WELCOME TO THE CLUB! We’re putting the HIP back into hip replacements!

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Well, let me begin by welcoming you to my hip journey. I think we all can agree that we are first told we need a hip replacement (or two) – everything starts moving in slow motion and we leave our bodies.  I was told I was too young and lingered in pain for two years and until I could no longer walk without a cane. I began to keep a journal and wrote in it daily as I hibernated from the outside world.  The journal became a WordPress blog and a place for me to release my emotions as rapidly as they came up.  Three years and two hip replacements later, I began rebuilding my life.  I, like many, had complications which triggered me even more into googling, connecting, writing and remembering to breathe.  Breathe. Breathe.  S L O W down.

No matter how you applaud yourself (or if you even do after everything you’ve been through)…we applaud you… as you have now become a proud member of the Hipster Club… 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 sources 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 (caused by 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 a FB style place for hipsters to gather –  hipsterclub.ning.com…

Hipster Club is here for you:

  1. For support, and to know you are not alone – we are a club, an initiation into becoming bionic.
  2. We get to share our experience, knowledge and become a community for each other to get and stay out of pain within our new bodies.
  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.

So, I welcome you to the land of becoming bionic and I thank you for finding your way here to The Hipster Club.

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Relief from Chronic Pain

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I have to admit when I first was diagnosed with hip dysplasia and AO I was shocked and scared.  Besides the bone-on-bone killer pain, I suffered from “why me” and I couldn’t understand how it happened.  I wasn’t a runner (I’m a walker), I wasn’t a professional dancer (I was a swimmer) and no one in my family had hip issues (in my immediate genealogy line).  I was frightened, alone and spent far too much time researching online and meeting with orthopods. Looking back now, what the pain and panic did provide was education and motivation to help others find a path to becoming more pain free and a better self-advocate.  That is what this site is about, that is what I learned and what I am focusing on…education and advocating for yourself.

One of the things that really helped me is PEMF Therapy, I was introduced to it prior to my surgeries when I researching ways to lessen  my pain and extend the time before I had to cry “uncle”.  Stretching in a YMCA swimming pool with senior citizens (wearing shower caps) and using PEMF Therapy at home became my staples.  During recovery and many years later, I remain a fan and spokesperson for PEMF and all it does for the immune system and to reduce inflammation (which causes pain).

PEMF devices are a popular option for patients suffering from chronic pain, autoimmune conditions and inflammation, even brain conditions with the Brain Entrainment aspect. The body mat energizes the cells in your body. Other accessory PEMF devices provide more direct pulses of energy for localized pain. For example, if you are having difficulties with pain in your knee joint, a PEMF paddle is a beneficial option for delivery of pulses directly to the joint.  

Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields or PEMF help the body heal itself through enhancing its natural healing mechanisms on the cellular level. The most basic cell functions are to generate energy, eliminate waste, to repair and regenerate itself and perform its most basic function which depends on the type of cell. PEMF acts on basic functions of the cells. Magnetic fields cause motions of ions and electrolytes in the tissues of the body. This movement stimulates an array of chemical and electric action that helps the body heal itself.  Through the increase of motion of ions and electrolytes, PEMF helps cells create more charge at the cellular level. This charge or energy is called ATP, which is how the cell (in the part of the cell called the Mitochondria) produce energy. This is where glucose is turned into energy, this is what gives us life.  Low levels of ATP cause cells to be sick and have trouble to heal, and function poorly. This is because the cell has to work harder to make energy for its functions. So just like us, when we have to work harder for an extended period of time, to do our daily tasks, we get tired and make mistakes. When the cell does this, it leads to disease. 

Please send me an email if you have questions or comments…

Jodi2hip@gmail.com

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

Heal with Frequencies

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You probably know that food, water, sunlight, and oxygen are required for life, but there is a fifth element of health that is equally vital and often overlooked: The Earth’s magnetic field and its corresponding PEMFs (pulsed electromagnetic fields). The two main components of Earth’s PEMFs, the Schumann and Geomagnetic frequencies are so essential that NASA and the Russian space program equip their space crafts with devices that replicate these frequencies. These frequencies are absolutely necessary for the human body’s circadian rhythms, energy production, and even keeping the body free from pain. But there is a big problem on planet earth right now, rather, a twofold problem, as to why we are no longer getting these life-nurturing energies of the earth. 

