I fell, broke my femur, ended up in the ER.
I was given a "partial hip replacement" without any consultation around the indications of doing this and the choices of doing a Partial OR Full hip replacement. As a result of this Partial Hip Replacement, I am not anywhere near my normal level of functioning. I'm in chronic and often acute pain due to the metal ball irritating my native socket.
I was never asked about my life style, level of functioning nor given an opportunity to talk about which procedure to do: a full hip replacement or a partial hip replacement.
If I had been given this privilege and "right" then I would have certainly been sure to only have a full hip replacement and NOT a partial hip replacement, which often has poor results with having a full recovery and being back to base line functioning.
Without a choice, I had a partial hip replacement done and after my own medical research, and seeking second and third opinions, I have been told that: THE… ONLY medical reason to do a partial hip replacement is if the patient is very elderly, has dementia or cognitive demise, or suffering with parkinson's disease and if the elderly person is not very active.
Other main reasons for a surgeon to perform a partial hip replacement is that it requires less surgery time, is less expensive, less skill is required and less surgical dissection is done, and there is less blood loss in the surgery.
So, I ask Dr. Dirksmeier: Why did you choose to perform a partial hip replacement on me when I do not fall into that category? Why didn't you talk with me and ask me about my life, abilities, and level of functioning? Why wasn't I consulted in this medical decision? Why wasn't any family member consulted with my being presented?
Did you have the skill or time to consult with me and my family and/or to perform the proper full hip replacement on me?
I am 73 yrs. old, and have been in great health, and have been extremely physically very active in caring for my property, gardens, house, barn, animals, and the trials in my many acres of land and continuing to be employed in a profession I've loved.
Now I am unable to function at work without incredible pain and have to drastically cut back or eliminate all of my usual activities in life.
I cannot sit or walk without terrible pain. I limp, hobble and my balance is terrible. My leg is at least 1/4" longer. It is painful to get in and out of my car, and even sitting while driving is painful.
I'm unable to do stairs correctly, perform tasks around house or in my yard. I can't take care of my gardens anymore in the summer, do fall clean up or shovel my steps and walkway as I use to do in the winter, because I am too unsteady, my leg is weak and prone to tripping.
I no longer bike ride, dance, show shoe, hike and many other activities. I am unable to attend regular social or professional events due to pain, weakness and being generally unsafe in my ability to walk or sit.
The only remedy left now, in order to achieve even a close to normal level of functioning and eliminate the chronic and acute pain, is to have a full hip replacement.
Of course this then requires, another hospitalization, undergo a major surgery, be unemployed once again, and go through another period of recovery with all of the precautions. The impact on my body, my life and spirits is overwhelming.
I was told that these medical problems often occur after a partial hip replacement in about 20% of all those patients who do have a partial hip replacement, and, "too bad, you are one of those 20%"!
If only Dr. Dirksmeier had been respectful to me as an individual human being and not seen as some object he made up in his mind.
Would he had made that medical decision to do a partial hip replacement on a beloved family member whose level of functioning and medical history reflects, mine? I think not!
If he didn't have time or interest in giving the very best medical care possible, then he should have not treated me.
I hope this doesn't happen to any other physically active, mentally stable, and high functioning 73 year old.
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