| Hip resurfacing is very near and dear to my heart | | | | past, requires no restrictions to your activities. There |
| and hip - left hip to be exact. I am the proud owner | | | | is almost no chance of dislocation. Many athletes |
| of a BHR (Birmingham Hip Resurfacing) that I | | | | have had hip resurfacings and returned to the sports |
| received in March 2006. My left hip had osteoarthritis | | | | they love. If you or someone you know has a painful |
| for about ten years. My activities during those ten | | | | hip that needs to be replaced, be sure to learn about |
| years began to decrease until my main recreation | | | | Hip Resurfacing before accepting an old fashioned |
| was sitting in my comfy, recliner chair. Having a bone | | | | THR. |
| on bone hip joint will bring your life to a complete | | | | The FDA approved Birmingham Hip Resurfacing in the |
| standstill. Young or old, male or female - bone on | | | | US last May 2006. Over 60,000 people world wide |
| bone pain can not be ignored. The pain will be | | | | have BHR's and many more are learning about the |
| present when you walk, stand, sit and even when | | | | new procedure. Doctors overseas have been |
| you try to sleep. Sleep is impossible without pain | | | | performing hip resurfacing for almost fifteen years. |
| killers as is most of your life. | | | | Katie Ellis received one of the first BHRs in 1991 from |
| In the past there has been only one solution to | | | | Mr. McMinn, the inventor of the BHR in the UK. |
| replace a painful, arthritic hip, a total hip replacement | | | | The BHR approved by the FDA in May of 2006 is |
| or THR. A THR meant that part of your femur bone | | | | quite different than the older, hemi-resurfacing of the |
| would be cut off and drilled to accept a long stem | | | | past. Hemi-resurfacing did not place a cup in the |
| ball replacement device that is pounded into what is | | | | acetabulum of the hip, it only placed a cap on the |
| left of your femur bone. Then if you ever need a | | | | femur bone and this resulted in a metal on bone joint |
| revision in the future, what is left of your femur | | | | that often became painful and required a revision. |
| bone must be broken apart to remove the old stem. | | | | If you are young and active, be sure to ask your |
| A Hip Resurfacing with a BHR is bone conserving. The | | | | doctor about hip resurfacing. If he/she does not |
| top ball of your femur bone is shaped to accept a | | | | seem to know about the new option, find a doctor in |
| cap that protects the femur. Then a cup is placed in | | | | your area that does hip resurfacing. There have been |
| your acetabulum as a bearing for the cap on your | | | | many active people in their late sixties and even |
| femur. This makes a metal on metal bearing that | | | | seventies that have had hip resurfacing. Be sure to |
| protects the painful old hip joint. If a revision is ever | | | | ask questions of your doctor and do research so you |
| required in the future, the complete femur bone is still | | | | don't end up with an old fashioned small ball THR that |
| in place to allow a THR. | | | | will restrict your activities and increase the possibility |
| Hip resurfacing, unlike the old fashioned THR of the | | | | of a dislocation. |