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Doctor recomendations for hip replacement


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I have to agree w/ mcTavish.  I had one early this year, done by a part-time Lakeside/Guad Orthopedist.  It failed two times within the first months, requiring 2 more full operations to repair (supposedly my actions and/or weak bones caused the failures) ..... one happened in the hospital within 5 days post-op and the 2nd at 1:AM in my bed, 2 weeks later.   Huh?  were they just taken by surprise at the potential of these occurances in a 70ish patient, cuz they sure never warned me.  Call me nieve, I guess.  Then 7 months later, I could not take the pain on the back of my thigh, got an X-ray and found that the Pins thru the bone have broken, and the sharp end is poking thru my muscle and floating around close to the femoral artery.  Needless to say, that resulted in operation #4.

Please consider the possibility of complications and, potentially, more than just one operation, in addition to the pain and incapacitation and emotional stress of the whole ordeal.  

Once the pain of the original break was under control, I thought it was going to be a-ok, I'd just take a couple months and be back to my old self.  That is not what is happening ...... I am terrified of something else going awry.  I'm sure I will survive, but I will never be close to the same independent person ever again.  

It sounds like your fathers need is elective and not an emergency.  Please think long and hard about your decision.  Good luck.

 

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The reason the Canadian Medical System delays hip replacement surgeries so long is in the hope that the patient will pass before ever reaching the scheduled surgery date.  Priority is given to younger patients on many of the similar geriatric conditions (such as cataract surgery).

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Thank you ladner for your recommendation. The fact is my father is in terrible pain and can hardly take a few steps. The hip is completely worn out. They won't give him anything more than Tylenal as a pain killer. He is finally seeing a specialist in 3 more weeks (after seeing doctors for the past 6 months) and the wait time for him in B.C. is another 10 months! The fact is that the Medical system in Canada is completely broke.  He is going ahead with it whether he waits in pain and has it done in Canada or comes here and has it done. I know it seems crazy for an 89 year old to undergo such a surgery but I have a client who is now 92 and had the surgery done at 89 as well. She's a happy and healthy as can be and still living independently.

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I also need a recommendation for  a very likely hip replacement  for a 60 yrs old

Just had MRI with a diagnosis of Avascular Necrosis in the the hip/femur.    ( awaiting a meeting with the doctor after the MRI interpretation)

We have private Mexican insurance.

Really looking for success stories and a recommendation of a surgeon who has done this  repeatedly and successfully .  Also if there are surgeons to avoid please let me know either on the board, or via a PM

 

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The Queen Mum (the current queen's mother) had her hip replaced at age 95 and recovered from it quite well, went back to performing her duties.  Two years later she fell and broke her other hip and had it replaced at nearly 98 years old.  She recovered, but not as well; she lived to be 102.  

My mother had heart-bypass surgery at age 82; 10 years later she had a heart attack.  The cardiac surgeon said normally he wouldn't expect to perform a second bypass on a 92 year old, but after seeing how "with it" she was mentally and her high level of activity up until her heart attack, said he'd consider it.  Unfortunately her arteries were not repairable and she died within a few months. 

The moral to these stories is that age really is just a number.  I have met people in their 60s with low energy/activity, little enthusiasm for life, poor nutrition, overweight.  I would guess these folks may be worse candidates for surgery than some people 20 and 30 years older.  

If the OPs father is in otherwise good health and HE WANTS the surgery, why not?  The key to hip replacement at any age is the patient's ability and willingness to participate fully in their rehab, both physically and mentally.  

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3 hours ago, Bisbee Gal said:

If the OPs father is in otherwise good health and HE WANTS the surgery, why not?  The key to hip replacement at any age is the patient's ability and willingness to participate fully in their rehab, both physically and mentally.  

I agree.  The othe ‘key’ is to NOT have the Posterior (spelled old) procedure but rather the Anterior (side actually) procedure. They’ll have you up walking day one. Rehab is seriously shorter.

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On 10/15/2017 at 1:50 PM, AngusMactavish said:

What a savage thing to do to someone that old.

Excuse me???   Better to leave the poor man nearly totally disabled and in excruciating pain?  Sure glad you won't be making any medical decisions on My behalf!

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My family's milage varied, the guy is in a wheelchair anyway. They do offer them to those that can no longer walk for whatever reason.

If a person can't make a medical decision, they probably should not get a new hip joint.

 

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28 minutes ago, AngusMactavish said:

My family's milage varied, the guy is in a wheelchair anyway. They do offer them to those that can no longer walk for whatever reason.

If a person can't make a medical decision, they probably should not get a new hip joint.

 

And they probably won't.  In the US the main concern of doctors for hip replacement surgery is that the patient WANTS it and the patient is capable mentally and physically of the burden of rehab.  They won't operate if they think the patient doesn't realize what they are in for.  While the initial PT is at a rehab center, much of it later falls to the patient...to remember to do their PT, be able to their PT, etc.  

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My father is in excellent health. No pills, no problems whatsoever.

He has checked into private in Canada but there is only one in Vancouver that does hip replacements at the University. It takes a month to see the surgeon and the wait list from then is 6-7 months. Almost the same as the Health Care System.

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Lots of discussions on this  track, but  almost no recommendations of doctors here in Mexico. 

If anyone  has had a hip replacement , and can recommend doctors here in Mexico - Please please, please   do so.

It would be greatly appreciated.

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Dr. Jorge Alvaro Gonzalez Urzua, would also be my recommendation:

Tarascos #3432   (Across from main entrance to Hospital Angeles del Carmen)
Guadalajara   (333) 813-2161 & several other lines listed.

 

 

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I have not had a hip replacement, let me state that up front. I have had 2 surgeries on my feet with Dr. Gustavo Tafoya Arreguin in GDL. He has an office in Puerto de Hierro, near Andares Mall. He is not a typical orthopedic surgeon. He is a well known Traumatological Surgeon. I figured if they counted on him to put broken people back together, he would be able to repair something that wasn't shattered into many pieces. He also operated on an acquaintance after her leg was shattered and saved her from a lifelong disability. If I had to have my hip replaced, I would go to him first. It can't hurt to gice him a call or an email.

 

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On 10/17/2017 at 10:11 AM, ned small said:

Dr. Gonzales did a friend of mine who was in her late 60's and it didn't take her long to recover enough to play volleyball again and travel a lot. Both hips and she was very thin.

Of course he's here in Mexico and does hip replacements or I wouldn't have mentioned him.

 

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On ‎10‎/‎16‎/‎2017 at 6:12 AM, Ezzie said:

The reason the Canadian Medical System delays hip replacement surgeries so long is in the hope that the patient will pass before ever reaching the scheduled surgery date.  Priority is given to younger patients on many of the similar geriatric conditions (such as cataract surgery).

Maybe that is a valid way to operate. I knew people who have had hip replacement and then died a year or two later. Was it worth it? The same happens with cancer treatment and eye surgery.

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14 minutes ago, cedros said:

Maybe that is a valid way to operate. I knew people who have had hip replacement and then died a year or two later. Was it worth it? The same happens with cancer treatment and eye surgery.

What did they die of?  

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Now you have me scared, Cedros.  I have not had hip surgery, but several other types, including six or eight eye surgeries.  Is my life in danger now.  Tell me quickly, as today is my 80th birthday and I want to look forward to tomorrow.  :P

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