen autonomous agencies. That is classic fascism. Doctors and surgeons run private businesses and they may or may not be part of a system or allied with a hospital.

If you never read anything positive about US health care, that is because leftist newpapers all favor socialized medicine. Perhaps you didn'[t read my post where I said I had had 8 operations in two years and they all went very well, all but one, the hip implant, Thus, I was satisfied with seven out of eight dealings with  US healthcare.

On the other hand, teh us has a large number of uninsured who won't likely get the same treatment as the insured. Some of them are poor and some of them don't have insurance by choice; they are young and don't think they need it.

Now let me ask you why thousands come here from all over the world for what they regard as the finest care available? And why are so many US hospitals world famous? Can you name some British hospitals that have the same reputations?

Is it fair to paint the entire US healthcare with the same evil brush when you are talking about a nation ten times the size of the UK and varies from regions with very low populations to major metropolises with some of the largest hospitals in the world? Can you summarize that with just a few words - US healthcare sucks?

Plus you never hear from those who are satisfied, only those like me, who have been wronged. Frankly, I don't know that the US system is any better or worse than the UK. but seven out of eight opositive experiences rates pretty well with me.

David, There is much I could say but this is a hip replacement forum. We will never agree and I won't budge from what I believe so best drop it. It's politics!