The Regenetron

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Therapy Mat

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Paddle

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‘T’ Connector

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Power Cord

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Travel Bag

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Order today and I’ll guide you through your journey to a pain-free life!

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How I’m Helping Others After My Double Hip Replacement

imageNever ever in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would have needed a hip replacement. It started out as a headache in my leg and soon, I couldn’t walk. After swearing off surgery, I spent two painful years in denial going to physical therapy, trying acupuncture, taking medications, even talking to psychics – and just plain praying for a miracle. Having never had surgery, I was fearful of the unknown.

READ MORE…

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YOU DON’T LOOK SICK….

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Does this scenario sound familiar to you or anyone you know?

You feel dizzy, a tingling in your body, you feel like you’re being electrocuted with nerve pain. You cannot get out of bed or you wake up with migraines, pains in your mouth and teeth, joint pain, and it hurts to be touched…you just don’t feel like “you”.  You want to isolate and sleep. So, you go to your doctor and he tells you it’s all in your head.  No one seems to understand and you feel crazy.  Some of us feel more deeply, some of us are very sensitive to our environment or are allergic to what we’re putting in our bodies. I used to consider myself the Princess and the Pea – where I would feel everything while others felt nothing.

And, regular blood work doesn’t tell an entire story of your condition or any imbalances or sensitivities you may be having.  And you are basically being told what’s you are feeling isn’t really happening to you.

If no one is recognizing what you’re going through and you aren’t able to get to the source, you cannot begin to investigate a cure. To top it off, your friends tell you”you don’t LOOK sick”.

Chronic pain is debilitating, and having an ‘invisible illness’ is scary until you find a tour guide – a health coach to lead you into new terrain and a holistic view of your health, your diet, and your life choices.  It is relieving to be able to take away the guess work with a DNA test and customized health approach.  You no longer need to feel like a guinea pig, and there’s relief from the frustration in the hit and miss healthcare from the past. And as an advocate for your own health, you don’t have to accept prescriptions that are against your belief system (like harmful pain pills).

A health scare and dark night of the soul experience can lead you into an exquisite journey into the world of balanced health – of being an active part of your own healing. And most exciting, you become your own advocate, and surround yourself with a team of holistic health care professionals.

It’s empowering to find another route towards whole body health and begin to peel off the accumulated layers of not feeling well.

Because of DNA testing, stool testing, alternate therapies like acupuncture and massage, you can get to the root and begin to feel good again.

With your own personal health team of a physician, health coach and personalized testing…you begin to feel empowered and can take back your life.

Whether you’re suffering from environmental, hormonal imbalance, joint degeneration, parasites, allergies, an autoimmune disease (like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis), or dental infections – with innovative testing and professional guidance you will be on the path to feeling more like yourself.

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Jodi Seidler is a journalist, a patient advocate and the Founder of HipsterClub.com. In her double HIPster status, Jodi educates, supports and inspires people of all ages through the joint replacement process because it was life-altering for her.  Understanding that everyone is a patient, and becoming increasingly aware of healthcare advancements, the changing medical landscape, and ever-advancing medical technology – Jodi encourages collaboration, continuing education and having the voice of the patient be loudly heard.

 

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It’s the Miles – Not the Years!

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As hipsters, we at times, are not sure how active to be.  Some of us get stuck in ‘why me’, others go out of their way to be super active to prove bionic hips are as good – if not better – than what we were born with.

Sitting on the sofa and fearing “if we move too much, are “too” active, that our hips won’t last as long” – is not the answer for a long an d happy life.  Afterall, that is what we wanted – to get our life back, free from pain and fear. As in everything, moderation is the key – and continuing on with life the way we were before is important for our emotional health as well.

When I speak to other hipsters, we are all curious about the LIFE of a hip replacement, even long after our parts have expired.  I am a huge chearleader for being your own advocate, and in this light – we must learn about our bodies.  How do we feel after we swim, how does running feel to our hips, knees and legs, is walking the best way to feel healthy and play it safe.  What I am saying is – listen to YOUR body.  Every hip recipeient is different.

So many of us hipsters wonder how long our new hips last us.  Sometimes we stay up at night pondering the possible scenarios…hoping we never have to feel that bone on bone pain again, or worry about another surgery.  Recalling the times we woke up in the middle of the night with that OMG pain when we moved in our sleep.  Or when we had to take comfort in using a cane to help relieve the pain and have assistance in walking.  We recall the times when we cried UNCLE and planned for our hip replacement surgery, feeling like a dog or cat going to the vet…heart pounding, an out of body experience.  The search and mission of finding the right surgeon, researching the right procedures for us and connecting with others for support, encouragement and education.

I recall when I asked a friend how long a case of golf balls will last me.  We both had a good chuckle at the answer, and the humor in the question.  The answer was – it depends how you play, and the course you are on.

Like a classic car that needs to be honored and sometimes rebuilt, our bodies are not that dissimilar.  Whether we need new tires, an alignment, or new brakes – it’s about how we use our bodies, our genetics and what we came into this life with. I consider myself lucky in many ways with a new appreciation of this body of mine, and that now I can also help others who are walking down the path of becoming more bionic.