Along with PEMF, Healy is designed to provide you with programs for a variety of local and systemic bioenergetic imbalances all done by frequencies as well in a wearable device delivered by downloads between your phone app and the device itself.

OUR PRODUCTS

image7 THE REGENETRON

 Click to order The Regenetron™ is completely different from all other PEMF machines, with two complete separate, different PEMF machines inside.  Discover freedom from pain and chronic conditions, and promote optimal aging from the inside out. PEMF is cellular exercise based on the principles of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy 

image8  THE HEALY

Click to order the Healy, a certified wearable that uses individualized frequencies to help balance your mind and body and relieve stress.  Healy is a microcurrent medical device that has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for relief of acute, chronic, and arthritis pain and muscle soreness due to overexertion. 

image9  HEALY RESONANCE

Click to order…With the analysis feature of the Healy Resonance module, doctors, practitioners and other members of the healing profession can be supported with the help of the Resonance analysis for their patients or clients to suggest suitable dietary needs.  Another useful tool in this edition is the Healy Aura module. It lets you analyze the energy distribution of your chakras in the Information Field; after an analysis of the emotional background, you can point out suitable ways of optimization. 

Healy – Frequencies for Your Life

FREQUENCY HEALING IS THE KEY TO SUSTAINING HEALTH AND VITALITY.

The Healy App – First Steps

Healy’s frequency programs can support you after just a 20 minute application, no matter where you are: playing sports, relaxing, at work, home, or on the go.

Call to order: 424-272-6011

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, PEMF healing 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.

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.

How I’m Helping Others After My Double Hip Replacement

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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…

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 two different approaches (Anterior and Posterior) and two different implant materials.  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 no-cost 15 minute informational and supportive phone call regarding joint replacement do’s and don’ts.

HIP TALK

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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

 

 

 

HIP Patient Stories | Zimmer | Jodi

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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.

The Hipster Club!

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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.

Hip Revision Surgery |

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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.

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

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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.

Search Joint Replacement Clinics

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Find a Doctor, hospital or Doctor that uses the manufacturers that you want in your hip or knee!

Find Joint Replacement Clinics & Hospitals

Joint Replacement Clinics

Total Hip Replacement Implants

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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

Talking to your Health Care Provider

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You 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.

A 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.

Leveraging ePatient Communications | Digital Pharma Blog

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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

It’s Time to have a HIP Buddy!

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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!
www.hipsterclub.ning.com

What will a new hip cost?

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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

The Trouble with the New Hip Trend

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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

Total Joint Replacement Documentary

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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

Information for Patients – AAHKS

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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

Don’t get too focused on materials being used…

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In 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

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

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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.

Cost of Hip Replacement

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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

Hip Replacement Timing – Why Delaying May Be the Wrong Choice

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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.

Meridian Tooth Chart Shows Teeth and Organ Relationships

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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

Pioneering news: stem cell hip replacements

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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….

Biocompatibility – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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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.

Hip Replacement Implant Materials | BoneSmart

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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.

HIP Happy Hours

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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!

70 Most Outstanding Hip Surgeons and Specialists

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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!!!

Medical tax stirs debate over artificial joints – MarketWatch

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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.

How HIP is TOO HIP?

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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!

YOU DON’T LOOK SICK

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I LOVE PEMF

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…

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A Veteran’s Healing Oasis

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A Veteran’s Healing Oasis

— By Jodi Seidler

Everyone on the planet Earth has stress. It is a fact of everyday life. With some sufferers, stress manifests with relentless headaches.. With others, stress can dramatically affect an individual’s stomach and overall GI tract. The list of physiological effects is truly endless. Now…just think of the psychological effects that veterans experience as they are returning home from war in the Mid-east. In addition to the more readily apparent disabilities, it is estimated that nearly 230,000 returning veterans suffer with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Anyone who experiences trauma of any kind can suffer with PTSD. Both civilians and veterans can experience flashbacks and memories of a traumatic incident— during the day or even transforming dreams into terrifying nightmares. For an affected individual, there is literally no escape from the emotionally startling terror. Stress that is fueled by PTSD is often accompanied by depression, sleep disorders, chronic pain…often resulting in problems with alcohol and substance abuse.

