Well, I came home from a three-day stay at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica yesterday afternoon, rain pouring all the way. I am feeling great right now (had my pain meds an hour ago) and am thrilled at my progress so far. I can now proudly add the surgery date and surgeon's name to my signature below.

Some of you had voiced apprehensions about Dr. Andrew Yun being too inexperienced in the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing procedure since he hasn't done hundreds of BHR surgeries; but I went with my orthopedist's high recommendation, what I learned about him, and my personal impression.

I’m a 43-year old, relatively active male with 4 children ranging in age from 10 down to 2.  As to my history, I was diagnosed with a slipped epiphysis of my right hip around 1980, and had it pinned by Dr. Eduardo Salvati at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York (“HSS”).  After recovery, I thought little of the surgery and played football, basketball and baseball in high school, and basketball in college, and continued playing basketball several times a week until about 2001, at which time I was diagnosed with arthritis in my hips (more so in the left but evident in both).

In January 2007 I sought treatment with a chiropractor, who eventually referred me to my current GP. After taking several xrays and MRI's my new GP informed me that it was AVN, "avascular necrosis," also referred to as "osteonecrosis" - bone death. I then had MRI's of my shoulders, and ultimately received a diagnosis of AVN in both hips and both shoulders.

Full Circle

In October of 2004, I was 41 years old, limping from left hip pain, and generally miserable due to my physical situation. A well-respected San Francisco orthopedist had already told me to quit playing basketball and taking my runs out to the Golden Gate Bridge. My hips were not properly aligned and I had developed osteoarthritis. Like a car with worn down brakes, my cartilage was shot. He offered me two choices: total hip replacement (THR) or Vioxx. Fortunately, I met Dr. Vincent Fowble at a wedding. He told me about his work with Dr. Amstutz in LA regarding resurfacing. Though at the time it did not have FDA approval – this procedure seemed promising.

One Year Report - Backpacking Again
Sat, Nov 15, 2008

Hello All,

I do believe that annual reports are valuable, so here is mine. During my first summer in San Franciso (1972) I fell in love with backpacking in the Sierra. Almost every summer I took at least one and often two week-long trips, always seeking new terrain. I had great ambitions for taking more-frequent trips upon retirement. But upon retirement, and for the five years before my surgery, I found backpacking too painful. I could take long day hikes and climb tall mountains by "soldiering through" the pain and/or by using Aleve. But the extra weight of a backpack was just too much for me.

Bilateral Hip Resurfacing
(Member of DAST Intl. Board of Directors)

As a television medical correspondent for decades on shows like Today, Dateline and the CBS evening News and author of 12 books on consumer medicine, I have to admit it. I have never faced a more vexing decision than that choosing between a total hip replacement and hip resurfacing.

The claims and data appeared wildly contradictory and each surgeon’s take was miles apart from the others. I called great friends in orthopedics at the leading Harvard hospitals and in NY, Baltimore and Los Angeles. The word I got was emphatic.

Update, October 4, 2008
I used to decide whether or not I would go somewhere or do something based on how far I had to walk from where I had to park. I was beyond end stage and felt like I was 60 years old. But now I feel like 40 and life seems so, so much sweeter! See you in January Vicky and nice job on the website girl, I'm very impressed with what I see.