XOXO

Hipster Girl

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Mentoring with The Hipster Girl

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Putting the HIP back in Hip Replacements.

Contact me with any questions you have about the hip replacement process.  I’ve become sort of an expert.  With my Journalism background and my inquisitive mind, I should belong to a 12 step group for obsessing about having a hip replacement.  I researched so like crazy, and kept a daily journal until one day I started an online Hip Club for people like me.  One stop shopping to learn about hip replacements.  No need to obsess and stay up all night like I did (unless you want to).

I have had two different hips replaced in two different ways, with two different materials and components.  I’m learning it’s not the years, it’s the miles – so I budget my hips.  I don’t ski, I don’t jog – but that’s just me.  I love to walk and I love to swim.  My left (metal) hip lets me know when I’ve done too much.  It has affected sex a bit, but barely noticeable if it’s done right.  I notice people as they walk by me, that maybe need or have had a hip replacement.  It’s some kind of alien connection to other bionics.  Finally, instead of saying “why me”, let’s get in the habit of saying “why not me”…and see what magic we can create for ourselves and for others in our orbit.

Fill out the form below and we will schedule a time for a 20 minute informational and supportive phone call regarding joint replacement do’s and don’ts.

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PEMF body healer

PEMF – Heal Your Hips

Nothing happens in the body without an electromagnetic exchange between cells.

#PEMF is widely used in orthopedics for the treatment of fractures, depression, bone healing; and stimulates cellular cell & bone repair. Magnetic fields pass through the body – even the bones – as if the body wasn’t even there. PEMFs work to repair bones, whether they are damaged by surgery, injury, or disease, and have been found to improve bone regeneration such as occurs with osteoporosis and osteopenia, among other bone destroying conditions.

I 💖 mine so much that I am adding ‘distributor’ to my entrepreneurial portfolio. I have different sizes and strengths for practitioners, athletes and people with chronic pain.

Message me for more info… I will help you heal your body.

Heal Your Body

Get your own PEFM and Heal YOUR Hips

Continue reading PEMF – Heal Your Hips →

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HIP TALK

The Hipster ClubWhen we first discover, through bone-on-bone pain or an achy thigh or hip area, that we will be needing a hip replacement – our minds might be flooded with fears, questions and a WTF moment or two.  I know that my mind and emotions were constantly alternating between disbelief, panic, and numbness.  I went right to the internet and researched all night long, and also kept a journal because I had so much emotion and so many questions pouring out of me all at once.

I wasn’t a dancer, I didn’t jog, I didn’t do extreme sports or obsessive workouts – I just had wear-and-tear arthritis (AO) and dysplasia of the hip (which I did not know I was born with).  The shit hit the fan when I was 50 and raising my son in his teenage years, as a single mom. So, if single parenting wasn’t enough I had to add a few hip replacements into my life’s mix.

Chronic pain is no fun for anyone, and we can easily become isolated, depressed, depleted and feel alone in our journey into becoming bionic. With young hip replacement recipients, many surgeons would ask patients to wait as long as possible before having surgery, and we did what our doctors told us.  We waited until our quality of life got so bad we had to cry “uncle”; I waited two years until I could not even walk.  DON’T WAIT.  Research your options, get advice. Do your homework. Create a joint replacement support team.

What I didn’t know then or could not have fathomed is that my career and journalistic voice was about to change as well, but first I had to go through the dark night of the soul and TWO hips replacements in 3 years. I chose the conventional replacement the first time, with the posterior approach and titanium on plastic – and that was a very hard recovery for me and my little body.

Three years later, and with my right hip, I went to a surgeon who offered the anterior approach and ceramic and plastic. I was driving after two weeks and did not have the restrictions of the other.  I was happy to become a guinea pig of sorts (a very cute one if I may be so bold) and see which approach lasted longer and which had less pain throughout time and travel.  By the way, I was told that both approaches end up the same after the recovery period.

Well, it’s 12 years later, and I have to admit I have had a few bouts of scary pain and ache, which also created a sense memory of all that I went through.  The pain was most uncomfortable: (1) upon rising from a movie theater seat, (2) after more than 3 – 5 hours of walking (Note to self: stretching first is a great idea), (3) I have to get up every 2 – 3 hours of sitting so I do not get stiff or achy.

Remember, it’s the miles – not the years that remind us how long our hips might last.  They could last a lifetime or a few decades – but it is the quality of our lives as hipsters that matter.  Don’t take dangerous chances with your hips but also don’t live quietly either.

Feel your strength for all you have been through, be proud of the new bionic YOU and go out there and rock the world.  Make a difference. Express your strength.  Be there for others. And be YOU in all of your bionic glory!

Feel free to write in your own tips and experiences of pain or relief.  And write me if you need anything in your journey from HIP to Hero.

