Hip Replacement or Hip Resurfacing: A Story of Choices [Paperback]

Peggathy Gabriel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 17, 2003

Imagine being told that you will never be able to bring yourknees toward your chest, or squat to pet your dog again.  Imagine being told that if you sit on thefloor to play with children, you will have to exercise caution as to notdislocate your artificial hip.  This iswhat Peggy Gabriel was told when it was discovered that she had osteoarthritisin both of her hips and was facing a bilateral Total Hip Replacement.If you are a candidate for hip replacement surgery or if youknow of anyone who is, this book is a must read.  Many people are still not informed of all of the options that areavailable.  With a Total HipReplacement, the revisions and potential problems that will become a permanentpart of ones life are often not fully understood until after the surgery.  Even though this surgery has been a gift formany, there is another choice.   Thisoption does not include the amputation of the ball of the hip as in the Total HipReplacement.  This option is being donesuccessfully in many parts of the world.This book is a story about the journey to discover the giftof choice, and help you to weigh the facts about hip surgery.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Peggathy  (Peggy)Gabriel was born in Garden City, Michigan, on May 18, 1949.After raising three daughters and owning several businesses,she has become a professional artist, yoga enthusiast and pilatesinstructor.  As a nature lover, outdooractivities became an important part of her life.When Peggy Gabriel was told that she would need two TotalHip Replacements, she learned about the risk of dislocations, and how many ofher activities would have to cease or become inhibited.   Because there were not any other choicesoffered to her, she began a search and entered a labyrinth to discovery.  This maze, intertwined with medical andinsurance issues, would ultimately lead to a satisfactory solution.Peggy Gabriel now enjoys doing anything that she wants to dowithout pain or medications!

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse (September 17, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1410765652
• ISBN-13: 978-1410765659
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,409,323 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #60 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Exercise & Fitness > Hip & Thigh Workouts

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Personal Bio, May 29, 2005

By 

Andy King (Scottsdale, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hip Replacement or Hip Resurfacing: A Story of Choices (Paperback)

I bought this book hoping for an objective assessment of the benefits of hip replacement versus hip resurfacing. It does not come close to the promise of its title. Basically, it is a description of the author's experience, which, though valid, does not provide an objective perspective. There are a few useful words of advice, but overall this book is an advocacy platform for resurfacing. Having said that, I did give an extra star because I now feel more compelled to look further into resurfacing than I would have otherwise done.

January 2009 - an update: I looked further into resurfacing, and chose to go with this option for my hip. I am very happy with my choice, and strongly urge anyone who needs hip replacement to look at resurfacing. I still would not recommend this book, however.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Informational, but not well written and over priced, May 25, 2005

By 

Nikita "NS" (Auburn) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hip Replacement or Hip Resurfacing: A Story of Choices (Paperback)

This book is presented as a brief bio of the journey the author went through to find a solution to back and hip pain. It is a quick read, and you will find tidbits of information regarding total hip replacement surgery verses hip resurfacing. Since it is a personal account, there is relatively little medical information except for some drawn diagrams and a forward by her surgeon. If you can get past the poor grammar and poorly contructed sentences, this may well be a book you can use. I was looking for a book with an emphasis on these two medical procedures. I found that I had to sift through the personal accounts of her own experience to gleen what information I could that might pertain to my situation. It is encouraging to see her results as portrayed in the pictures of her post surgery pilates classes. As the author well says on many occasions, the information regarding both total hip replacement surgery and hip resurfacing surgery is readily available on the internet. The actual procedure called hip resurfacing is so new in the United States you will hardly find a physician who will perform it, much less an insurance company who will pay for it. It isn't terribly helpful to know the author had to travel to Belgium (all at her own expense) to have this procedure done on her hips, as most of us simply cannot afford this option. Save the money you would spend on this book, and search the internet for information instead.

36 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hip Resurfacing Hip Replacement, October 24, 2003

By 

richard thivierge (Montreal, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hip Replacement or Hip Resurfacing: A Story of Choices (Paperback)

I would like to share with you an astonishing book who could transformed your life if you are in needs to have hip surgery as the author's life was transformed by a bilateral Hip Resurfacing, a promising surgical technique of the hip, but remained unknown, unaccessible and unaffordable. You will read a disturbing biographical story marked by a story of uncompromised choices.

I have a great interest in this book. I had a hip resurfacing 08/09/2003 after 10 years aching lumbar pain which radiated to my left knee, and this awsome book was released at the moment l returned home. I instantly ordered. It. l received the book around diner time 10 days later and l read it through before supper, and l have read it over and over since. Once you open the first page it is impossible to stop reading.

The author of the book reveals her ``search realty`. She was told by a specialist that she had spinal fusion. She was also told that she was in need hip surgery to both of her hips. She found out that deteroriation of her hips and the manner in which she was being forced to walk was harming her lower back. and responsible of the eminent danger of spinal fusion. She needed hip surgery quickly to avoid spinal deterioration. She was handled out an appointment for bilateral hip replacement and spinal fusion but the doctor avoided to tell her the issue that Total Hip Replacement surgery was very restrictive and invasing surgery hard to revise, which would have put an end to her career as Pilate instructor. She however determined to ask a second opinion for her spine and she was told that if she gets her hips fixed quickly her back will straight out and she will see a great improvement and the problem of her spine should be resolved.

The authour learnt about hip resurfacing by joining the Surfacehippy Discussion Board and read all she could lay her hand on. She came to the conclusion that Hip Resurfacing less invasive offers more range of motion and revision is a lot easier. It is amazing to see how she could get all the information through reading and exchange and support from this amazing discussion board. She choosed to have hip Hip Resurfacing. Her insurance refused to pay for hip resurfacing because this surgery is experimental and not approved by the DFA. Hip Replacement already approved by her insurance, but she choosed Hip Resurfacing, but had to be paid out of her pocket..

We are moved by the tragic condition of her spine, back and hips that could not be more critical.She is under the extreme urgent pressure to have her bilateral resurfacing done the most quickly to avoid definitive and irreversible degeneration of her spine, back and hips..

Two main reasons seemed to have guided her decision where she will go and to whom she will entrust for her resurfacing. The first was a financial.one. She will go to belgium because the cost in Belgium were one third of the cost in the United States. She was blessed to have been able to borrow the money. Tthe second was Dr De Smet who had the reputation of taking the tough cases with success.

The testimonies throughout the book are awsome. The skill of the author to put in words how she discovered the tragic degenerescense of her spine, back and hips is unsurpassable. The author graciously shares how she tooked the best radical heartrending decisions for her global health without compromise whatever was the cost. in a manner that the reader is chalenged to take the best decision by analizing every aspect when his health is at stake in order to be able to make the best decision.

This book is bearer of hope in midst of adversity when one has to choose the type of hip surgery he needs. Resurfacing is not magic, we are reminded that it will go up to the level we devote ourselves to do our exercises, and also our astonishing warning if we are tempted to neglect them. The reader will find in this book the necessary informations to take a rational decision. This book was written with the contribution of Dr De Smet, one of the rising star of resurfacing and gives to the book a additional credibility.

l have read this book over and over an the more l read it the more l appreciate it, though it makes me so sad to find out how much author suffered. The history of her fight will be an inspiration for many people. Thank you so much to spread out the word and l'm sure that by reading this book many people will be able to renew their normal activities they were forced to abandon. l wonder if this book could not one day be followed by true story seen on T V.

I hope the review will trigger your interest for this book which aims to spread the good news of hip resurfacing. It is also my prayer that this book encourages you to make the right choice if you are in needs of hip surgery.

Best Regards

Richard Thivierge.