Another hurdle jumped.

Today was the trip to the GP.

There was a lot of discussion about my two choices, but in the end it came down to the facts that Simon Bridle specialises in hip replacements, he publishes papers on them and he has worked in Australia.  Having lived in Australia, he will be aware of our odd ways.

The GP was uneventful, I presented my x-rays, told him I wanted a referral and explained how down hill the hip has gone.  He was accommodating and requested an x-ray at my local hospital. When he mentioned he knew a hip man, but I quickly requested Mr Bridle.  At that point I expected at least a Why. And that did not happen.  All in all this has been easy.

I am very thankful for the NHS but honestly, am waiting for the other shoe to drop.  I expect the wait to see Mr Bridle will be that.

It is now down to choice.

I have two names, that I am trying to decide to go with.

I have selected them on their reactions to my email.  the ones, who just sectaries responded to, I have dismissed, ones that seemed this will easy, I have dismissed.

I have not looked at the surgeon statistics as a wise friend pointed out to me that, all of these top surgeons will have higher revision rates as they do lots of no standard replacements.  I have checked out their private practice, publications and general googling for stories, blogs etc.

First is Mr Briggs.

He is located at the Royal National Orthopaedic hospital.  His response indicates he may not have looked at the x-ray but I have emailed for clarification.  The hospital has very strict referral guidelines and I  have had three names, who practice there.  Mr Briggs has said that I can go to RNOH as I am a complex case.
At the moment, even without the slight confusion if I have had a replacement, I am leaning towards RNOH, because there are a lot of talented people there.

Second is Mr Bridle.

His response was the first and swift.  I am a gut person, and my gut liked his response. Measured and careful, without arrogance that comes through some times.  He is also adverse to resurfacing.  St Georges have a very good reputation and both Surgeons I contacted there were happy to see me and come up in top ten surgeon article from a few years back.

Both operate out of hospitals that could be difficult to get to but RNOH have a central London spot too.

So, who will I choose?  I will have to go to my GP at the end of the week armed with a name.  I really don't know.

The Joy of overdoing it.

Today I am at home, not at work.
Why?  Because everything was sore this morning and the thought of public transport filled me with horror.
Overdoing it meant, sitting in training on non office chairs for five hours.  Checking out some art for an hour and half and walking down a hill to the tube.  Frustrating because I could have done that easily 9 months ago.

But it is not all doom and gloom.  On Monday I spoke with a lady a decade older than me who had her hip replaced.  She is very happy with it.  The lead up to the replacement is a bit of a horror story and confirmed to me that starting now is a grand idea. I have been told, 12 month wait is not out of the question.

A member of the WI has also backed up my thoughts on a Stanmore surgeon, so I have contacted him.  Additionally I have two other surgeons contact me.  I am currently reading reviews and as much literature on the surgeons who have agreed to see me.

Then off to a GP, to get the consultation.  It is moving quite quickly!

The first bite

Today has been interesting.  I really did not expect an answer straight away from my email.
I had two this morning, that is 50%.

The first response was from a private clinic, headed by the women who replaced the Queen Mother's hip. Unfortunately, their recommendation was for a fellow at Stanmore, a hospital I would struggle to get an appointment with.  I have contacted them directly, and I will attempt to contact the suggestion just on the off chance.

The most positive response comes from Mr Simon Bridle, listed in the Daily Fails top hip surgeons. He also has a great website and does not advocate resurfacing.

His response is as follows:

I would be very happy to see you

Surgeons have done a good job and both hip joints are in right place, so joint replacement will be relatively straightforward

If you would like appointment I'm sure Diana can arrange it

Simon

I am very, very pleased with this response, it means Mr Dickens did do a good job, just as we thought, it is really nice to discover this.  I am also pleased he did not turn around and say no straight away.
I have a few more leads to chase and then I will be looking at failure rates of each of the surgeons.  Such a boring thing but needful.

And so it begins.

I have been researching hip replacement surgeons.

I have emailed a guy the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital, two more at St Georges and the Hip Unit in London.

Now to wait for a response, crossing my fingers.

Below is the email.

Dear Surgeon of awesomness,

My name is Catherine, I'm a 40 year old woman who was born with severe bilateral hip dislocations.

I am aware I cannot be referred to yourself but would like a recommendation of a consultant who is experienced with adult patients who have had higher instances of surgical intervention for congenital abnormalities.

My left hip was put in to place after two closed inductions and one successful open induction by two years old.

My right hip was set in place after two closed inductions and three/four open inductions. I was six by the successful operation and spent six months in a frog cast when it was finally set.

The result of this late setting is a shallow socket, malformed ball and a 3/4 of an inch leg length difference. I walk with a limp and also am fairly hypermobile, which affects my gait.

I have not visited a consultant for 9 years, the last time was in Australia. His name is Robert Dickens. He has retired from practice but operated many years at the Royal Children's Hospital of Melbourne and was the surgeon who finally set the right hip in place. I have attached the last x-ray I have had taken. It was taken in 2006.

I have had a very noticeable decline in my walking, mobility and general well-being of the right hip in the past six months. This includes stiffness, less movement and audible grinding noises when undertaking activities such as tying my shoes. I also can get sharp intermittent pain with simple movements such walking or turning over in bed. This pain does feel like the ball impacting with the socket. This tends to stop me in my tracks and passes with a little time or stretching.

My pain levels have increased significantly with this decline. I am taking ibuprofen regularly, a new thing for me. I have generally managed my pain with physiotherapy, stretching and resting. I also take the strain off it by using a cane but feel this is weakening the surrounding muscles somewhat. I swim twice a week as exercise, but am struggling to walk as far as I used to.

I live in ** and my closet hospital is **. I understand it is early in the process but having lived with a slightly broken body all my life, I don't wish let it get very broken before being fixed.

Do you have a recommendation of a consultant who operates in an area I am able to be referred to? I am more than willing to travel.