Forever Yours,

Jodi Seidler, Hipster Girl

 

 

 

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HIP Patient Stories | Zimmer | Jodi

Hula Hooping Jodi

A personal surgery preparation regimen“Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I needed a hip replacement,” said 57-year-old Zimmer Hip recipient Jodi Seidler. “It started out as an ache in my leg, and soon I couldn’t walk.” Declining surgery, Jodi spent two painful years in denial going to physical therapy, trying acupuncture, talking to psychics, taking medications and just plain praying for a miracle. Having never undergone surgery, Jodi was fearful of the unknown. “I didn’t really understand what was going to happen to me or what it would entail,” she said. “I didn’t want to be alone and the fear pretty much took over.”

via Patient Stories | Zimmer | Jodi.

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WELCOME TO THE CLUB…

No matter how you applaud yourself – you are now a proud member of the Hipster Club. We are a community of bionic men and woman around the globe 💪

No one understands bone-on-bone pain or the landscape of the unknown until they face the challenges of  a reduced quality of life and the fear of surgery.  And, until you have a source of information, support and the knowledge that experience brings…it can be a scary process… Especially to go through or face alone.

For example, I would never have known, if I didn’t receive some good tips from a fellow hipster, to ask for anti-nausea pills in the hospital (from the pain medication).  I wouldn’t have known what special devices to get (my grabber was incredible), or to hook myself up with a buddy to go on walks with or bring me food or take care of my pet in the early days after my hip replacements.

That’s why I created Hipster Club, and also  hipsterclub.ning.com…

  1. For support, and to know we are not alone -we are a club, an initiation into becoming bionic.
  2. We get to share our experience, knowledge and to become a community for each other.
  3. We get to give and get advice and encouragement during a scary transition.  I must add that things have become a bit different from when I got my first hip replacement (at 50).  Now they have what I call “drive by replacements”…all in the same day.  Every year, every month, every day – they have new developments in replacement surgery.  And now with 3-D printing, joint replacements will become totally customized to your own body.

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The Hipster Club!

Thanks for finding The Hipster Club….if you got here – You or someone you know, are, or are soon to be, TOO hip.  We are a community of hipsters initiated by pain.

No one knows bone-on-bone pain until you have experienced it…woken up in the middle of the night with excruciating no-cartilage pain when turning over…locked and jolted when standing up after sitting for a while…that limp that causes people to do a double-take on your gait.  We could go on and on…

Soon, the operation day arrives side by side with your fear of the unknown. Your fear of pain, pain medication and the what-ifs of surgery wakes up before you do.  The ‘fat lady has sung’, we bit the bullet and soon we, like magic, wonder why we ever waited so long.

We are here to support, educate, inspire and transform our hipster status, by becoming and remaining our own advocates. And this includes helping others…so, all  I ask is to pay it forward.

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Hip Revision Surgery |

Hip Revision Surgery Total hip implant demonstrating socket, liner, ball and stemTotal hip replacement or total hip arthroplasty is a surgical procedure in which an artificial hip joint prosthesis is implanted to replace an arthritic or damaged joint. A hip replacement includes an artificial hip socket and femoral stem with an attached femoral head picture at right.Hip replacement surgery is very effective in relieving pain and improving patient function and quality of life. However, hip replacements may “wear out” or fail for other reasons, and occasionally require a “hip revision surgery.” In hip revision surgery, the worn out or failed prosthesis is replaced with a new hip implant.

via Hip Revision Surgery | St. Louis Hip Surgeon John C. Clohisy.

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New method for hip replacement wins favor with some surgeons – The Washington Post

Over the past two decades, the number of Americans having total hip replacements has more than doubled, to more than 300,000 a year. Though most patients eventually walk again without pain or the aid of a cane, recovery and rehabilitation can be rigorous, painful and lengthy. The surgery is extensive: As its name suggests, it involves removing the joint — the damaged bone and cartilage — and replacing it with prosthetic parts made of metal, plastic or ceramics. Typically, surgeons enter the joint from the rear, which requires cutting through muscle and cartilage. But with a relatively new procedure, surgeons enter from the front and only stretch the muscles aside, avoiding the cutting and minimizing pain and recovery time. According to those who use this anterior technique, the benefits are substantial.

via New method for hip replacement wins favor with some surgeons – The Washington Post.

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The Importance of Having a “HIP” Buddy!

IMG_3768It is important to have a HIP Buddy. A HIP Buddy is someone who is there for you during and after your Hip Replacement…someone you can count on to be there for you.

Someone that you can count on to be there for you during this process, mostly during and after your hip replacement. Its someone that checks in with you, someone that maybe comes and helps with cleaning, takes your for a walk; kind of like a puppy dog only you’re going to be on a walker or crutches, and they’re there just to support you.

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Total Hip Replacement Implants

A total hip replacement replaces your arthritic hip joint and eliminates the damaged bearing surfaces that are causing pain. The design of the implant offers you renewed stability and minimizes the wear process. The traditional metal and polyethylene implants have been in use since the 1960’s but technological advances since then have made other materials such as ceramic increasingly popular.

