The procedure to fix my cartilage free hip is called a total hip resurfacing instead of total total hip replacement because it keeps my femur intact. Instead of lopping off the top of the femur and putting a long stem/spike down the remaining leg bone, the top of the femur will be conditioned and the ball/cap above placed on it with the small stem shown in the picture. Instead of the prosthesis bearing the weight my bone will which promotes greater bone strength and, I expect, will decrease the chance of having to do the operation again in 10 or 15 years and will vastly improve my bone situation if I do need it. The surgeon's office had a sample prosthesis for Kirsten and me to check out. I held the socket in my palm and twisted the stem of the ball like a top. The ball noiselessly spun and spun and spun. I asked if they had a spare I could take home for a paper weight. No luck. The physician assistant joked that the part cost more than the surgeon will make.

The surgery is a little more involved than a hip replacement because of the need to dislocate the hip, by cutting the cusp, and work on everything intact. All the same, it only takes about a 4 inch incision and the surgery only takes about an hour. The cusp is cinched back up with stitches and there is a little "cement" used on the bone side of the hip socket, but beside the cusp healing and the bone growing into the socket surface, the hip is ready to go. It's ready enough they will have me stand on it the first day. I don't think I quite have to get off the operating table myself, but they want me using the leg, some, right away. If all goes as planned I will be in the hospital for one night and then home. Typically two crutches are used for a week, one for a week, then a cane or just hobble a bit after that. The main hip resurfacing web site out there, the one I used to find my surgeon, http://www.surfacehippy, has numerous testimonials of 40 -50 year old guys playing soccer, skiing, even finishing iron man competitions 6 months post op.

Blood clots are one concern. I'll take a blood thinner at dinner the night before surgery which they expect will kick in some time soon after the surgery. There are also some funky white stockings that fit tight that I will be wearing for awhile. The incision needs to stay clean and dry so no hot tubbing for 6 weeks.

. . . I wouldn't have thought to make this part of the blog, but I am heading over to my estate attorney – pre surgery – to make sure will all in order. Tell me I'm not a thoughtful guy! More later.