Rhonda, a single mother, began experiencing significant stress after volunteering to serve in the army at the ‘tender’ age of eighteen. Rhonda was deployed to Germany to work during the end of the Vietnam conflict…. essentially thrown from a ‘Leave it to Beaver” lifestyle into an unimaginable state of reality. Stretched beyond anything Rhonda had ever experienced, she was daily pushed to the limit and suffered an extreme level of stress. For Rhonda, it resulted in 1996, with a diagnosed condition of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Fibromyalgia. After an honorable discharge from the army, Rhonda continued to work for four more long and arduous years. Rhonda’s daily existence involved consuming prescribed medication for her pain, depression and arthritis. Each day, she continued hoping there was more to life after the army than just managing her pain. So she began researching techniques for relaxation and healing, leading her on an odyssey of self-healing. This quest brought her to Heaven and Earth Oasis and healer Valerie Heath.

With Valerie as a guide, Rhonda pursued the understanding of Theta healing. This innovative approach involves getting to the root cause of an individual’s persistent pain. Rhonda began with diet and lifestyle changes. “Meditation was the first thing that helped me. It calmed my body and caused some of the pain to subside. I learned that we create pain from all the traumas that we experience. As I began my soul searching, researching and experimenting different modalities, the teachers and healers showed up – because I was ready. I began trusting the instincts that told me what to do.”

Valerie Heath taught Rhonda more about self healing and the modalities to help her release her stress. Valerie’s personal inquiries through Theta healing created an in-depth healing landscape; knowledge of what would be good as far as supplements and self healing techniques. Rhonda called Valerie Heath “Her Midwife for healing”. Rhonda also enjoyed healing on the BIOMAT – the magnetic surges and infrared heat was “like someone plugged me in and charged me up. With the energy of the BIOMAT and Valerie’s Reiki hands-on healing, the calm and recharged feelings lasted for days. Rhonda emphasized “Valerie’s healing energy, and her ability to really hone in on what I needed to know, and what I needed to hear sped up my healing process. She hits it on the nail when she talks; I have learned so much from her because she is tuned in when you talk to her. Even with a phone call, there is a transference of healing energy. She is one of the healers that really helped me a lot in the last few years. I get to a point and then I hit the wall, and when I can’t get through it – she helps me through…a little door will open. Valerie Heath’s in-house healing birds also helped me in the healing process. After several treatments, I was empowered to get on with my life feeling more whole”.

As far as her own healing practices, Rhonda says “I am becoming a wounded healer myself through my own healing quest. Valerie is providing an opportunity that is really needed, not treating the symptoms – but getting to the root without using drugs of any kind”.

A lot of the veterans from many wars are still living in the past, back in the war…lost. They can’t move on and a lot of their illnesses come from that. With places like Heaven and Earth Oasis, they can begin their healing journey – and learn tools for self-healing. Mediation, supplements, diet changes, Theta healing, Reiki, BIOMAT, yoga, talk therapy…moving through the pain and stress – and not just disguising it with medication. Rhonda agrees, “It’s been a hard journey but everyday I am excited to see what I am going to learn next. Every day something within me is changing”.
As more veterans and holistic practitioners continue to work together, the possibilities for greater healing, pain management and awareness will continue to grow. Imagine a world where veterans possess a healing tool kit of many techniques and modalities to work with, and their own individual treatments can be customized. Heaven and Earth Oasis is a shining example of what is possible!
leland1Valerie Heath
For 20 years Valerie has worked with military groups, such as the Veterans Assistance Network, as a sales consultant for computer products and phone equipment. During this time, she became aware that military veterans need the most help to heal physically and emotionally and was gripped by a determination to do something meaningful for them.
With Valerie Heath’s background and experience using holistic, non-invasive techniques to heal illness, she founded Heaven and Earth Oasis, a nonprofit 501 (c) (3). http://www.heavenandearthoasis.org
The organization is dedicated to healing military personnel by applying an array of established alternative and complementary methods of treatment that work. Many of the methods they employ, such as Reiki, are now successfully incorporated by military organizations to help heal war veterans diagnosed with combat-related illnesses such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Contact Valerie Heath at: Valerie@heavenandearthoasis.org