More about Hip Implant Materials >>

Total Hip Replacement Implants

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How Google’s Calico aims to fight aging and ‘solve death’ – CNN.com

 

Calico — or the California Life Company — has been set up to research subjects related to aging and its associated diseases. Announcing Calico at a media briefing, Google said that the new and independent company will largely focus on age-attendant conditions such as Alzheimer’s, cancer and heart disease.

Larry Page, Google’s ever youthful CEO said: “Illness and aging affect all our families. With some longer term, moonshot thinking around healthcare and biotechnology, I believe we can improve millions of lives.”

How Google’s Calico aims to fight aging and ‘solve death’ – CNN.com

 

Note from Jodi:

I am VERY excited about this Google initiative.  I feel aligned and thrilled where they are going with this (plus – I have a 12 year old Calico, named Cali)!

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Week 1: Talking to your Health Care Provider « A Primer for Women’s Health

 

Week 1: Talking to your Health Care Provider

Week 1You get ready for a date. You prepare for tasks and meetings at work. How do you prepare for visits to your health care provider?

The first step is to find a health care provider you feel comfortable with. If you can share how you feel,  both physically and emotionally,  then you and your health care provider can work together as partners in your health care.

Illustration of two women talking to a female doctorA basic plan for your visit can help. Before you arrive,  make a list of things you want to talk about. Put your questions in order,  so you are sure to ask about the most important ones first.

During your visit,  explain your symptoms:  what is bothering you,  when it started,  and if you have noticed any pattern. Ask for clear explanations about your condition,  any medication or treatment,  and instructions on how to recover after an illness,  injury,  or hospital procedure.

Consider bringing a family member or friend. Let them know in advance what you want from your visit. With good communication,  you and your health care provider can team up to make sure you get the best health care possible.

Week 1: Talking to your Health Care Provider « A Primer for Women’s Health

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Leveraging ePatient Communications | Digital Pharma Blog

 

Leveraging ePatient Communications

Posted by bryonmain on February 28th, 2013

As social media in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry becomes more widespread, a growing trend is ePatient communication. The internet has become the go-to source of information for many people; that holds true as they research diagnoses, check up on current research, and connect with others for support.

Citizen bloggers, with a particular diagnosis, educate themselves,  and are a key source of information for others with a similar diagnosis. In the digital age, where nearly everyone has a smartphone, these “man on the street” blogs offer a personal voice, answering questions and addressing areas of concern, as well as offering support. Patient bloggers, read by a wide range of patients and caregivers, can be a key source of internet buzz, when they offer a review or opinion on a new therapy or drug treatment option. Pharmaceutical companies can network with these bloggers, gaining both a platform for patient marketing, but also a window into the concerns and trends patients notice.

Leveraging ePatient Communications | Digital Pharma Blog

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It’s Time to have a HIP Buddy!

It is important to have a HIP Buddy. A HIP Buddy is someone who is there for you during and after your Hip Replacement….someone you can count on to be there for you.

Someone that you can count on to be there for you during this process, mostly during and after your hip replacement. Its someone that checks in with you, someone that maybe comes and helps with cleaning, takes your for a walk; kind of like a puppy dog only you’re going to be on a walker or crutches, and they’re there just to support you.

More importantly for the people that live alone, there is a sense of isolation, or that you’re different, or that you’re going through something and people forget about you. Someone just to check in on you really helps to document the process that you’re in.

journal Besides your hip journal that you are going to be writing in, your hip buddy also gives you feedback and supports you through whatever you are going through into this initiation into being bionic.

Visit the Hipster Club Community to find YOUR Buddy!
http://www.hipsterclub.ning.com

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What will a new hip cost?

 

Only 16% of U.S. hospitals surveyed in a recent study gave a complete price quote for a common hip surgery, highlighting the obstacles many patients face in comparison shopping.

Pricing information remains difficult to obtain from medical providers and the figures that are quoted vary widely despite government efforts to make the process more consumer friendly, according to a study published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Assn. for Internal Medicine.

Jaime Rosenthal, a student at Washington University in St. Louis who led the research, called two hospitals in every state and Washington, D.C., as well as the top 20-ranked orthopedic hospitals according to U.S. News and World Report.

She asked for the lowest bundled price, hospital plus physician fees, on a total hip replacement for a 62-year-old grandmother. She said her relative was uninsured but had the means to pay out of pocket.

The researchers found that 16% of the 122 hospitals contacted provided a complete bundled price. An additional 47% of hospitals could offer a complete price when hospitals and other medical providers were contacted separately, the study said.

And those price quotes varied considerably, from $11,100 to $125,798 for the same hip surgery. The study said Medicare and large insurers often pay $10,000 to $25,000 for joint replacement surgery.

This issue of healthcare pricing has taken on added importance since consumers are responsible for a growing share of their medical bills. Policymakers also hope that wider disclosure of medical prices could help slow down rising healthcare costs.

