Neil Thompson, 53, a retired Detective Superintendent now working as a Security Operations Manager, found his lifestyle becoming more and more restricted by arthritis in his left hip. Now, after a revolutionary hip replacement operation, he is not only leading a normal life, but has climbed the Mer de Glace on Mont Blanc.
I have always been fit and active, apart from the odd broken bone or two. I am keen on all kinds of sports, from football and tennis to squash, running and walking, so the onset of painful arthritis in my hip was a major problem for me, limiting not only my work but my relaxation – my whole lifestyle really. I began to find getting in and out of my car painful, and often my leg would collapse under me. There wasn’t even any relief at night, as my leg would ache constantly, often keeping me awake.
I was referred to a surgeon who informed me that I needed a hip replacement operation. He referred me to Mr Bishay who then showed me the differences in the movement between a normal hip replacement implant and the metal-on-metal Hip Resurfacing implant. Mr Bishay was very positive about hip resurfacing and what convinced me was that the old implant could wear out quite quickly in an active person like myself, and that the precision-engineered metal bearing must be a better option.
Mr Bishay certainly believed this was the right implant for me due to the lifestyle that I lead - “ treat it like a sports car- treat it with care during the week then thrash it at the weekend” he said. I knew what he meant.
The Cormet Hip Resurfacing device, manufactured in the heart of the Cotswolds by British company Corin, is different from a traditional total hip replacement in several ways. Cormet Hip Resurfacing is an innovation which provides solutions for the treatment of younger, active patients like myself who have osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis of the hip, but who would quickly wear out a conventional total hip replacement
(THR). It is much more bone conserving and “resurfaces” the hip bone rather than removing and replacing it. Not only is it more stable than a conventional hip replacement, but because the bearing surfaces are both made from metal it is expected to last much longer than the plastic cups normally used in hip replacement.
I did however have some concerns about having surgery. Would I limp? Would one leg be shorter than the other? Would I be better or worse after the operation?
I quickly recovered from my resurfacing operation and was discharged after four days. I could not believe that just two days after my operation I was climbing stairs again. During the six weeks I was away from my work I was able to walk around the house without the use of sticks. I worked very hard with the exercises my
Physiotherapist gave me so that I could get back to cycling and other low impact activities. After six weeks I returned to my job as a Security Operations Manager for a large telecommunications company in Bristol. I was now walking unaided and able to drive again.
It was great to be back to work before Christmas, and I think it surprised the physio’s how much I had progressed. My sleep improved almost immediately.
I can honestly say I am now back to normal and I do not give my hip replacement a second thought. The only things I try to stay away from are impact sports such as running and squash and that is not because it causes a problem - it is choice and listening to the advice from Mr Bishay.
I waited a year before returning to working out at the gym, which I now do at least three times per week. I have become much more flexible and can even sit and put my knee flat onto the floor!
Having the Cormet Resurfacing Hip has meant I have returned to a normal, active life without pain.
Even more amazing, having the operation has allowed me to climb Mont Blanc, Europe’s highest mountain, something I would never have been able to contemplate prior to the operation. We climbed the Mer de Glace to a height of 2,800 metres using snowshoes and crampons, whilst carrying full backpacks for 12 hours. Unfortunately we were unable to complete our trek due to extreme weather conditions. Although my legs were tired my hip gave me no pain.
All the people we climbed with were military or ex military apart from my son. The experience was incredible, the scenery was breathtakingly beautiful but extremely dangerous. I knew I was testing my own personal fitness, aptitude and resolve as well as my hip. I have never climbed before and it was just something I wanted to do before I got too old, and the opportunity to climb with my son.
The Hip Resurfacing operation has stopped the constant pain and I am back to normal - that must be the greatest accolade for this operation
I would have no hesitation in recommending this operation to anyone who wishes to continue with an active lifestyle.
Now we will probably go back to Mt Blanc in May and are planning to do the Three
Peaks challenge later in the year.
