East Texas February 25, 2019 LTHR

Sarge

new member
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Metal verses Plastic. What to choose and why? Any help is appreciated.
I have a Heart Murmur and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Follicular (In remission 1.5 yrs).
East Texas Sarge
 
Where in E Texas are you? Memorial Bone and Joint (Innov8Ortho now, I think) and Tx Orthopedic are both very good.

You couldn’t pay me to do metal on metal, but YMMV...
 
Hello Toller Twins, I tried to send a PM but it did not work. I'm five hours North of Houston (Tyler, TX). Pretty good surgical options available in this area. Christus Trinity Mother Francis will be my choice. Just not sure if Metal on Metal, or Plastic on Plastic or, Plastic to a metal cup. Hopefully you or someone reading can share what they know. Thank you for such a quick response. I can hardly walk without a shopping cart, LOL.
 
Ah! There is no plastic on plastic. The choices seem to pretty much be:

Metal ball/metal socket
Ceramic ball/“plastic” socket liner
Metal ball/ “plastic socket liner.
Note that I am not sure if ceramic ball/ceramic socket has been approved in the US yet.

The docs I’ve seen mostly do ceramic w the “plastic” liner for more active patients as it has slightly better wear characteristics. Still not supposed to do high impact stuff like running on them, though.

There have been a number of issues w the metal/metal combination. There is a long thread in the pinned section at the top of the forum.
 
:welome:to Bonesmart
Knowing you are getting a hip replacement does make one anxious...but it certainly is the answer to chronic pain and decreased mobility.
Lots of good advice, information, and encouragement here.
It certainly made my recovery less stressful!
:yes:
 
@Sarge Welcome to BoneSmart! The choice of implant should be left to your surgeon. They will use the implant that they have the most experience using given your own medical situation and lifestyle. However, they will not use metal on metal due to past history of problems. Here are some threads from our Library about MoM:
Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacements: Solving The Uncertainties Dec 2011
Metal on Metal ion levels: safe upper limits for MoM hip resurfacings set by scientists
Metal-on-Metal issues and DePuy recall: regulation of joint prostheses in Australia
Metal on Metal warning (old but ongoing news) (thread in hip pre-op forum)

Find a surgeon you feel comfortable working with who does 100+ THRs per year and let them do the rest.

Here's some more reading that might help while you wait for surgery:
Recovery Aids: A comprehensive list for hospital and home
Recliner Chairs: Things you need to know if buying one for your recovery
Pre-Op Interviews: What's involved?

If you want to picture what your life might be like with a replaced hip, take a look at the posts and threads from other BoneSmarties provided in this link:

Stories of amazing hip recoveries
 
Hi @Sarge, you want to pick an excellent surgeon first and foremost ... no materials or combination of materials can overcome the work of a bad surgeon ... Most surgeons have devices and companies they have experience with ... apparently different companies sometimes have different tools to install the device ... So you really don't want a surgeon using materials they aren't comfortable with ... or don't have a ton of experience with ...

Basically you don't want metal-on-metal ... except if you're getting resurfacing from a very top resurfacing specialist (like someone who almost does only resurfacing) ... And few surgeons use metal-on-metal because of disastrous problems with corrosion and metal allergies and implant failures of a decade ago. ... Seems the most popular materials these days are ceramic ball (head) on high-cross-linked polyethylene liner. That combination has proven to have really low wear rates.
 
WOW, I appreciate all of your comments and links! I am really excited to have found this site. My second nights sleep was still rough after learning I will need to have my bone "cut-off". But the links on after procedures have been very helpful. I believe I should sleep well this evening.
 
Yep, that's how they get that new tierod and ball joint in there..
:flabber:
I tried not to get too educated about the procedure beforehand..
Worked on a "need to know" basis.:heehee:
I do know it doesn't feel unnatural to me, or foreign.
Feels like two great new hips now!
And I feel years younger now that I am out of pain and able to move around more.
 
Thank you MoJo, that is exactly one of my fears: Will the replacement "feel unnatural". You comment is very comforting. OH, everyone, I did sleep well last night and as another Feb hipster stated, "I want to read, read, read everything here. Oh hey all, what sort of home preparations have you made or wish you had made? I have moved furniture so a walker can fit, bars in the shower and toilet, throw rugs are out, working on my taxes to have them completed, ?????
 
If you live in a 2 story house buy 3 grabbers. One upstairs, one down stairs and one to pick up the one you dropped! :heehee:
 
Just read on another thread what a Soldier you really are, Sarge.:friends:
What an honor it is to be able to follow your THR journey.
You will be so happy to have this new hip! :yes:
 
That is you on your avatar pic?
What a pretty soldier!
 
Hi, Welcome to BoneSmart. Thanks for joining us.
I wondered the same as you....will my prosthetic ever feel normal?
Pre-op, I asked both my parents, who've experienced THRs as well as someone else who has if you ever "forget" that you have a prosthetic hip. Wondered if it's ever not on your mind. They assured me you forget for periods of time. I didn't believe it until I experienced it myself and the same will happen for you. A full day never goes by that I don't think of it, but it's not on my mind all day, nor in the forefront.
Stay in touch, you'll find a lot of support here and we'd love to encourage you along the way.
@Sarge
 
Sarge, I just read of your journey elsewhere.
My heart goes out to you. You're very brave and your attitude is admirable and inspirational.
Prayers for your health and comfort as you move forward.
Wishing you peace in all.
@Sarge
 
Hi @Sarge.
Only a few weeks more to wait!:yes!:
I do hope you are staying well and ready to get this hip sorted!:yes:
 
Hi @Sarge,
Just a few more days until your big day.
I'll bet your recovery nest is prepped and you're ready to roll.
We'll be here to cheer you on as you're healing. Stay in touch.
A peaceful weekend to you as you await Monday.
 
Best of luck tomorrow @Sarge
Consider starting a recovery thread once surgery is behind you and you're resting comfortably.
You'll find a lot of support and encouragement on the healing side.
We'll also be able to leave you Recovery Guidelines which I think you'll find beneficial
as you move through the process of healing.
All the best to you!
 
:wave:Hope all is still a go.
See you on the healing side.:tada:
 

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