What will a new hip cost? Few hospitals quote a price, study finds – latimes.com

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The Trouble with the New Hip Trend

 

A few years back, many folks with hurting hips were happy to learn that a newer bone-preserving procedure called hip resurfacing could spare them from the more drastic hip replacement.

  But: A huge study has now shown that the newer procedure is more likely to lead to problems than the traditional total hip replacement.

Ashley William Blom, MD, lead author of the new study, weighed in on the results and what they mean for patients   contemplating hip surgery.

  HIP TALK

The Trouble with the New Hip Trend

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Total Joint Replacement Documentary

Total Joint Replacement: A Patient’s Perspective

AAHKS Offers Documentary in New DVD Format to Increase Awareness of Joint Replacement Benefits

“Total Joint Replacement: A Patient’s Perspective,” a documentary providing an inside look at four real-life patients facing the need for hip and knee replacement surgery, is now available in DVD format.

The American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) sponsored the film in cooperation with the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF). Until now, the 52-minute film had been available on VHS tape and via webcast on http://www.OR-Live.com.

Total Joint Replacement Documentary – AAHKS

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Information for Patients – AAHKS

 

Office Visit Tips

Your visit with an orthopaedic surgeon is an important meeting that can be most effective if you plan ahead. It’s important that you give your doctor the information he or she needs and that you understand what your doctor is recommending. The following checklist will help you and your doctor discuss the issues most important for getting the most out of the visit.
Before you go

  1. Find out the basics about the office. Where is it? What time should you arrive? If you’re going to drive, where can your park? Do you need to bring your insurance card or a managed care medical referral?
  2. Assemble your records such as results and copies of X-rays, other imaging studies and lab tests and personally take the records to the doctor’s office.
  3. Make written lists of:
    • Medications you are taking.
    • Your medical history, such as prior treatments for heart or thyroid problems or operations, even those not related to your current problem.
    • Your concerns about your condition (pains, loss of mobility or function).
  4. Consider asking a friend or family member to accompany you. If you need a translator, ask another adult to come with you; don’t rely on a child to translate.
  5. Dress appropriately. For spine and many problems involving the arms and legs, you may be asked to disrobe. Wear loose clothing that’s easy to take off and put on.

Information for Patients – AAHKS

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Don’t get too focused on materials being used…

hipreplacement7In planning a hip replacement, one mistake both patients and doctors can make is to become overly concerned with the prosthetics rather than the surgical approach itself.

“People get too focused on what kind of parts and materials are being used,” Dr. Matta said. “That’s a good discussion to have, but what’s more important is what the surgeon will do during the operation. As surgeons, we need to ensure that the muscles around the hip aren’t disturbed, the parts are fitted and oriented properly, and that the leg length is correct. And it behooves us to perform hip replacements that don’t rely on our patients restricting their movements for the rest of their lives.”

Anterior approach patients have no restrictions on their movements. In contrast, patients undergoing traditional surgeries have an extensive list of movements they must avoid to prevent dislocating the new hip. Simple actions such as crossing legs and tying shoes normally may be permanently prohibited. Yoga is out. Even sitting on the toilet can risk dislocation.

READ ON — Saint John’s Health Center

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Because of my orthopaedic care, I can…” It isn’t too late to submit your patients’ stories

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ national campaign, A Nation in Motion, shares the stories of more than 600 patients whose lives have been saved or restored through access to high-quality orthopaedic care. These inspiring stories illustrate the conditions, injuries and traumas that millions of patients have braved head on – and the excellent care that got them back to work and to their active, full lives. The patients featured on the website have shared their stories in one simple phrase, “Because of my orthopaedic care, I can…” It isn’t too late to submit your patients’ stories on the site.

Visit anationinmotion.org to submit, read the stories, and to play A Nation in Motion the Game online, and navigate the path of orthopaedic scenarios throughout life before you can successfully reach the “I Can! Club.” The “I Can! Club” represents a full, enjoyable and mobile life.

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Twins, 56, have simultaneous, free hip replacements

Twins, 56, have simultaneous, free hip replacements

Sisters Deborah and Sandra Fanelli were high school cheerleaders and, later, professional singers and dancers for 20 years. But in recent years, the twins have developed arthritis so severe that it’s hard for them to walk.

On Friday, the 56-year-olds underwent simultaneous and free hip replacement operations at a hospital near Philadelphia. The surgeries came at no cost to the women because of Operation Walk USA. The program offers free hip and knee replacements for patients without health insurance.

Doctors, hospitals and implant manufacturers donate time and equipment for the procedures. A hip replacement would normally cost about $16,000, plus hospitalization.
About 200 patients nationwide received new joints through the program on Friday.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/12/10/twins-56-have-simultaneous-free-hip-replacements/#ixzz2EiOudhMqn

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Cost of Hip Replacement – Consumer Information and Prices Paid – CostHelper.com

A total hip replacement — replacement of an entire hip joint with artificial parts — usually is performed on patients whose hip has been so damaged by arthritis or injury that there is severe pain that limits daily activity.

Typical costs:

  • For patients without health insurance, a total hip replacement usually will cost between $31,839 and $44,816, with an average cost of $39,299, according to Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. However, some medical facilities offer uninsured discounts. At the Kapiolani Medical Center in Aiea, Hawaii, where the full price is about $33,000, an uninsured patient would pay a discounted rate of $20,212 to $23,581.
  • Hip replacement surgery usually is covered by health insurance, according to DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company and major manufacturer of orthopaedic devices. And, according to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, any necessary surgery, including hip replacement, would be covered, unless it is experimental or covered in a specific exclusion.
  • Patients with health insurance typically pay out-of-pocket expenses up to several thousand dollars, or their out-of-pocket maximum. For example, at Dartmought-Hitchcock Medical Center, a Medicare patient could pay up to $3,957, including deductibles and coinsurance. And a patient with health insurance that has a typical 20 percent copay for surgeries and a $3,000 out-of-pocket maximum would pay the full $3,000 at DHMC.

Cost of Hip Replacement – Consumer Information and Prices Paid – CostHelper.com

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Hip Replacement Timing – Why Delaying May Be the Wrong Choice

Hip Replacement Timing – Why Delaying May Be the Wrong Choice
 

Getting a hip replacement is almost like an investment. Here you take the hit early on – being put out of action and going through considerable discomfort – with the pay off coming later down the line when you will hopefully be able to return to your normal life in less pain than you were before.

Like any investment, the sooner you make it, the more you stand to gain from it. Many people put off their hip replacement and choose to instead wait for it to get worse, or wait for it to be a ‘better time’. The truth though really is that there is not really ever going to be a ‘good’ time. If you think you have a lot on your plate now, then you probably didn’t foresee it a few months ago. Similarly in a few months you are likely to have a different selection of just-as-pressing issues. What you are doing by opting to have your hip replacement as soon as possible is getting it out of the way so that you can return to your normal life with no pain and this is highly important.

Another reason to have a hip replacement sooner rather than later is that having a bad hip can cause you to place more weight on your other leg and this in turn can result in you ending up with two bad hips. At the same time you are more likely to have accidents such as trips and falls. In general you are also better able to deal with surgery and all forms of trauma the younger you are, then there is the fact that your hip joint will deteriorate more the longer you put it off, resulting in stronger medication and worse deformity of the bone which can make a hip replacement more difficult. So it makes sense to have your surgery early on from a health perspective. Again in this way it is an investment – experience pain now, but thereby stop yourself from having as many future conditions. Finally, as you never know what other complications may arise, or how long you might have to remain on the waiting list, it is a good idea to get the procedure out of the way early on so that you are not caught out later. You also have no guarantee that your hip will not suddenly get a lot worse and then you will regret not having been put on the waiting list sooner.
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Please Submit Your HIP Replacement Stories

Please send me YOUR HIP (replacement) stories, and videos for a collection I am putting together.

Please email me your “landscape view” HIP replacement process, covering your emotions, tips, and outcome.

This is of great benefit for others going through this hip initiation.

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Meridian Tooth Chart Shows Teeth and Organ Relationships

Meridian Tooth Chart Shows Teeth and Organ Relationships

The front teeth are connected to the kidneys. The stomach is connected to the premolars. This is something that practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine have known for thousands of years.

Most people are familiar with Chinese Medicine or acupuncture and have heard about meridians , the channels through which energy flows in the body. Each organ, gland and body structure has an associated meridian, including the teeth.

What does all this mean to health and wellness? Well, if someone has a bad tooth, the energy flow through the meridian belonging to that tooth will be altered. This in turn can affect the health of all the other organs on that meridian. For example, Tooth Number 14, the upper left first molar tooth, is on the same meridian with the kidneys, liver, spleen, stomach and breast. So, if this tooth has a problem, it may affect energy flow through the meridian, and the health of those organs may be affected as well.

via Meridian Tooth Chart Shows Teeth and Organ Relationships

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Pioneering news: stem cell hip replacements

The prosthetic implants are being developed by scientists at Glasgow University in collaboration with orthopaedic surgeons at the city’s Southern General Hospital and they hope to have a prototype ready within 10 years.

The move follows a breakthrough last year by a team at the university’s Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology when they succeeded in creating a special plastic surface capable of controlling what stem cells become – a technique that was previously impossible.

The plastic is covered in tiny pits 120 nanometres across which, when stem cells are placed on the surface, encourages them to grow and spread across the pits in a way which ensures they differentiate into therapeutically useful cells.

While the implant itself will be made of an advanced polymer, already commonly used in spinal and other orthopaedic procedures, it will be coated for the first time in the university’s unique plastic. As a result, once inserted into a patient’s bone marrow – a rich source of mesenchymal stem cells – these can be made to divide and differentiate into fresh bone cells, creating a much stronger and more durable implant.

READ MORE….

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MRI Compatible Metals | eHow.com

Titanium

Orthopedic surgeons favor titanium implants for their strength and compatibility with body tissues. Titanium’s nonmagnetic properties make it compatible for use with an MRI as well. Joint replacements, surgical screws, bone plates and pacemaker cases all use titanium. In addition, doctors can use surgical tools made of the metal in MRI rooms.

via MRI Compatible Metals | eHow.com.

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Drs. Oz and Roizen: Antibiotics, hip replacement and dental work – The Denver Post

Drs. Oz and Roizen: Antibiotics, hip replacement and dental work…

Q: I had a hip replacement last year and was told that I need to take antibiotics before I go to the dentist. Really?! — Katie K., Brookings, S.D.

A: It’s not only a good idea, it’s essential. Reputable dentists won’t work on you if they know you’ve had an implant and refuse the antibiotic. During dental procedures, bacteria living in your mouth — and there are tens of thousands of them — can spread into your blood and lodge on the surface of artificial things, like hip, knee or heart-valve replacements.

Some of these newer replacement parts have embedded antibiotics, but you still need antibiotics for a dental procedure.

The immune system can’t “see” bacteria resting on inorganic (ceramic, metal or plastic) implants, so no white blood cells come to attack and kill them off.

They thrive, and you can get a whopper of an infection. Also, over time, a bacterial film can build up in and around the replacement joint, and that can begin to loosen the joint and cause other problems.

Get a prescription for the antibiotics from your orthopedic surgeon or dentist.

via Drs. Oz and Roizen: Antibiotics, hip replacement and dental work – The Denver Post.

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Biocompatibility – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Biocompatibility is related to the behavior of biomaterials in various contexts. The term refers to the ability of a material to perform with an appropriate host response in a specific situation.[1] The ambiguity of the term reflects the ongoing development of insights into how biomaterials interact with the human body and eventually how those interactions determine the clinical success of a medical device (such as pacemaker, hip replacement or stent). Modern medical devices and prostheses are often made of more than one material so it might not always be sufficient to talk about the biocompatibility of a specific material.[2]

Indeed, since the immune response and repair functions in the body are so complicated it is not adequate to describe the biocompatibility of a single material in relation to a single cell type or tissue. Sometimes one hears of biocompatibility testing that is a large battery of in vitro test[3] that is used in accordance with ISO 10993 (or other similar standards) to determine if a certain material (or rather biomedical product) is biocompatible. These tests do not determine the biocompatibility of a material,[4] but they constitute an important step towards the animal testing and finally clinical trials that will determine the biocompatibility of the material in a given application, and thus medical devices such as implants or drug delivery devices.

via Biocompatibility – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

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Hip Replacement Implant Materials | BoneSmart

Hip Replacement Implant Materials

There are a large number of hip implant devices on the market. Each manufacturer has different models but each style falls into one of four basic material categories:

metal on plastic (polyethylene or UHMWPE)

metal on metal (MoM)

ceramic on plastic (UHMWPE)

ceramic on ceramic (CoC)

These category names reference the materials used for the implant bearings. The stem and ball fit into and articulate against the cup or acetabulum. Each component can be made of one of several materials.

There is no consensus in the orthopedic community regarding the single “best” bearing or material. The choice generally comes down to your surgeon’s preference. Each surgeon has innumerable reasons for choosing one device over another, including his or her personal experience as well as tool and implantation method preferences.

via Hip Replacement Implant Materials | BoneSmart.

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HIP Happy Hours

We are now creating HIP Happy Hours in your community!

Throw a ‘Fond Farewell Party’ for your old hip, and welcome in a newer, more bionic one – with your friends… to help you celebrate this initiation into the Hipster Club!   You can also invite people who may be experiencing their own process of replacement.

Plan your HIP celebration on a cruise ship or resort get-away.  I will create a WOW event for you on an amazing budget!  All you have to do is fill out this form…and we’re on our way to celebrate your newly bionic life!  🙂

Replacing the old self…into a new and improved model.  Celebrate this LIFE CHANGING experience, I did it and it was amazing.  I felt truly supported and loved.  It helped me let people know I am moving forward with courage and gusto.

I’ll help you organize your Hip Happy Hour as sort of your “Coming Out Party” or HIP debut.  I’ll help you with your list, the invitation and how to coordinate it with your schedule.

You are entering a more bionic life, and as scary as it may feel right now – you will feel relieved, revived and ready to be initiated into a new way of being…more HIP!

These HIP Happy Hours are very cathartic and celebratory.  Trust me, I know.  I use to be a DO, DO, DOER.  Now, I have been reminded and encouraged to slow down and do my life a new way …and through the process, I have learned so much more about who I am, and who I’m really NOT….that I’ve created this site for YOU!

I’m here to support you in this initiation, and also assist you in creating  HIPster Clubs in your area. Hipster Clubs are not only to celebrate your new HIP status, but to help others going through it as well.  It’s a form of paying-it-forward!

Start planning your Hip Happy Hour Party right now….   send me an email and let’s get going!

PS: DID YOU KNOW?
Over 30% of all HIP Replacements are now given to people under 59!

What is THAT telling us????

Sign up for our Email Chat group, and meet other HIPsters from around the world!

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70 Most Outstanding Hip Surgeons and Specialists

Here are 70 Outstanding Hip Surgeons and Specialists….the best list I have ever found to lead you to the right surgeon for you!

You must have the right surgeon to trust and believe in – so you MUST research and be your OWN advocate!!!

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Medical tax stirs debate over artificial joints – MarketWatch

The many baby boomers considering hip or knee replacements in the coming years are likely to have to pay more to get them. The question is, How much more? And could the problems stretch beyond a higher price tag?

Under the Affordable Care Act, the Obama administration’s signature health-care-overhaul law, medical-device manufacturers will pay a 2.3% tax on sales of such products starting in 2013. That tax will affect everything from surgical tools to oxygen tanks to wheelchairs. It is one of several features of the law designed to raise money to cover the uninsured — it’s expected to raise an additional $20 billion by 2019.

via Medical tax stirs debate over artificial joints – MarketWatch.

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Hip Replacement Surgery | Circle Private Hospitals UK

What is Hip Replacement Surgery?

The hip is a ‘ball and socket’ joint that is susceptible to wear and tear which can be caused by injury or various bone diseases including osteoarthritis. This can often lead to severe pain and lack of mobility affecting your daily life, which will worsen over time. If medication cannot help, then the best option maybe an operation where your affected hip joint is replaced with an artificial one.

After the operation, you should be able to walk much better and carry out more of your normal activities.

READ MORE via Hip Replacement Surgery | Total Hip Replacement Treatment & Recovery | Circle Private Hospitals UK.

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How HIP is TOO HIP?

Airport Security! Front Cover

I’ve been through a lot of security check points in the past 5 bionic years of airport travel, I’ve been prodded in New York, wanded in Washington DC, intimately viewed in Hawaii, and touched in San Francisco.

BUT…I have never been wanded, prodden THEN taken to a private room, and asked to show my hip replacement scars before…that was a first (in London, by the way).

So, down went my pants to present my surgery souvenirs to polite but perfect strangers.

I know the world is changing, with heightened security and all that it entails – however how much is too much?

I ask YOU!

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Putting the HIP Back

Putting the HIP Back into Hip Replacements

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would have needed a hip replacement. It started out as a headache in my leg and soon, I couldn’t walk.  After swearing off surgery, I spent two painful years in denial going to physical therapy, trying acupuncture, taking medications, even talking to psychics – and just plain praying for a miracle. Having never had surgery, I was fearful of the unknown.

I love and live to walk.  Back then, I could not walk more than a block without having to stop. Merely reaching the top of my apartment stairs was a feat that was not going to happen much longer. I basically had to become a pseudo-shut-in. Realizing I was only going downhill, I began to take matters into my own hands. I started calling surgeons and tracking people who had gone through this process before. I did a ton of research before and after so I knew what to ask when I met with the surgeon. In fact, I visited five surgeons. A swimmer at heart and new to the sport of golf, I was ready to get back to the life I had been missing out on. I needed to feel pain-free again.  No one can imagine bone-on-bone pain until you have experienced it.

I created my own Surgery Preparation Regimen to get me through the next chapter in my life, complete with:

–    A hip farewell party with 45 friends and family members to help create a positive spin on the experience
–    Who would stay with me
–    Who would bring me dinner
–    How I would get around
–    Who would take me for walks
–    Who was my emergency contact if I was feeling down
–    Who would take care of my son as I am a single mother

I also kept a journal so that I had a place to let my feelings out and get in touch with the ‘new me’ emerging through this process. I called it an initiation.

After surgery, my 88-year-old mother flew from Arizona to help ME. Talk about surreal. Never did my mother expect to be taking care of me and changing my light bulbs. But to be honest, it was kind of amazing.

Recovery was intense as I worked through the process of walking with an artificial hip. Then…TWO. I think it would be easy to say ‘poor me’ but instead, I embraced it and realized I needed to help myself and help others in the process.

Jump starting the healing process, I began blogging about my experiences. I am so grateful for the mobility I have now. I am now extra willing to help people struggle with the challenge of joint pain or those who need a replacement of any kind. That is why I wanted to blog. I created HIPSTERCLUB.COM to share my knowledge, experience, hope and to create a community.

Patients have to be their own advocate and I want to help be a solid resource for those willing to seek out the answers.

Whenever I see someone with a limp, I ask them if it is a knee or a hip! Who knows where conversation can lead.

Contact me with any tips or knowledge you wish to share with the group…

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Total Joint Replacement: A Patients Guide | Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine

View this informational video that is given to patients who come to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH, Total Joint Replacement: A Patients Guide. This example will show you more about the joint replacement experience, including how to prepare yourself and your home prior to surgery and what to expect after joint replacement surgery. Please note that your experience may differ slightly depending on which Dartmouth-Hitchcock orthopaedic team you see, however, the process is largely the same for all joint replacement patients.

via Total Joint Replacement: A Patients Guide | Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine | Dartmouth-Hitchcock.

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